Lok Sabha Question No. 4047 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Imbalance use of Fertilizer
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Eswarasamy K

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4047

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## IMBALANCE USE OF FERTILIZER

## 4047.  SHRI ESWARASAMY K:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ षि  और  ककसान कल्याण मंत्री be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recent study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  which  found  that  climate  change  and  imbalanced  use  of fertilizers are leading to degradation of soil organic carbon in arable lands across the country;
- (b) whether  the  findings  indicate  region-specific  variations  in  organic  carbon  levels, particularly in relation to temperature, rainfall and elevation and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the steps being taken by the Government to promote balanced fertilizer application and improve soil organic carbon content; and
- (d) the  total  budget  allocated  and  utilised  for  soil  health  improvement  and  carbon management research projects under ICAR during the last five years, year and State-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ षि और ककसान कल्याण राज्य मंत्री (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a) & (b): Yes, the Government is aware of the study conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through the ICAR -Indian Institute of Soil Science (IISS) which assessed the  spatial  distribution  of  Soil  Organic  Carbon  (SOC)  in  cultivated  areas  of  the country.  The  study  analysed  254,236  geo-referenced  top  soil  samples  (0 -15  cm  depth) collected from different parts of India to evaluate SOC status and its relationship with climatic and  geographical  factors.    Long-term  fertilizer  experiments  have  shown  that  imbalanced fertilizer application leads to soil fertility degradation and a decline in soil carbon levels.

The study reported that SOC in cultivated soils of the country varies widely from 0.01% to 5.25% with an average value of about 0.64% (±0.42), indicating considerable variability in soil  carbon  levels  across  regions.  The  analysis  shows  that  SOC  distribution  is  strongly influenced by climatic and physiographic factors such as elevation, rainfall and temperature. In particular, SOC showed a significant positive correlation with elevation and a significant negative correlation with average annual maximum temperature and average annual rainfall, indicating that higher temperatures and certain climatic conditions associated with climate variability may contribute to lower SOC levels in cultivated lands.

The  study  also  highlighted  that  the  generated  SOC  distribution  maps  can  serve  as important  references  for  soil  health  management,  sustainable  agricultural  practices,  land degradation monitoring, carbon sequestration efforts and climate change mitigation strategies.

(c): The  Government  has  taken  several  policy  steps,  technological  and  awareness measures to promote balanced fertilizer application and improve soil organic carbon (SOC) content focusing on reducing excessive chemical fertilizer use, encouraging soil-test based nutrient management, balanced fertilization, crop diversification and promoting organic inputs. Since 2014-15, 25.90 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated/distributed across the country to promote balanced and integrated nutrient management for improving productivity and soil fertility. Across the country, 93,781 farmer trainings, 6.80 lakh demonstrations, and 7,425  farmer  melas/campaigns  have  been  conducted  to  promote  Soil  Health  Card recommendations.

As parts of its awareness and training activities, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) train the farmers on different aspects of Soil Health and Fertility Management including balanced use  of  fertilizers.  During  2024-25,  the  KVKs  trained  about  1.31  lakh  farmers  on  different aspects of Soil Health and Fertility Management including balanced use of fertilizers. More than 4000 frontline demonstrations have been conducted in farmers' fields to show the impact of soil test based balanced fertilizer applications. The various schemes/ progarmmes across the ministries promoting the balanced fertilizer application and improve soil organic carbon content are attached as Annexure-I .

(d): Budget  allocated  and  utilized  for  soil  health  improvement  and  carbon  management research projects under ICAR - All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Soil Test Crop Response (AICRP-STCR), AICRP on Long-Term Fertilizer Experiments (AICRP-LTFE), AICRP  on  Micro-  and  Secondary  Nutrients  and  Pollutant  Elements  in  Soils  and  Plants (AICRP- MSPE ), All India Network Project on Soil Biodiversity-Biofertilizers (AINP- SBB), Conservation  Research  Platform    for  Conservation  Agriculture  (CRP-CA),  AICRP  on Integrated  Farming  System  (AICRP-IFS),  and  AINP  on  Natural  Farming  (AINP-NF)  with AICRP centres across the country is attached at Annexure-II and Annexure-III .

*****

## ANNEXURE-I

## [Part (c) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 4047 dated 17 th  March, 2026]

| Scheme / Programme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          | Implementing Ministry                      |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| • AICRP on LTFE • AICRP on STCR • AICRP on MSPE • AINP on SBB • CRP on CA • Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) • Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCD-NER) • National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) • Soil Health Management (SHM) Scheme | Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare  |
| • PM-PRANAM (Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth) • Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      | Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers        |
| • GOBAR-Dhan Scheme                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         | Ministry of Jal Shakti / Rural Development |
| • City Compost / Waste-to-Wealth Initiatives                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                | Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs        |

******

## The allocation and expenditure in various projects over the last five completed years

(Rs. In lakh)

| Institute/ AICRPs/ AINP   | Year       | Year      | Year       | Year      | Year       | Year      | Year       | Year      | Year       | Year      |
|---------------------------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|------------|-----------|
| Institute/ AICRPs/ AINP   | 2020-2021  | 2020-2021 | 2021-2022  | 2021-2022 | 2022-2023  | 2022-2023 | 2023-2024  | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025  | 2024-2025 |
| Institute/ AICRPs/ AINP   | Allocation | Utilized  | Allocation | Utilized  | Allocation | Utilized  | Allocation | Utilized  | Allocation | Utilized  |
| AICRP-LTFE                | 526.11     | 526.11    | 574.57     | 574.57    | 651.06     | 651.06    | 695.65     | 695.65    | 783.49     | 783.49    |
| AICRP-STCR                | 782.75     | 782.75    | 926.95     | 926.95    | 1087.86    | 1087.86   | 1274.12    | 1274.12   | 1419.32    | 1419.32   |
| AICRP- MSPE               | 709.42     | 604.58    | 829.53     | 829.53    | 914.99     | 914.99    | 775.41     | 775.41    | 990.46     | 990.46    |
| AINP- SBB                 | 228.37     | 150.05    | 212.04     | 212.04    | 284.33     | 284.33    | 304.60     | 304.60    | 200.35     | 200.35    |
| CRP- CA                   | 218.41     | 184.74    | 274.99     | 274.93    | 242.36     | 242.36    | 335.29     | 335.29    | 373.19     | 373.13    |
| AICRP-IFS                 | 188.35     | 186.34    | 675.37     | 673.37    | 580.46     | 579.37    | 642.27     | 639.46    | 635.41     | 635.41    |
| AINP-NF                   | 88.47      | 87.46     | 252.56     | 251.42    | 193.78     | 193.78    | 336.28     | 334.22    | 245.99     | 245.99    |
| Total                     | 2741.88    | 2522.03   | 3746.01    | 3742.81   | 3954.84    | 3953.75   | 4363.62    | 4358.75   | 4648.21    | 4648.15   |

******

## [Part (d) of Lok Sabha USQ No. 4047 dated 17 th  March, 2026]

## List of Co-operating Centres under AICRPs/AINP/CRP

| AICRP on LTFE UAS GKVK, Bangalore; OUAT, Bhubaneswar; TNAU, Coimbatore; PJTSAU, Hyderabad; JNKVV, Jabalpur; PAU, Ludhiana; CSKHPKV, Palampur; BAU, Ranchi; GBPUAT, Pantnagar; KAU, Pattambi; JAU Junagarh; MPUAT, Udaipur; VNMAU, Parbhani; Dr PDKV, Akola; IGKVV, Raipur; ICAR- IARI, New Delhi; ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore; ICAR-IASRI, New Delhi.                                                                                                     |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| AICRP on MSPE PJTSAU, Hyderabad; RAU, Pusa; AAU, Anand;HAU, Hisar; JNKVV, Jabalpur; Dr PDKV, Akola; OUAT, Bhubaneshwar;PAU, Ludhiana;TNAU, Coimbatore;GBPUAT, Pantnagar;AAU, Jorhat; BCKV, Kalyani; RAU, Ranchi;CSKHPKV, Palampur; CSAUAT, Kanpur; KAU Kerala; UAS Bengaluru; CAU, Manipur; NIANP Bengaluru;ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; RLBCAU, Jhansi.                                                                                                      |
| AICRP on STCR PJTSAU, Hyderabad; RAU, Pusa; IGKV, Raipur; ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; HAU, Hisar; HPKV, Palampur, GKVK, Bengaluru; KAU, Vellanikara; JNKVV, Jabalpur; MPKV, Rahuri; OUAT, Bhubaneswar; PAU, Ludhiana; SKRAU, Bikaner; TNAU, Coimbatore; GPUAT, Pantnagar; BCKVV, Kalyani; ICAR-CRIJAF, Barrackpore; PAJANCOA, Puduchery; BHU, Varanasi; AAU, Jorhat; JAU, Gujarat; SKUAT, Srinagar; BAU, Ranchi; ICAR-IISR, Lucknow; ICAR- Complex, Manipur. |
| AINP on SBB AAU, Jorhat; ANGRAU, Amaravathi; BAU, Ranchi; HAU, Hisar; JNKVV, Jabalpur; KAU, Thrissur; MAU, Parbhani; MPUAT, Udaipur; OUAT, Bhubaneswar; RAU, Pusa; TNAU, Coimbatore; YSPUHF, Solan; CRRI, Hazaribagh; ICAR-IARI, New Delhi; DGR, Junagarh; GBPUAT, Pantnagar; UAS, Dharwad.                                                                                                                                                            |
| CRP on CA PIC New Delhi, PIU Bhopal, ICAR-IISS Bhopal, ICAR-CRIDA Hyderabad, ICAR-IARI Delhi, ICAR-DWR Jabalpur, ICAR-RCER Patna, ICAR-CSSRI Karnal, ICAR-NIASM Baramati, ICAR-IIWBR Karnal, ICAR-NRRI Cuttack, ICAR-IIFSR Modipuram, ICAR-CIAE Bhopal.                                                                                                                                                                                                |

******

| State / U.T      | University/ Institute   | AICRP- IFS (74 no's)   | AICRP- IFS (74 no's)   | AICRP- IFS (74 no's)   | AICRP- IFS (74 no's)                   | AINP-NF (20 no's)   |
|------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|----------------------------------------|---------------------|
| State / U.T      | University/ Institute   | On-station Research    | On-station Research    | On-station Research    | On-farm Research (districts) (32 no's) | AINP-NF (20 no's)   |
| State / U.T      | University/ Institute   | Main Centre (25 no's)  | Sub- Centre (11 no's)  | Vol. Centre (6 no's)   |                                        | AINP-NF (20 no's)   |
| A& N Islands     | CARI, Port Blair        | ----                   | ----                   | Port Blair             | ----                                   | ----                |
| Andhra Pradesh   | ANGRAU, Hyderabad       | -                      | Maruteru               | ----                   | Vizianagaram                           | ----                |
| Assam            | AAU, Jorhat             | Jorhat                 | ----                   | ----                   | Golaghat                               | ----                |
| Bihar            | BAU, Sabour             | Sabour                 | ----                   | ----                   | Saharsa, Biharz                        | ----                |
| Bihar            | ICAR-RC for ER, Patna   | ----                   | ----                   | Patna                  | ----                                   | ----                |
| Chhattisgarh     | IGKV, Raipur            | Raipur                 | ----                   | ----                   | Bastar                                 | Raipur              |
| Delhi            | IASRI, New Delhi        | -                      | -                      | Delhi                  | -                                      | -                   |
| Goa              | ICAR-RC for Goa         | ----                   | ----                   | Old Goa                | ----                                   | ----                |
| Gujarat          | SDAU, S. K. Nagar       | S. K. Nagar            | ----                   | ----                   | Sabarkantha                            | SK Nagar            |
| Gujarat          | AAU, Anand              | ----                   | ----                   | ----                   | Dahod                                  | ----                |
| Gujarat          | NAU, Navsari            | ----                   | Navsari                | ----                   | ----                                   | ----                |
| Gujarat          | JAU, Junagardh          | ----                   | Junagadh               | ----                   | ----                                   | ----                |
| Haryana          | CCS HAU, Hisar          | Hisar                  | ----                   | ----                   | Rewari                                 | ----                |
| Himachal Pradesh | CSK HPKV, Palampur      | Palampur               | ----                   | ----                   | Kullu                                  | Bajaura             |
| J&K              | SKUAST, Jammu           | Chatha (Jammu)         | ----                   | ----                   | Udhampur                               | ----                |
| Jharkhand        | BAU, Ranchi             | Ranchi                 | ----                   | ----                   | Saraikela- Kharsawan                   | Ranchi              |

| Karnataka      | UAS, Bangalore           | ----                | ----            | ----   | Chikkaballap ura    | ----              |
|----------------|--------------------------|---------------------|-----------------|--------|---------------------|-------------------|
| Karnataka      | UAS, Dharwad             | ----                | ----            | ----   | Uttara Kannada      | Dharwad           |
| Karnataka      | UAS, Raichur             | Siruguppa (Bellary) | ----            | ----   | ----                | ----              |
| Karnataka      | UAHS, Shivmoga           | Kathalgere          | ----            | ----   | ----                | ----              |
| Kerala         | KAU, Thirssur            | Thiruvanthapu ram   | ----            | ----   | Alappuzha           | ----              |
| Kerala         | CTCRI, Thiruvanthap uram | -                   | -               | -      | -                   | Thiruvantha puram |
| Kerala         | IISR, Calicut            | ----                | ----            | ----   | ----                | Calicut           |
| Madhya Pradesh | JNKVV, Jabalpur          | Jabalpur            | Powarkheda Rewa | ----   | Mandla and Jabalpur | Jabalpur          |
| Madhya Pradesh | RVS KVV, Gwalior         | -----               | Indore          | ----   | ----                | ----              |
| Madhya Pradesh | IISS, Bhopal             | ----                | ----            | ----   | ----                | Bhopal            |
| Maharashtra    | MPKV, Rahuri             | Rahuri              | ----            | ----   | Solapur             | ----              |
| Maharashtra    | MAU, Parbhani            | Parbhani            | ----            | ----   | Nanded              | ----              |
| Maharashtra    | DPDKV, AKola             | Akola               | ----            | ----   | Wardha              | ----              |
| Maharashtra    | DBS KKV, Dapoli          | Karjat              | ----            | ----   | Palghar             | Karjat            |
| Meghalaya      | ICAR-RC for NEH Region   | ----                | ----            | Umiam  | ----                | Umiam             |
| Orissa         | OUAT, Bhubaneswar        | Bhubaneswar         | Chiplima        | ----   | Kendujhar & Khordha | ----              |
| Punjab         | PAU, Ludhiana            | Ludhiana            | ----            | ----   | Patiala             | Ludhiana          |
| Rajasthan      | SK RAU, Bikaner          | Durgapur (Jaipur)   | ----            | ----   | Bharatpur           |                   |
| Rajasthan      | KAU, Kota                | -                   | Kota            | -      | -                   | -                 |

|               | NRCSS, Ajmer          | -             | -         | -         | -                | Ajmer       |
|---------------|-----------------------|---------------|-----------|-----------|------------------|-------------|
|               | MPUAT, Udaipur        | ----          |           | ----      | Rajasmand        | Udaipur     |
| Sikkim        | ICAR-RC- NEH, Gangtok |               |           |           |                  | Gangtok     |
| Tamil Nadu    | TNAU, Coimbatore      | Coimbatore    | Thanjavur | ----      | Salem & Dindigul | Coimbatore  |
| Telangana     | PJTSAU, Rajendranagar | Rajendranagar | Rudrur    | -         | Rangareddy       | -           |
| Uttar Pradesh | CSAUAT, Kanpur        | Kanpur        | ----      | ----      | Unnao            | ----        |
| Uttar Pradesh | NDUAT, Faizabad       | Kumarganj     | ----      | ----      | Mau              | ----        |
| Uttar Pradesh | BHU, Varanasi         | ----          | Varanasi  | ----      | ----             | ----        |
| Uttar Pradesh | IIFSR, Modipuram      | ----          | ----      | Modipuram | Meerut           | Modipuram   |
| Uttarakhand   | GBPUAT, Pantnagar     | Pantnagar     | ----      | ----      | Almora           | Pantnagar   |
| Uttarakhand   | VPKAS, Almora         | -             | -         | -         | -                | Almora      |
| West Bengal   | BCKV, Kalyani         | Kalyani       | ----      | ----      | Bankura          | -           |
| West Bengal   | RKVU, Narendrapur     | -             | -         | -         | -                | Narendrapur |

******