Zeroeing-in on the Irrigation-Micronutrient Equation

In an exclusive conversation with Agrospectrum, Dr Rahul Mirchandani, Chairman & Managing Director, Aries Agro Limited, outlined why micronutrients are the “missing link” in India’s groundwater sustainability and nutritional security framework.

- Suchetana Choudhury

Drawing on case studies from Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, he explained how location-specific nutrient-water management models are delivering tangible gains in yield, water-use efficiency, and soil health. Dr Mirchandani also evaluated the early impact of the PM-PRANAM scheme, calling for performance-linked incentives to accelerate micronutrient adoption. He detailed emerging scientific evidence on how zinc, boron, iron, and manganese enhance photosynthetic efficiency and drought resilience in water-intensive crops like rice, wheat, cotton, and banana. Concluding with a five-point reform agenda, he urged policymakers to integrate pricing, R&D, extension, digitisation, and regulation to make micronutrients central to India’s agri-future.

States like Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu face the dual crises of falling groundwater levels and micronutrient-deficient soils. Are there proven models that other states could replicate?

Absolutely — and the encouraging part is that these are not just theoretical pilots; they are field-tested interventions delivering measurable yield and water savings. In Punjab and Haryana, both Punjab Agricultural University and Haryana Agricultural University have pioneered zinc- and boron-enriched fertigation protocols for paddy and wheat using micro-irrigation. The integration of zinc sulphate in fertigation lines has helped farmers address the fact that over 60 per cent of soil samples in Punjab are zinc-deficient, as revealed by soil health card data. Farmers adopting Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) — a method that reduces water usage by up to 30% compared to puddled transplanting — are now pairing it with balanced micronutrient application, which not only cuts irrigation needs but also improves nutrient uptake efficiency.