基于权重湿润指数的作物湿渍害监测与检验

以有效降水和潜在蒸散为指标构建权重湿润指数(WMI)作为湿渍害判定指标,结合WMI持续偏湿时间和累积强度,确定了湿渍害过程判别和等级划分方法,利用土壤湿度和作物产量资料从湿渍害发生频率、空间分布特征、典型年和典型过程等方面对其适用性进行了应用检验。结果表明：WMI指数与土壤相对湿度具有较高的相关性,且基于WMI和土壤相对湿度判定的湿渍害过程频次接近、空间分布特征一致,基于WMI指数识别出的典型春季湿渍害年对应的小麦、油菜作物产量均有较大幅度减产,基于WMI指数对典型湿渍害过程的监测与降水和土壤湿度的时间分布具有较好的对应关系。WMI指数以常规气象观测资料为基础且所需率定参数少,可逐日滚动计算和大范围应用,适合作为日常业务监测和预警指标。 关键词： 湿渍害;权重湿润指数;土壤湿度;应用检验     

Lessons from the past in weather variability: sowing to ripening dynamics and yield penalties for northern agriculture from 1970 to 2012

There is evidence for overall spring advancement and phenology shift across the northern hemisphere, including northern Europe, where cereals are grown despite the very short growing season. This study focused on one of the principal risks associated with the short growing season, weather-induced variability in sowing time. The aim was to characterize variation in sowing time, quantify the impacts on crop growth and document associations with weather conditions and variability. We also assessed whether any systematic changes occurred as potential signs of autonomous adaptation to changed conditions. Shifts in spring cereal sowing time had no consistent impact on time of maturity as a result of variable weather conditions. All spring cereal cultivars required fewer days, although more cumulated degree-days, to mature after delays in sowing. In the 1990s and 2000s, sowing tended to start earlier than in the 1970s and 1980s. This was attributable to earlier onset of the growing season. Furthermore, more favorable harvest conditions facilitated harvest after maturity. As more land has been allocated to late-maturing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) compared with early-maturing barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) during recent decades, autonomous adaptation to climate change has already begun in the northernmost agricultural region of Europe.     

Influence of olive mill wastewater in composting and impact of the compost on a Swiss chard crop and soil properties

The suitability of olive mill wastewater (OMW) for composting was studied by the addition of this liquid waste to a mixture of cotton gin waste and sewage sludge, and its composting was compared with that of another pile of similar composition, but without olive mill wastewater. Both piles were composted by the Rutgers static pile system in a pilot plant. To study the effects of both composts on plant yield and soil properties, a plot experiment was carried out with Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla). Five treatments were applied: mineral fertiliser and two doses (30 and 60 tons ha(-1)) of both composts. The olive mill wastewater addition produced a compost with lower organic matter and nitrate concentrations, higher electrical conductivity, and a stabilised and humified organic matter similar to that of the compost produced without olive mill wastewater. The olive mill wastewater compost application to soil did not injure plants, producing a similar plant yield to both compost without olive mill wastewater and inorganic fertiliser. Also, the accumulation of potentially toxic heavy metals in plants cultivated with organic or mineral fertilisers did not reveal significant differences. The olive mill wastewater compost application to soil also improved the chemical and physicochemical properties of the soil.     

Climate trends and impacts on crop production in the Koshi River basin of Nepal

Understanding crop responses to climate is essential to cope with anticipated changes in temperature and precipitation. We investigated the climate–crop yield relationship and the impact of historical climate on yields of rice, maize and wheat in the Koshi basin of Nepal. The results show significant impact of growing season temperature and precipitation on crop production in the region. Rice, maize and wheat cultivated at altitudes below 1,100, 1,350 and 1,700 m amsl (above mean sea level), respectively, suffer from stress due to higher temperatures particularly during flowering and yield formation stages. Responses of crop yields to a unitary increment in growing season mean temperature vary from ?6 to 16 %, ?4 to 11 % and ?12 to 3 % for rice, maize and wheat, respectively, depending on the location and elevation in the basin. In most parts of the basin, we observe warming trends in growing season mean temperatures of rice, maize and wheat over the last few decades with clear evidence of negative impacts on yields. However, at some high-elevation areas, positive impacts of warming are also observed on rice and maize yields. If the observed trends in temperature continue in future, the impact is likely to be mostly negative on crop production in the basin. However, crop production may gain from the warming at relatively higher altitudes provided other conditions, e.g., water availability, soil fertility, are favorable.     

Short rotation coppice for revaluation of contaminated land.

When dealing with large-scale environmental contamination, as following the Chernobyl accident, changed land use such that the products of the land are radiologically acceptable and sustain an economic return from the land is a potentially sustainable remediation option. In this paper, willow short rotation coppice (SRC) is evaluated on radiological, technical and economic grounds for W. European and Belarus site conditions. Radiocaesium uptake was studied in a newly established and existing SRC. Only for light-texture soils with low soil potassium should cultivation be restricted to soils with contamination levels below 100-370 kBq m-2 given the TFs on these soils (5 x 10(-4) and 2 x 10(-3) m2 kg-1) and considering the Belarus exemption limit for firewood (740 Bq kg-1). In the case of high wood contamination levels (> 1000 Bq kg-1), power plant personnel working in the vicinity of ash conveyers should be subjected to radiation protection measures. For appropriate soil conditions, potential SRC yields are high. In Belarus, most soils are sandy with a low water retention, for which yield estimates are too low to make production profitable without irrigation. The economic viability should be thoroughly calculated for the prevailing conditions. In W. Europe, SRC production or conversion is not profitable without price incentives. For Belarus, the profitability of SRC on the production side largely depends on crop yield and price of the delivered bio-fuel. Large-scale heat conversion systems seem the most profitable and revenue may be considerable. Electricity routes are usually unprofitable. It could be concluded that energy production from SRC is potentially a radiologically and economically sustainable land use option for contaminated agricultural land.     

Climate change in Algeria and its impact on durum wheat

According to IPCC reports, the Mediterranean basin and particularly the North African area are amongst the most vulnerable regions to climate change. However, the information concerning the North African zone is very limited, and studies on climate change have never been conducted in Algeria up to now. This paper aims at bridging this information gap and initiates a first research on the impact of climate change on durum wheat cropping, the most strategic commodity in the food system and in the national economy of Algeria. Climate projections for the distant future (2071–2100), obtained from the ARPEGE-Climate model of Météo-France run under the medium A1B SRES scenario, are introduced into a simple agrometeorological crop model previously validated with field data. Two options for the sowing date are assessed: a dynamical date, chosen within the traditional sowing window by means of a rainfall criterion, or a prescribed date with supplemental irrigation on the same day. Crop development is modelled using thermal time, and maximum yield is determined from the accumulation of solar radiation. A water stress index is inferred from a daily water balance model, and actual yield is estimated from potential yield corrected by the water stress index. The model also takes into account the occurrence of dry periods during the growing season, which can induce partial or total failure of the crop cycle. Two stations, representative of two of the three agroclimatic areas where durum wheat is grown, were chosen: Algiers in the central northern region and Bordj Bou Arreridj in the eastern high plains. Climate change is not similar for both areas, but a tendency towards aridity is clear especially in spring. Future temperature and potential evapotranspiration increase in both regions with a maximum in spring and summer. In Algiers, rainfall will decrease throughout the year and mainly in spring and summer. Conversely, summer precipitation in Bordj Bou Arreridj will increase significantly. In both regions, the autumn rains will increase in the future climate, the possibilities of early sowing will be improved, crop cycle will be reduced, and harvest will take place earlier. In Algiers, yields tend to decrease in the future climate, whereas in Bordj Bou Arreridj, a dynamical (earlier) sowing will tend to keep yields at their current level.     

Spatial analysis of soil resources in the Mewat district in the semiarid regions of Haryana,India

The soil characteristics are critical for crop health and its yield and therefore for agriculture. The soil properties are spatially variable and therefore soil resources should be managed as per location-specific requirements. An integrated spatial analysis of the soil resources of Mewat district was conducted to identify the soil resource management zones to develop site-specific soil management plan which might lead to sustained and enhanced crop yield. Spatial analysis of soil resources was conducted by modeling soil fertility and erosion which determines the crop productivity in the region. Soil fertility of the region was modeled using weighted overlay approach using 10 soil parameters, namely nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and pH. Each parameter was assigned weights based on their relative importance to agricultural productivity. The modeled soil fertility was classified into three fertility zones, low, medium, and high. Soil fertility was found to be low to moderate in 65% of the area, largely because of the low nitrogen, soil organic carbon, phosphorus concentration, and excessive salinity. Soil erosion was modeled using the universal soil loss equation (USLE) model by estimating rainfall erosivity factor (R), the soil erodibility factor (K), the topographic factors (L and S), cropping factor (C), and the conservation practice factor (P). Soil erosion problems were limited to areas having high elevation with barren land and areas with minimal management practices. The severity of soil erosion was found high in 15% of the region, while the remaining 85% showed low to moderate erosion. Soil fertility and erosion were integrated using the multivariate clustering method to identify soil management zones. The region was delineated into three soil management zones. Zone I (29%) which covers majorly Tarou block, was characterized by high soil fertility and low soil erosion. Zone II (18%) with medium soil fertility and high erosion covers villages of Taoru, Nuh, Nagina, FP Jhirka, and Punhana, which are located in the foothills of Aravalli ranges. Zone III represents the major part of the region, covering Nuh, Nagina, and FP Jhirka blocks (54%) with low soil fertility and erosion conditions. Thus, within the study area, the soil management domains are spatially variable in terms of fertility and soil erosion, and thus zone-specific soil management measures are required to improve the soil condition in order to sustain and improve agriculture production. The study would help the policy makers to design site-specific planning for identified soil resource management zones.     

Microbial population dynamics under fertigation by distillery effluent in sugarcane-ratoon cropping system

Distillery effluents, a major by-product of distilleries are a major environmental hazard as they are rich in organic matter, micro- and macroelements. Management of this enormous amount of nutrient-rich effluent and its effective utilization is a major challenge. These effluents can be used as a source of nutrient by C₄ crops like sugarcane and subsequent ratoon crops under fertigation system. Impact of fertigation in sugarcane-ratoon cropping system on soil microbial biomass is important as the microbial population plays an important role in the nutrient and biogeochemical recycling. Keeping this in mind, a field experiment was carried out in the sandy loam soil of semi-arid to humid sub-tropical climate of Gajraula (28.85°N, 78.23°E) region, India with different doses of diluted and undiluted effluent for fertigation of sugarcane crop in presence and absence of 50 % recommended dose of fertilizers with suitable replicates. Two post-sown irrigations with four times diluted effluent gave the maximum yield in case of sugarcane crop. Taking into consideration the yield and the culturable microbial population sizes, it can be concluded that one to two post-sown irrigations with diluted effluent can be used to enhance soil fertility in terms of microbial population and to enhance sugarcane and ratoon crop productivity. This package is economically viable and can also take care of distillery waste management and reduction in consumption of chemical fertilizers by 50 %, a key for sustainable agricultural development.     

Northern conditions influencing the selection of countermeasures after radioactive fallout in Finland

The paper summarizes an evaluation of practicability of rural countermeasures after radioactive fallout in northern conditions carried out by a Finnish group of experts in the FARMING Network project. Snow and soil frost limit the selection of crops, and the short growing season allows mostly one harvest yearly. Cold climate restricts fruit production to apples and berries. Due to the long indoor feeding period, conserved and stored clean feed is available almost all year round. The use of fertilisers and lime on poor and acidic soils leads to high potassium and calcium intake of cows increasing the incidence of milk fever. The surface soil layer is thin and ploughing deeper than 20 cm is problematic due to stony and compacted soils. It also increases soil acidity and decreases fertility. Cultivation of peatlands limits the selection of plants and increases long-term radiocaesium contamination of crops. Frost and snow delay ploughing and spreading of waste milk on arable land, but removal of snow is a decontamination option. Long distances and high transport costs complicate carrying out the countermeasures. The Finnish stakeholder group considered it vital to be prepared for implementation of practicable measures for the safety of food.     

Validation of the CANDY model with Russian long-term experiments

The CANDY model has been qualitatively assessed for simulating long-term dynamics of soil organic carbon and tested against different long-term experiments representing various land uses and geographical sites, but never before against conditions of the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Our goal was to simulate long-term trends in soil organic carbon for the long-term experiments of Barybino (Moscow region, Russia), Grakov (Kharkow region, Ukraine) and Yachenka (Minsk region, Belarus) representing the predominant arable soil types, climate conditions and typical management strategies for the investigated arable areas. The fit of modelled results to the observed data was evaluated to assess the suitability of the model for further applications in the FSU. The crop parameters of the CANDY model had to be adapted to the low yields observed under the Russian site conditions resulting in a higher sensitivity to crop-derived carbon input as a function of yield. The results show that the approach of treating the organic carbon situated in micro pores as inert, is an applicable solution for simulating soil carbon dynamics under Russian conditions. This evaluation of CANDY, against long-term experiments from Russia, gives confidence for its wider application in this region.     

近50年安徽省双季稻安全生产期变化特征

为进一步了解安徽省双季稻安全生产界限温度日期变化特征,以安徽省22个双季稻生产市(县)气象观测站1961～2017年日平均气温为基础,采用线性趋势法和Mann-Kendall非参数检验法,分析了安徽省沿江双季稻区早稻安全播种期、移栽期和晚稻安全齐穗期、成熟期及双季稻安全生长期日数、积温变化特征。结果表明:近50年安徽省沿江地区早稻安全播种期呈显著提前趋势(P<0.05),其中薄膜育秧平均提前1.8 d/10 a,露天育秧提前1.5 d/10 a;早稻安全移栽期呈极显著提前趋势(P<0.01),平均提前2.5 d/10 a;晚稻安全齐穗期、成熟期推迟趋势不显著(P>0.05);安全生产期日数和积温增加显著(P<0.01),平均增幅分别为2.6和62.7℃·d/10 a。安全生产期日数和积温增加对双季稻种植和品种选择具有积极作用,但晚稻采用直播、机插等栽种方式有遭遇低温冷害的风险。     

Effects of Soil Hydrothermal Conditions on the Complexes of Soil Invertebrates in Coniferous and Deciduous Forest Cultures

The effects of hydrothermal conditions on the complexes of soil invertebrates in 20-year-old cultures of Siberian stone pine, larch, Scotch pine, spruce, birch, and aspen are considered. The role of soil temperature and moisture content in determining the density of pedobionts and their vertical distribution is revealed. Seasonal fluctuations of hydrothermal parameters are shown to affect the vertical migrations of soil invertebrates and the dynamics of trophic structure of their complexes under forest cultures during the growing season.     

三峡山地沟谷不同坡位土壤水分特征及对降雨过程的响应

土壤水分是影响地表植被生长发育及分布格局的重要因子，也是岩石圈-水圈-生物圈-大气圈水分循环的重要环节，其动态变化能够反映土壤水文过程的信息。基于高分辨率时域反射水分探针和小型气象站连续定位监测，获取2018~2019年三峡大老岭地区典型沟谷内坡上、坡中、坡下部位0~80 cm范围内各土层含水量及大气降水数据，分析了不同坡位土壤水分在月尺度，日尺度和小时尺度的变化特征及其对降雨过程的响应。结果表明：（1）月尺度上，土壤水分含量季节性差异明显，春夏季节（5~7月）是土壤水分储蓄期，土壤平均含水率为38.40%，夏秋季节（8~10月）是水分消耗期，剖面土壤平均含水率仅为35.04%。（2）日尺度和小时尺度，不同层次土壤水分含量对降水响应存在差异。0~40 cm深度土壤对降雨响应较快（响应时间<0.5 h），土壤水分与降雨量变化趋势相似；60~80 cm深度土壤对降雨响应存在明显的滞后现象（响应时间滞后0.5~3.0 h），且随深度加深，滞后时间呈阶梯式延长。（3）不同降雨条件下，土壤水分对降水的响应差异明显。随降雨量级由中雨增至大暴雨，土壤水分对降雨的响应加快，含水量变化曲线与降雨过程同步性增强，响应深度也逐层增加，土壤水分增量变大。（4）不同坡位对土壤水分的影响存在差异，上坡位对中雨、大雨响应平稳，中、下坡位对降水响应强烈，土壤水分增加迅速。产生不同坡位间响应差异的原因是各点微地形差异导致集水面积不同。     

Sustaining livelihoods in face of groundwater depletion: a case study of Punjab, India

The study focuses on assessing the sustainable livelihoods of farmers in Indian Punjab focusing on the key aspects of cropping pattern, cost of cultivation, agricultural productivity and profitability amongst different classes of farmers at different levels of groundwater depletion. It further gives a comparative analysis of the proportionate gains the farmers avail from the government subsidies of electricity and procurement price and relates it to their coping mechanisms to sustain agriculture in future. The findings indicate to the fact that technology to extract groundwater, being capital intensive, gives greater accessibility to groundwater to large farmers who gain enormously from growing the remunerative but water-intensive rice crop. Electricity subsidy being not targeted is also misappropriated by the resource rich, water extraction machine owners. To cope with this resource depletion, the large farmers dig and deepen more tube-wells and the small and marginal farmers with little savings who are unable to invest in costly water extraction machines, buy water, shift to less profitable maize crop, lease out or sell their land.     

基于ASAR GM数据时序特征的农田表层土壤水分的反演

了解农田表层土壤水分的时空变化对反演涝渍害有着十分重要的意义, 针对ASAR GM数据特点提出了在没有地面观测数据地区农田大尺度土壤水分的反演方法,即运用MODIS NDVI数据（空间分辨率为250 m）的农田作物时序特征提取土地利用现状,并以此来校正ASAR GM数据（空间分辨率为1 km）中的混合像素;利用大面积降水后土壤表层湿度水平差异不大的特点,运用非线性回归模型,获取水云模型中的经验系数,运用水云模型将植被和土壤对后向散射的贡献区分开;在获得一个地方长时间土壤后向散射系数空间分布集后,假设其土壤粗糙度不变的情况下,其后向散射系数与土壤表层湿度成正比,运用其时序特征计算出其土壤表层相对体积含水量。运用上述方法,利用79景ASAR GM数据和同时期的MODIS数据,反演了湖北省四湖地区棉田的土壤表层相对体积含水量的时空分布,将其计算值与观测值比较分析后发现,其变化趋势相同、相关系数（R2=0779,n=25）也很高,圴方根误差为963%,表明上述反演方法还是可行了,适用于大尺度农田土壤墒情的反演     

2003~2009年鄱阳湖流域土壤水分时空变化特征及影响因素

鄱阳湖流域水文过程是区域研究的热点问题,但相对于其它水文要素而言,土壤水分的时空分布特征及其影响因素尚缺乏系统研究,成为流域水文过程研究不确定性的主要来源之一。采用AMSR E土壤水分数据,从流域、子流域及地表覆被等不同的空间尺度,阐明了鄱阳湖流域2003～2009年土壤水分的年际与年内变化特征,并分析其影响因素。研究表明：在流域尺度上,土壤水分总体呈现中心低、周边高的“漏斗式”空间分布形态,但夏、秋季节空间差异性减弱,年际土壤水分呈现较强的下降趋势,其中以湖区下降速度最大;在地表覆被尺度上,林地土壤水分最高、年际下降速度最低,表明其在年际尺度上对干旱具有较强的调节作用,不同地表覆被类型的土壤水分年内差异较明显,但在6、7及10月差异较小,地表覆被对土壤水分的调节作用减弱;在影响因素方面,降水是土壤水分的主要影响因素,气温、灌溉等则一定程度上影响了土壤水分的变化特征。研究结果不仅有利于加强对流域水文过程的理解与认识,同时可为水资源管理及防旱抗旱等提供科学的辅助依据     

Long-term simulation of effects of energy crop cultivation on nitrogen leaching and surface water quality in Saxony/Germany

The production of energy crops in Germany is a growing agronomic sector and is expected to occupy a substantial share of farmland in the near future. At the same time, there are concerns that energy crops might cause increased nitrogen pollution of soil water, surface water and groundwater. Therefore, the Federal State of Saxony, Germany, funded a study on potential effects of an intensified cultivation of energy crops. In frame of this study, we used the Web GIS-based model STOFFBILANZ to simulate N leaching from the rooting zone and N loads of surface water for a reference scenario and an energy crop scenario. For the reference scenario, we used data representing the crop cultivation for the year 2005 at municipality level. We found that the total loads for N leaching from the rooting zone of cropland are highest for the loess region (8,067 t year^?1), followed by mountainous region (6,797 t year^?1) and lowland (5,443 t year^?1). However, highest N fluxes in the leachate from rooting zones have been simulated for lowland (40.6 kg ha^?1 year^?1) and mountainous region (37.1 kg ha^?1 year^?1), while nitrate concentrations of leachate were highest for the lowland (101.8 mg l^?1). In terms of diffuse N input into surface water, the mountainous region is the most important source area (total N load 6,380 t year^?1, flux 34.6 kg ha^?1 year^?1). Retention by in-stream processes accounts for 15 % (3,784 t year^?1) of the total N load leaving the study area (25,136 t year^?1). In the 2020 energy crop scenario, shares of rape and silage maize (id., ensiled corn) were limited for each municipality to a maximum of 25 and 33 %, respectively. The conversion of grasslands to crop farming was not allowed. Under these conditions, we found slight to substantial reductions of nitrogen loads for leachate from the rooting zone and for surface waters. The simulated reduction depends strongly on local conditions. Only small reductions (ca. 4–8 %) were found for the lowlands and mountainous regions of Saxony, while reductions for the loess region were substantial (ca. 22 %). A major outcome of our study is that the cultivation of energy crops might reduce N loss if certain preconditions are assumed, for example, without conversion of grasslands to crop farming. However, effects might vary widely depending on local conditions.     

崇明滩涂湿地不同盐度梯度下芦苇种群及土壤的生态化学计量学特征

为了研究不同盐度梯度下芦苇(Phragmites australis)的生态适应性及其生长的限制因子,对崇明盐度梯度下的3个滩涂湿地生长的芦苇及土壤生态化学计量学指标进行测定;分析不同盐度下芦苇种群的生态化学计量学之间的差异,及土壤与芦苇元素、元素比之间的相关性。结果表明:(1)崇明滩涂湿地土壤C、N、P含量和C/N、C/P、N/P平均值分别是15.01、0.69、0.86g/kg,22.09、21.87、0.96。芦苇的C、N、P含量及C/N、C/P、N/P平均值分别为413.17、10.75、2.53g/kg,41.49、293.58、7.29。(2)随着崇明滩涂湿地土壤盐度增加,土壤的C、N含量及芦苇的C含量、C/N先降低后增加;土壤的C/N、C/P、N/P及植物的C/P、N/P增加;土壤的P含量及植物N、P含量降低。(3)盐度梯度下滩涂湿地土壤与芦苇生态化学计量学中的C、P、C/P、N/P之间均正相关关系,土壤N含量与植物的C/P正相关,与N/P负相关;而C/N与植物P含量之间有负相关性。(4)该研究区土壤的C、N元素较为匮乏,P含量较高;植物的N/P值小于14,说明崇明芦苇生长主要受到N的限制。     

Land use Systems and Erosion in the Uplands of the Central Coast, Vietnam

Soil erosion is a significant problem in the uplands of the Central Coast, Vietnam. It affects the livelihood of farmers and could hinder the long-term economic development efforts in the uplands. Yet, trapped in poverty, upland farmers, especially the ethnic minority, are still mining the soil using erosive land use systems to meet their urgent needs. This study demonstrates that the level of soil erosion varies across the typical land use systems. The fruit tree-based agroforestry (AF) system is least erosive and most financially profitable. The choice of land use system is influenced by farmers' attributes, land plot characteristics, and policy-related variables. The set of policy variables is important in explaining land use choice by upland farmers. Promoting the switch to AF system and the adoption of soil conservation is of great importance to reducing soil erosion and sustaining development in the uplands. However, it is a very challenging task.     

Analysis of farm-level adoption of soil nutrient management technology by paddy farmers in Karnataka,India

Adoption of soil test-based nutrient management is important for achieving sustainable development of agriculture. The present study analysed the factors influencing the adoption of soil nutrient management technology package comprising adoption of soil test and recommended fertiliser by paddy farmers in the southern Indian state of Karnataka by using field survey data. Bivariate probit model was used to estimate the sequential adoption decisions on soil test and fertiliser application technologies. The study results showed that farmers’ training on fertiliser application and education had positive and significant effect on adoption of soil nutrient technology package. The likelihood of adoption of soil test technology decreases with increase in distance measured from farm to soil test laboratory. Availability of fewer family labour increases the probability of adoption of soil nutrient management technology. These results have significant policy implications for provision of soil testing facilities nearer to villages and for conducting periodical training programmes for encouraging the farmers to adopt soil test-based nutrient management.