The Scope for Using Proximal Soil Sensing by the Farmers of India

Sanjib Kumar Behera, Viacheslav I. Adamchuk, Arvind Kumar Shukla, Punyavrat Suvimalendu Pandey, Pardeep Kumar, Vimal Shukla, Chitdeshwari Thiyagarajan, Hitendra Kumar Rai, Sandeep Hadole, Anil Kumar Sachan, Pooja Singh, Vivek Trivedi, Ashutosh Mishra, Nagender Pal Butail, Praveen Kumar, Rahul Prajapati, Kshitij Tiwari, Deepika Suri and Munish Sharma
Additional contact information
Sanjib Kumar Behera: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, India
Viacheslav I. Adamchuk: Macdonald Campus, McGill University, 21,111, Lakeshore Road, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X3V9, Canada
Arvind Kumar Shukla: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, India
Punyavrat Suvimalendu Pandey: Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi 110012, India
Pardeep Kumar: College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Visvavidyalaya, Palampur 176062, India
Vimal Shukla: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Nabibagh, Berasia Road, Bhopal 462038, India
Chitdeshwari Thiyagarajan: Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641003, India
Hitendra Kumar Rai: Faculty of Agriculture, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur 482004, India
Sandeep Hadole: College of Agriculture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola 444104, India
Anil Kumar Sachan: College of Agriculture, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, India
Pooja Singh: College of Agriculture, Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Gwalior 474002, India
Vivek Trivedi: ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110012, India
Ashutosh Mishra: Faculty of Agriculture, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Satna 485334, India
Nagender Pal Butail: College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Visvavidyalaya, Palampur 176062, India
Praveen Kumar: College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Visvavidyalaya, Palampur 176062, India
Rahul Prajapati: College of Agriculture, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, India
Kshitij Tiwari: College of Agriculture, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur 208002, India
Deepika Suri: College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Visvavidyalaya, Palampur 176062, India
Munish Sharma: College of Agriculture, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Visvavidyalaya, Palampur 176062, India

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Knowledge about spatial distribution patterns of soil attributes is very much needed for site-specific soil nutrient management (SSSNM) under precision agriculture. High spatial heterogeneity exists in the agricultural soils of India due to various reasons. The present practice of assessing the spatial variability of the vast cultivated landscape of India by using traditional soil sampling and analysis is costly and time consuming. Hence, proximal soil sensing (PSS) is an attractive option to assess the plot-scale spatial variability pattern (SVP) of soil attributes for SSSNM. A PSS system, either in a fixed position or mounted on a vehicle (on-the-go), can be used to obtain measurements by having direct contact with soil. PSS measurements provide low-cost and high-density data pertaining to the SVPs of soil attributes. These data can be used to generate digital elevation and soil attribute variability maps at the field scale in a crop production environment. Based on the generated variability maps, locally available and economically feasible agricultural inputs can be applied using variable rate application strategies for sustainable cropping and enhanced farm profit. This overview presents the potential of adopting PSS in India and other developing countries. The scope, challenges, and probable solutions are also proposed. There is ample scope for adoption of PSS in India in view of diverse soil types, climatic conditions, cropping patterns, crop management practices, and ultimately, the ever-increasing demand for higher agricultural production. However, the successful adoption of the PSS technique in India will be dependent on the proper design and adoption of strategies which require adequate planning and analysis. There are several studies that have highlighted the usefulness of soil sensing technologies in Indian soils. There are also certain challenges and limitations associated with PSS in India, which could be addressed. The available proximal soil sensing technologies will be of great help in improving the understanding of soil heterogeneity for adopting SSSNM in order to optimize crop production in India and other developing countries.

Keywords: soil sensors; site-specific nutrient management; precision farming; digital soil mapping; multiple soil classes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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