Soil Fertility Management

This comprehensive textbook offers complete coverage of soil fertility and nutrient management as prescribed by the ICAR 6th Deans’ Committee syllabus. It explains essential and beneficial plant nutrients, their forms and transformations in soil, soil testing methods, fertilizer recommendations, integrated nutrient management (INM), organic manures, compost, vermicompost, biofertilizers, green manuring, and precision nutrient application techniques using sensors and variable-rate technology. The book also discusses nutrient-use efficiency, soil health assessment, and strategies to combat nutrient deficiencies, soil acidity, alkalinity, salinity, and degradation under changing climatic conditions. The authors bring diverse expertise from biotechnology, agronomy, soil science, and extension education. Special emphasis is placed on sustainable, eco-friendly, and economically viable nutrient management practices suitable for Indian agriculture. Each chapter is supported by clear diagrams, deficiency symptom charts, fertilizer schedules for major crops, practical exercises, and review questions. The text is student-friendly and serves as an essential resource for undergraduate and postgraduate students of Agriculture and Soil Science, researchers, extension workers, and soil-testing laboratory personnel aiming for balanced and long-term soil health.