Vijayawada: Deteriorating soil hits original taste

Vijayawada: Ever wondered why mangoes, bananas, tomatoes, chillies and groundnuts from AP that were once famous all over have lost their prized taste, flavour and charm?

The answer lies in the deteriorating quality of soil. The soil quality has degraded due to depletion of much-needed micronutrients. Health experts warn that it's not just farm produce that has lost taste and flavour, consuming food that is produced from soil that lacks key nutrients will affect human health and lead to ailments ranging from gastric issues to anaemia. 

Agriculture scientists point out that excess use of fertilisers like nitrogen, phosphorus for increased productivity and poor soil management was robbing the soil of key nutrients. They said soil fertility, plant health and human health were interconnected and worked as a cycle.

As per the research findings in a study conducted by the International Potash Institute in AP ,in addition to universal deficiency of nitrogen, deficiencies of potassium, sulphur and micronutrients were emerging as constraints for sustaining and/or enhancing productivity under intensive crop production systems. 

It is estimated that 29.4 million hectares in India are experiencing a decline in fertility with a net negative balance of 8-10 million million tonnes of nutrients per annum. Poor nutrient use efficiency is another cause for concern.

“Lack of iron in the soil will lead to iron deficiency in the plant that is grown in that soil. Consuming the produce from such iron-deficient plants will only lead to anaemia,” agriculture scientist and founder of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Dr G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, told Deccan Chronicle.

“Overuse of soil without proper management of nutrients by recycling and excessive use of fertilisers are leading to deficient farm produce affecting the quality of the food which also leads to ailments,” Dr Ramanjaneyulu. 

He added that nutrients like iron, calcium and zinc were not being replenished in the soil in the organic way which will lead to such deficiencies.  

Noted physician Dr Sandeep agreed that deficiency of micronutrients in the soils would lead to poor quality of the food and in cases affect the human health.