Sree Poshini which is a farmer friendly tool and by using it anybody can know the quantity of fertilizers to be applied to their tuber crop and specific field based on location or climate and soil test data. Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI) also has developed customized fertilizers for different tuber crops based on this technology and are being sold from the Institute.
Tropical tuber crops include cassava (tapioca), sweet potato, elephant foot yam, yams, taro and a host of other minor tuber crops. (CTCRI) located at Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram has developed 65 varieties of these different tuber crops for different agroclimatic regions of the country whose yield potentials vary with climate and soil type.
During the past 15 years, scientists at CTCRI have been conducting more than 100 field demonstration trials to develop field-specific fertilizer recommendations, scientifically known as site specific nutrient management (SSNM), using a computer model known as Quantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS). Based on detailed research work, the Institute has come out with a detailed scheme of fertilizer recommendations for these crops for different locations and yield targets, said Dr. Archana Mukherjee, Director of the Institute.
Dr. G. Byju, the major inventor of the technology has now come out with a simple mobile app, Sree Poshini which is a farmer friendly tool and by using it anybody can know the quantity of fertilizers to be applied to their tuber crop and specific field based on location or climate and soil test data.
CTCRI also has developed customized fertilizers for different tuber crops based on this technology and are being sold from the Institute, said Dr. G. Byju. He has also developed five different liquid formulations of micronutrients for foliar application to different tuber crops. A private company based at Madurai, M/S Linga Chemicals has already purchased the technology for Rs. 2.50 lakhs to commercially produce the five different micronutrient formulations.
This is the first technology that the Institute is commercializing through Agrinnovate, a ‘for profit’ Company owned by Department of Agricultural Research & Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Research studies conducted at CTCRI clearly indicated that the yield of tuber crops can be increased 20-25 percent from the current level of production if farmers follow the SSNM recommendations prescribed by CTCRI.
