The inauguration of the Training Programme on “Soil Test Crop Response (STCR) Based
Fertilizer Prescription for Various Crops” was organized by the Department of Soil Science and
Agricultural Chemistry, TNAU, Coimbatore on 10th December 2025, jointly with the Department of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Dr.D.Selvi, Professor and Head, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry,
TNAU welcomed the gathering and highlighted the importance of STCR technology in promoting
sustainable agriculture and conserving natural resources. During the inaugural session, trainees from
Soil Testing Laboratories (STLs) and Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories (MSTLs) introduced
themselves and outlined their ongoing activities in soil analysis and advisory services.
Dr.R.Santhi, Professor and Former Director (NRM), TNAU, delivered the felicitation
address. She recalled her experience in coordinating six STL training programmes during the past 2
decades and urged the continuation of such capacity-building efforts for young STL personnel. She
emphasised the close linkage between soil health and human health and acknowledged the
contributions of former STL experts, including Thiru. Lakshminarayanan, Thiru M.N. Munusamy
and Thiru Dhanapa lan Mosi. She also outlined the evolution of soil testing initiatives at TNAU
since the 1980s and expressed gratitude to scientists instrumental in establishing the Agri Clinic–
cum–STL under NADP, as well as in developing software tools such as DESSIFER and VDK. She
noted that, during the 2021 pandemic, the interactions with the Principal Secretary (Agriculture),
Tamil Nadu, paved the way for the current STCR-based training programme. She thanked the
Government of Tamil Nadu for deputing STL and MSTL officers and wished the trainees and
organizers a successful programme.
Dr.P.Balasubramaniam, Director (DNRM), TNAU, delivered the inaugural address, stressing
the critical role of soil testing in sustainable agriculture. He traced the historical changes in fertilizeruse efficiency from the Green Revolution to modern cultivars and underlined the environmental
consequences of imbalanced fertiliser use. He reiterated the need for the judicious and integrated use
of fertilizers and organic manures, promoting STCR and targeted yield approaches. He also
encouraged scientists to develop STCR models for all major crops of Tamil Nadu.
Dr.R.Thamiz Vendan, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, TNAU, delivered the
Presidential Address. He highlighted the distinguished legacy of the Department of Soil Science and
Agricultural Chemistry and the long-term experiments such as 116-year-old Permanent Manurial
Experiment and the 54-year Long-Term Fertilizer Experiment which reinforce the value of Integrated
Nutrient Management for sustainability. He acknowledged major achievements of soil scientists,
including soil organic carbon maps, STCR equations for 37 crops, 10 cropping sequences, and 18
soil series, along with innovations such as nutriseed packs, micronutrient mixtures, chelates,patents
and decision-support software tools. He emphasised the need for effective knowledge dissemination
from laboratory to field and advocated the adoption of the 4R nutrient stewardship principles for
sustainable agriculture. He conveyed his best wishes for the success of the training programme.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. S.Maragatham, Professor
(SS&AC) and Scheme incharge AICRP (STCR), TNAU, Coimbatore.
