Laboratory Facilities
- Soil Test Crop Response (ICAR-AICRP-STCR) Laboratory
This laboratory was started in the year 1967-68 to carry out research works in order to develop STCR-IPNS based fertilizer prescriptions for major crops/cropping sequences of the corresponding agro-climatic zones of Tamil Nadu
Objectives of the laboratory
- To develop soil test based fertilizer prescription under Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR-IPNS) for various crops and soils.
- To evaluate the extent to which fertilizer needs of crops can be reduced in relation to conjoint use of organic manures.
- To evaluate the various soil test methods for their suitability under field conditions.
- To evolve a basis for fertilizer recommendation for a whole cropping sequence based on initial soil test values.
- Secondary and Micronutrients Laboratory
Milestones
1967: Started as ICAR – AICRP on Micronutrients
1985: Renamed as AICRP on Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants
2006: Reassessment of soil micronutrient status and preparing thematic maps
2009: Bio-fortification and screening of crops for Micronutrient efficiency
2010: Bio-transfer of micronutrients in Soil – Plant – Animal continuum
2013: Redefining critical limits for Zn and Cu
Objectives
- To delineate and reassess the changes in secondary and micronutrient fertility in the soils of predominant cropping system.
- To prepare secondary and micronutrient fertility status maps using geographic information system (GIS).
- To study micronutrients distribution in the soil profiles of major soil orders under different land uses.
- To establish and refine the critical limits of secondary and micronutrients in soils and crops.
- To standardize soil test methods and to evaluate multi-nutrient extractants for the estimation of available secondary and micronutrients in soils.
- To assess the influence of P build up on the availability of micronutrients in soils and its impact on micronutrient nutrition of crops.
- To standardize the rate of foliar feeding of secondary and micronutrients for correcting its deficiency and enrichment in crop produces.
- To screen crop genotypes for micronutrient efficiency and bio-fortification.
- To monitor secondary and micronutrients transfer in soil-plant animal continuum.
- To assess the extent of heavy metal pollution in soil, plant and water and monitor the metal transfer in soil-plant-animal continuum.
- To demonstrate the proven technologies through front line demonstration in farmers’ fields and create awareness on the significance of secondary and micronutrients in crops.
2. 15N Research Laboratory and Long Term Fertilizer Experiment
Objectives
- Nitrogen utilization pattern and use efficiency of different crops
- Measurement and control of N losses
- Development and testing of new fertilizer formulations
- Quantification of N fixation by legumes and microorganisms
Facilities Available
- Mass Spectrophotometer (micro mass 622)
- Segmented flow analyzer (auto analyzer 5100)
- Nitrogen analyzer (kjeltec auto system)
- Microwave Digestion Unit (3000 Solv)
Mass Spectrophotometer for 15N studies
Long Term Fertilizer Experiments (LTFE)
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities (SAU) initiated the All India Co-ordinated Research Project on Long Term Fertilizer Experiments (LTFE) in 1972 in 11 centers located in major agro-climatic zones of the country including TNAU, Coimbatore. The main objectives of Tamil Nadu centre are to study the effect of continuous application of plant nutrients on soil nutrient availability, crop productivity and sustainability over years under Maize-Finger millet cropping sequence. So far 43 crop cycles have been completed. The LTFE is located in Field No.37 of the Eastern block having soil representing, calcareous medium black with sandy clay loam texture which belongs to Perianaickenpalayam series (Vertic Ustropept) of Inceptisol.
Permanent Manurial Experiment (PME)
The Permanent Manurial Experiment (PME) was started in the year 1909 and being maintained at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. It is the oldest one having historical importance in India as it has crossed 100 years of continuous experimentation. This experiment was conducted to study the continuous application of nutrients on yield and available nutrients status of soil. It has eighteen treatments which comprises of control, either nutrients alone or in combination, organic manures alone and INM etc. are being tested as non replicated trial.
From 2008 onwards the treatments of PME was revised to suit the high yielding crops that are being released and recommended currently. The approaches of nutrient addition through FYM/Poultry Manure, Integrated Nutrient Management, STCR-IPNS, and residue incorporation, etc were introduced in the middle strip of PME. Instead of fixed dose of fertilizer nutrients followed earlier, the blanket dose of fertilizer recommended for each crop variety/hybrid is being adopted at present in maize- sunflower cropping system under irrigated conditions.
Overview of permanent Manurial experiment with omission (N, P & K) and addition of (N, P & K) nutrient in inorganic and organic form in sunflower crop
- Soil Physics Laboratory
Soil Physics laboratory is functioning for the past thirty years from 1970 on words with the major objective of identifying soil physical constraints that limit plant growth and identification of appropriate technologies to overcome the constraints.
Objectives
- To delineate soil physical constraints in different districts of Tamil Nadu, India
- To teach soil physics course for M.Sc.(Ag) & Ph.D Soil Science Students
- To develop management strategies for physical constraints.
Facilities
Pressure plate apparatus
Double Ring Infiltrometer
Hydraulic conductivity apparatus
Wet and Dry Aggregate analyser
Services offered
Analysis and identification of soil physical constraints and technology advisory for problem soil management to the farmers.
- Radioisotope Laboratory
Objectives of the Unit
- To take up radiation research on nutrient use, their mobility and interaction in soils and plants.
- To impart training to undergraduate and postgraduate students on radioisotopes.
Services Provided
Being a specialised laboratory, facilities are available for processing and analysis of radioactive samples.
| 1 | Laboratory visit of students from other institutions and demonstration of radiological instruments | 3250 /day |
| 2 | Charges for procurement of radioactive unsealed/sealed sources for research purposes | 1000/ consignment |
| 3 | Charges for handling hot sources and preparing stock solutions | 2500/ consignment |
| 4 | Charges for handling hot sources and preparing labeled fertilisers | 2500/ consignment |
| 5 | Radiation survey and monitoring | 1000 |
| 6 | Service charges for disposal of radioactive wastes | 2500/disposal |
| 7 | Processing of radioactive samples | 100 / sample |
| 8 | Radioassay of samples by GM counter | 100 / sample |
| 9 | Radioassay of samples by Liquid Scintillation Counter | 150 / sample |
| 10 | Radioassay of samples by Solid Scintillation Counter | 150 / sample |
| 11 | Radioassay of samples by Low Beta Counter | 250 / sample |
| 13 | Radioassay of samples by Multichannel Analyser | 250 / sample |
| 14 | Macro autoradiography of plant specimens | 2500 / sample |
View of the Counting Room – Radioisotope Laboratory
Experiment with Radiotracer Phosphorus (32 P) to study Efficiency of Crops in Utilizing Fixed Phosphorus
- Tamil Nadu Soil reference Centre
Fifteen soils representing different agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu were selected. The profiles were opened and soil monoliths were collected for exposition. The exposition of soil monoliths were arranged according to the agro climatic zones followed by soil series names, taxonomic classification and local name. It is a potential resource for famers, soil scientists, agronomists, ecologists, extension personnel’s and students.
- PG Laboratories (PG lab and Ph. D Lab)
The modernized Ph.D., lab of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry has the facility to accommodate 10 Ph.D. scholars with individual cubicles furnished with tables, chairs and book shelves. The laboratory is equipped with hot air ovens, muffle furnace, sand bath, water bath, mini Wiley mill, shaking machine, quartz distilled water still, electric weighing balance, Flame photometer, block digester and Auto nitrogen analyser.
Microwave Digester
Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS)
Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometer (ICP-AES)
- UG Laboratories
The under graduate laboratories of the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry are well equipped for carrying out routine soil, plant, water, manures and fertilizer analysis. The laboratories are also having a good collection of rocks and mineral specimens for educational purpose. The spacious and well-furnished laboratories can accommodate 100 undergraduate students at a time.
UG Laboratory
Sales and Services
- Venture Capital Scheme on Soil testing and Technology Advisory Centre (SOTAC)
The venture capital scheme is functioning in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry since 2003. Soil and irrigation water samples are being analysed on charge basis and advisory services are rendered using DSSIFER software.
Soil analysis: pH, EC, texture, calcareousness, available macro and micronutrients and organic carbon and providing soil health card
Irrigation Water analysis: pH, EC, calcium, magnesium, sodium,potassium, carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate and irrigation water quality appraisal
Sale through SOTAC: DSSIFER 2010 CDs and Visual Diagnostic Kit (VDK) CDs
Advisory Service
Based on the Soil and Irrigation water analysis, the following advisory services are provided to the farmers.
- Soil test and yield target based fertilizer prescriptions under Integrated Plant Nutrition System (STCR-IPNS) for various crops using DSSIFER 2010
- Management of problem soils and irrigation water.
- Suitability of soils for various crops based on analytical result.
- Venture Capital Scheme – Frontier Analytical Soil Testing Laboratory
The Frontier Analytical Soil Testing Laboratory of the Department is functioning since May, 2017 to provide analytical services for soil, plant, manure and water to researchers of TNAU and other institutes. In addition, in the scheme the analytical services of radioisotope laboratory are also extended to the researchers of TNAU.
The analytical services includes analysis of physical properties, chemical (available and total nutrients) constituents of the soil, proximate and ultimate composition of the plant samples, macro and micro nutrient composition of manures and irrigation water analysis.
- Production of Designer Micronutrient Fertilizer Mixtures for Crops
The Micronutrient mixtures are the fertilizer mixture products, incorporating all the straight micronutrient chemical fertilizers in a definite proportion based on the crop nutrient uptake and the degree of deficiency of soil micronutrients in Tamil Nadu soils. Application of MN mixtures as Enriched FYM will help to tackle the multi-micronutrient deficiency problems besides balanced fertilization to crop.
Indirect benefits: Balanced fertilization of crops through fertilizer mixtures will ensure enhanced crop productivity besides sustaining soil fertility.
Crops and dosage
| Crop | Irrigated (kg/ha) | Rainfed (kg/ha) | Cost
(Rs./Kg) |
|
| TNAU | others | |||
| Rice | 25 | 12.5 | wetland-70.00 | 82.60 |
| Rainfed-60.00 | 70.80 | |||
| Maize | 30 | 7.5 | 65.00 | 76.0 |
| Millets | 12.5 | 7.5 | 65.00 | 76.70 |
| Groundnut | 65.00 | 76.70 | ||
| Sesame | 70.00 | 82.60 | ||
| Cotton (var.) | 65.00 | 76.70 | ||
| Sunflower (var.) | 75.00 | 88.50 | ||
| Sunflower (hyb) | 15.0 | 10.0 | 75.00 | 88.50 |
| Cotton(hyb) | 15.0 | – | 65.00 | 76.70 |
| Pulses | 5.0 | 5.0 | 80.00 | 94.40 |
| Castor(var.) | 15.0 | 10.0 | 65.00 | 76.70 |
| Castor(hyb.) | 15.0 | 10.0 | 65.00 | 76.70 |
| Sugarcane | 50.0 | – | 60.00 | 70.80 |
| Coconut | 1 kg/tree/year | – | 75.00 | 88.50 |
- Production and Supply of Nutriseed Packs to farmers and Crop Production Units
- Production and distribution of water soluble fertilizers for fertigation of crops
- Both Government of India and Tamil Nadu are promoting drip irrigation as a water conservation measure.
- Usage of water soluble fertilizers, an improved formulation is highly essential to enhance fertilizer use efficiency through drip irrigation especially for commercially viable crops.
- Commercially available water soluble fertilizers are costly because most of the water soluble fertilizers are imported.
- Adoption of fertigation using water soluble fertilizers and foliar fertilization will enhance yield of crops, bio-fortification in edible parts of the crops and net profit.
- Under this scheme, water soluble fertilizers are manufactured at three different centres of TNAU and supply to the farmers at an economic rate thereby saving the fertilizer input cost of the farming community.