How Soil Health Card is helping UP farmers get detailed information about their fields

The Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme is a Government of India initiative that helps farmers understand the nutrient status of their soil and make informed decisions on fertiliser use and soil management. Implemented by state and Union Territory agriculture departments, including in Uttar Pradesh, the scheme provides recommendations on the type and quantity of fertilisers and soil amendments required for a particular field. Soil samples are tested for 12 parameters, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, boron, pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon. Trained personnel generally collect samples from a depth of 15–20 cm at designated sampling grids and send them to authorised laboratories for testing. The scheme uses sampling grids of 2.5 hectares in irrigated areas and 10 hectares in rain-fed areas. Testing can be carried out at government soil-testing laboratories and authorised institutions such as ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agricultural universities.