The economy of Pakistan is agro-based and is, therefore, dependent on the fertility of her soils. Soils deliver our basic needs of food, shelter and play a pivotal role in determining the quality of our environment and thus are crucially important in national development issues such as food security, poverty alleviation and environment preservation. The continuous mining of plants food nutrients by plants depleted the fertility to a level where they could not nourish healthy plants. Realizing the fact, a scheme entitled “Rapid Soil Fertility Survey and Popularization” of the use of fertilizers was initiated as joint venture of Government of Pakistan with Food and Agricultural Organization in the year 1958. Later on it was transferred to Provincial Government.
All the Agricultural production depends on the fertility status of the soil. Due to the continuous use of plant food nutrients by plants, fertility has decreased to a level where it could not nourish healthy plants. Laboratory analysis of soil and water samples play vital role in detecting the causes of decline in fertility and thus recommend the use of proper fertilizer in kind and quantity to short up the problems. Realizing the fact, Soil and Water Testing Laboratory Chiniot was started. Later on it was transferred to District Government set up on 22.10.2010. From 02.01.2017 it is again transferred to Provincial Government.
Mission
Soil and Water Testing Laboratory mission is to suggest measures for the maintenance/improvement of soil fertility of farms by recommending the use of proper levels of fertilizer and Agro-Chemicals through soil testing advisory service and to analyse the sub soil water for its suitability purpose and to guide the farmers.
Objectives
The main objectives are:
- Collection of samples from farmer’s fields
- Analysis of collected/received soil and water samples
- To recommend the technology for the reclamation of salt affected soils by the use of amendments in quantities needed
Research Activities
·Advisory Services
- Site specific fertilizer/amendments recommendations
- Reclamation of problem soils
- Monitoring quality inputs
- Improving Fertilizer Use Efficiency and Productivity through Integrated Plant Nutrients Systems
- Accessing water quality and nutrient status for advisory services to farmers
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