SELECTED PARAMETERS OF SOIL HEALTH IN CUMILLA DISTRICT AT THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF BANGLADESH AND STRATEGIES FOR THEIR SUSTAINABLE IMPROVEMENT TOWARDS RICE PRODUCTION

Abstract

Soil fertility and rice production were the most frequently mentioned issues identified
not only in all the countries of Asia but also in the rest of the world. Hence, it is essential to
pay attention for sustainable rice production, climate-smart agriculture and soil health.
Accordingly, assessments of selected soil health indicators, such as, pH, organic matter and
cation exchange capacity (CEC) in all 17 Upazilas of Cumilla district of Bangladesh were
completed under the financial support of the Climate Change Trust Fund (CCTF). A few
strategies were used for the improvement of soil health in response to smart rice
production at the field site using locally available organic-fertilizers, viz. Vermicompost
(V), Rice husk ash (RHA) and Burned poultry litters (BPL) at the rates of 0, 4 and 8 t ha-1
under the soil temperature elevation of 2 to 3°C (i.e. 25 to 28°C) and moisture levels of 60
and 90%. The above mentioned parameters of soil health at the Golden Jubilee of
Bangladesh were found to be improved slightly compared to those of the 1970s and 2000s.
These trends of improvement were found to be enhanced by the stated treatments. The
yields of different rice varieties were increased from 4.4 - 5.5 to 8.4 – 9.1 t ha-1 by the
treatments and the order of their effectiveness for grain yields and protein contents were V
> BPL > RHA. Organic matter contents, pH and CEC of the studied soils were increased by
these treatments and decreased CH4 emissions from the studied rice field. However, these
approaches of sustainability cannot be provided by the poor farmers and therefore, the
government should come forward to help these farmers in order to build a ‘Developed
Bangladesh’ – the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the
Nation and the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Mother of Humanity and the
Champion of the Earth.