Soon, farmers will be able to test soil in seconds with a handheld device

Farmers should soon be able to ditch laborious methods of soil testing, which involve collecting samples from different parts of a field and having each of those tested at government labs.

- Vijay C. Roy & Dhirendra Kumar

The government is preparing to upgrade the soil-testing process by empowering farmers with a handheld digital tool that can deliver results in real time using satellite technology, said M.L. Jat, secretary, department of agricultural research and education. The technology is still under development, so no timeline was given.

With this device, farmers will be able to quickly assess soil properties such as texture, organic matter, pH, and nutrient levels in seconds, allowing for precision-farming.

With such information handy, farmers can apply the right amount of fertilizer, nutrients, and irrigation based on specific soil needs, thus reducing input costs and improving crop yields, said Jat, who is also director general at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.