With the kharif season under way, soybean sowing has gathered pace across the fields of Khargone district. After cotton, soybean is treated here as the most important crop, which is why farmers are working flat out in the hope of a strong harvest. Yet experts are sounding a warning: one small slip at sowing time can undo all that effort. This year, agricultural specialists are urging farmers to steer clear of the same old mistakes that cause losses season after season.
Where the most common mistake creeps in
According to experts, a large number of farmers are still following methods that are decades old. The biggest of these errors is putting both seed and fertiliser into the field together at sowing time. This directly hits seed germination and the early growth of the plants. The result is that in many spots the plants stay weak and the yield comes out far below expectations.
Why mixing seed with fertiliser is risky
Dr. Rajiv Singh, a senior agricultural scientist in Khargone, explains that soybean is an extremely delicate crop and even slight carelessness in its cultivation can prove costly. He said many farmers mix the fertiliser straight into the seed during sowing, which has an adverse effect on the seed. In several cases the seeds even get scorched or their germination is disrupted. His advice is that farmers must take special care while sowing and should never blend seed and fertiliser together, otherwise the crop's early growth suffers and production drops later on.
The correct way to apply fertiliser in soybean
Dr. Singh points out that the best approach is to spread the full quantity of fertiliser in the field before sowing, and only then plant the seed. The key thing to remember is that whatever fertiliser is to be used should be applied to the whole field in a single round. Holding some fertiliser back for later use means the plants do not get complete nourishment. Experts say that with proper fertiliser management the soybean crop grows strong and the output improves as well. Alongside this, keeping the field moist and controlling weeds on time is just as important.
Time to change the old farming mindset
Dr. Singh believes farmers now need to move beyond traditional farming and adopt scientific methods. When cultivation is done with modern technology and the right guidance, costs come down and yields go up. In a sensitive crop like soybean in particular, taking full care right at the start can deliver both a better harvest and healthy profits.
