January 20, 2025
Today ICAR Officials organized press conference in Press Club of Bengaluru
"Digital Soil Mapping: Bridging Science and Farming"
ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning is delighted to announce an international workshop on Digital Soil Mapping (DSM), scheduled to take place from January 21 to 24, 2025, in Bengaluru, India. This landmark event will bring together global experts, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge and discuss innovative approaches in soil management. The workshop aims to highlight cutting-edge DSM techniques and their transformative potential for agriculture, environmental sustainability, and land-use planning in India and beyond.
Why is Digital Soil Mapping Important?
As the world is making concerted efforts to combat climate change and mitigate its effects on agriculture, India is moving fast towards digital agriculture aided by precision information on soils processed by latest technologies. This warrants use of space technology, drones, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Obviously India and the world need highly skilled researchers well trained in these niche domains. The workshop will bring together global expertise and knowledge in digital soil mapping. Crop production is invariably dependent on soil and weather interactions, a dynamic system that needs to be studied on daily basis for precise advisories to the farmers. These detailed soil maps empower better decision-making for farmers, policymakers, and other stakeholders, addressing critical challenges in soil health and sustainable agriculture.
Benefits for Farmers
Farmers are the backbone of agriculture, and DSM offers them actionable insights for better soil management. Accurate soil maps created through DSM enable farmers to:
Understand Soil Properties: Assess the nutrient status, pH, and texture of their fields.
Optimize Fertilizer Use: Apply the right type and quantity of fertilizers, reducing costs and preventing environmental damage.
Improve Crop Selection: Choose crops suited to their soil conditions, minimizing risks and maximizing productivity.
Conserve Water: Implement efficient irrigation practices by understanding soil water retention capacity.
Prevent Soil Degradation: Take timely action to combat erosion and nutrient depletion, preserving long-term soil health.
Relevance for Other Stakeholders
Beyond farmers, this conference holds immense value for policymakers, agribusinesses, and environmental organizations:
Policymakers: Develop data-driven policies for sustainable land management, prioritize degraded areas for restoration, and enhance climate resilience by identifying drought- prone or waterlogged regions.
Agribusinesses: Offer tailored solutions for soil improvement and precision farming.
Environmental Organizations: Address climate change challenges, such as carbon sequestration and land degradation, using DSM insights.
Workshops and Knowledge Sharing
The conference will feature:
• Keynote Speeches and Technical Sessions: Discussing machine learning, remote sensing, hyperspectral data integration, and soil quality indices.
Interactive Workshops: Training participants in DSM tools and techniques to improve
soil management practices.
Case Studies: Showcasing DSM's real-world impact in India and globally.
Impact on India's Agricultural Landscape
India's agriculture faces challenges like declining soil fertility, erosion, and water scarcity. DSM provides tools to address these issues by:
Mapping soil organic carbon for fertility improvement.
Supporting precision farming to enhance productivity while conserving resources.
Guiding the restoration of degraded lands for long-term sustainability.
Aligning with India's sustainable development goals, DSM aids in achieving food security and mitigating climate change impacts on agriculture.
Call to Action
