Protect soil health through optimum use of fertizers: V-C

Protect soil health through optimum use of fertizers: V-C

Rewarding innovation: Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor P. Murugesa Boopathi handing over the shield to a group of students from URC Palaniammal Matriculation Higher Secondary School, whose project was selected for the national level meet of Children Science Congress, at Bannari Amman Institute of Technology in Sathyamangalam on Saturday. - PHOTO: M.GOVARTHAN The farming community in the country should be educated on the importance of balanced and optimum application of fertilizers in order to protect soil health, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor P. Murugesa Boopathi has said. Farmers in the country are using more than eight million tonnes of fertilizers ever year. A majority of them apply fertilizers without knowing the soil condition. This situation should change. The farming community should test the soil and apply right amount of fertilizers if it has to improve the crop productivity in a sustainable manner, he said while delivering the valedictory address at the Tamil Nadu State Meet of National Children Science Congress at Bannari Amman Institute of Technology in Sathyamangalam on Saturday. The Hindu was the media partner for the event. Tamil Nadu Science Forum co-ordinated the event. The Vice-Chancellor wanted the younger generation to spread awareness among the farming community on the importance of protecting land resources and bringing down pollution. “The country depends on the knowledge of its younger generation for its growth,” he said. The Vice-Chancellor called upon the younger generation to bring in more innovative technologies that would fuel the growth of agriculture. Nearly 1,000 students from various schools presented 196 projects in the State meet. Of them, 30 best projects were selected for the national meet. Two projects were also selected for the Indian Science Congress scheduled to be held in January 2012. Organisers said the State meet received maximum number of projects from the government and aided schools in the State. Over 100 projects were presented by the students from government and aided schools. The Vice-Chancellor handed over the shields to teams selected for the national level meet. Chief Executive Officer of the Institute A.M. Natarajan, Principal A. Shanmugam, Tamil Nadu Science Forum State Deputy President S.T. Balakrishnan spoke.