Perception, feasibility, and adoption of soil health card based recommendations for sustainable nutrient management in Northern Telangana

Introduction

Soil fertility management is a crucial factor in sustaining agricultural productivity. Excessive and imbalanced use of fertilizers has led to nutrient mining, declining soil health, and reduced crop productivity in India (Chaudhari, 2016) [3] . To address this, the Government of India launched the Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme in 2015 to provide farmers with soil test-based recommendations for judicious fertilizer application. The SHC aims to improve awareness on soil health, promote balanced fertilization, and reduce cultivation cost.Despite these objectives, the adoption of SHC-based recommendations has been uneven across regions. Several studies indicate gaps between awareness and actual usage, often due to literacy barriers, complexity of recommendations, and limited technical support (Kumar et al., 2017; Patel & Sharma, 2019) [4,9] . Therefore, an in-depth analysis of farmers' perception, feasibility, and constraints is necessary for refining extension strategies. The present study was undertaken in Northern Telangana Zone to assess the perception, feasibility, and utilization of SHC-based recommendations and to analyze constraints faced by farmers. Chaudhari (2016) [3] reported that soil fertility deterioration is primarily due to imbalanced fertilizer use, emerging micronutrient deficiencies, and faulty irrigation management. Kumar et al. (2017) [4] highlighted that farmers' awareness about SHC is relatively high, but usage remains low due to difficulties in interpreting recommendations. Patel and Sharma (2019) [9] found that timely distribution of SHCs and field demonstrations significantly increased adoption among smallholders. Singh et al. (2020) [15] emphasized that technical guidance and subsidies are key enablers for scaling up SHC-based nutrient management practices. Sure! Here's a concise paragraph-wise summary of the studies you listed, with each author and their key findings separated for clarity. Ankhila, R. H., et al. (2023) [1] in the study in Andhra Pradesh involving 120 SHC adopters and 60 non-adopters revealed that adoption of the Soil Health Card scheme improved farmers' awareness about soil health and increased agricultural productivity.

Charel, J. M., et al. (2018) [2] revealed that among SHC holders, 70.83% exhibited a moderate level of perception of the scheme, highlighting the need for better awareness programs and training to improve adoption rates. Reddy, A. A. (2017) [10] found that this study emphasized the importance of farmer education, showing that understanding the SHC process and recommendations is crucial for maximizing the scheme's benefits. Sahay, R., et al. (2019) [11] concluded that Research in Unnao District demonstrated that SHC adoption led to judicious fertilizer use, increased use of bio-fertilizers, and overall improvement in soil health, supporting sustainable farming practices. Singh, B. P., et al. (2023) [14] revealed that the Farmers who adopted SHC recommendations achieved significant yield increases in wheat (30.80%), paddy (29.80%), and sugarcane (32.90%), showing the scheme's effectiveness in enhancing soil fertility and crop productivity. Ohlan, R., et al. (2025) [7] reported in the study in Haryana identified challenges such as inadequate extension services and low awareness, suggesting targeted interventions are needed to boost SHC adoption. Madhuri, C. R., et al. (2024) [6] revealed that Paddy growers in north coastal Andhra Pradesh expressed skepticism about the immediate benefits of SHC recommendations, indicating the necessity of demonstration trials and farmer training programs. Yadav, S. (2025) [18] reported that Farmers in Rewari District faced difficulties interpreting SHC recommendations and calculating fertilizer doses, which hindered full adoption despite adequate knowledge of the scheme. Kumar, D. V., & Rani, A. J. (2018) [5] found that adoption of SHC recommendations among paddy farmers was positively influenced by factors such as age, education, and extension contact. Patel, D. K., et al. (2021) [8] revealed that in Saharsa district, SHC promoted balanced fertilizer use and improved soil health, with adoption significantly influenced by socio-economic factors. Sivanarayana, G. (2023) [16] in the study highlighted that access to information, training, and extension services were key determinants of SHC adoption, emphasizing the need for supportive policies. Sahu, V. P. (2023) [12] showed that Wheat growers in Jabalpur who followed SHC recommendations experienced higher productivity and lower input costs, illustrating the scheme's potential for enhancing farm profitability. Sunil, B. H., & Kumar, S. (2012) [17] revealed that farmers in Bilaspur had a generally positive perception of SHC, but challenges in understanding technical recommendations and accessing inputs limited adoption. Shrivastava, R., et al. (2009) [13] reported that Socio-economic traits such as education, income, and landholding size significantly influenced the adoption of disease control measures in rice, which parallels the adoption patterns observed for SHC recommendations.

Methodology

The study was conducted in ten purposively selected districts of the Northern Telangana Zone, namely Adilabad, Karimnagar, Siricilla, Nizamabad, Peddapally, Mancherial, Kamareddy, Asifabad, Nirmal, and Jagtial, chosen for their significance in paddy cultivation and agricultural activities. A total of 400 farmers were selected as respondents, with 40 individuals from each district to ensure adequate representation of the farming population. Data were collected through a pre-tested structured interview schedule, designed to capture detailed information on farmers' perceptions, feasibility, and utilization of soil health cards, as well as the constraints encountered in paddy seed production. The pre-testing of the interview schedule ensured that the questions were clear, relevant, and reliable. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools, including frequency and percentage, to summarize demographic characteristics and response patterns, and ranking methods to assess the relative importance of different responses. Further, the constraints faced by farmers were quantitatively evaluated and prioritized using the Garrett ranking technique, which converts ranks into scores for objective assessment. This methodological approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the technological and skill gaps in paddy seed production among farmers in the selected districts.

Perception of Soil Health Card Recommendations

Pooled data of Northern Telangana revealed that 39% of farmers perceived SHC recommendations as favorable, followed by 35% who rated them as most favorable, and 26% as less favorable. District-wise, Kamareddy (50%) and Nizamabad (40%) showed higher positive perceptions, while Asifabad recorded 50% less favorable responses.

Feasibility of SHC Recommendations

A majority (42%) of farmers found SHC recommendations moderately feasible, while 36% rated them as low feasibility, and only 22% considered them highly feasible. Asifabad had the highest proportion of farmers reporting low feasibility (67.5%). shows that when examining the practical feasibility of using SHC recommendations, 42% of respondents reported a medium level of feasibility, suggesting that most farmers find it moderately easy to implement SHC recommendations in their fields. About 36% perceived a low level of feasibility, indicating certain challenges such as lack of resources, technical knowledge, or timely access to inputs recommended in the SHC. Only 22% reported a high level of feasibility, which implies that a minority of farmers can easily adopt all SHC recommendations without constraints. This indicates that while SHC is generally considered useful, practical barriers still affect its full adoption.

Usage of SHC Recommendations

Adoption of SHC recommendations remained low with 57% of respondents under the low usage/non-adoptioncategory, 29% under medium usage, and only 14% under high usage. Districts such as Peddapally, Siricilla, and Mancherial had more than 60% farmers reporting low adoption levels. [15] , which similarly emphasized the critical role of timely training and technical support in ensuring the effective use of SHCs. Adopting a farmer-centric extension approach will enhance the utilization of SHCs and support sustainable soil fertility management across the region.

Constraints in Adoption

References

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