SITE SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR HIGHER CROP PRODUCTION IN AGRICULTURE-Dr. P. C. Patel

Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) is an approach to feeding crops with nutrients as and when needed. The application and management of nutrients are dynamically adjusted to the crop needs of the location and season.
The SSNM approach aims to increase farmers' profit through - Increased yield of crops per unit of applied fertilizer. It is argued that a sustainable nutrient management strategy must ensure high and stable overall productivity with optimum economic returns and sufficient nutrient supply for potential yield increases with minimum wastage of nutrients.
Site-specific nutrient management is a component of precision agriculture and can be used for any field or crop. It combines plant nutrient requirements at each growth stage and the soil’s ability to supply them. It applies that information to areas within a field that require different management from the field average.
Site-specific management allows for fine-tuning crop management systems along with 4R Nutrient Stewardship - the right source, rate, time, and place of nutrient use. Different concepts and approaches to nutrient management of SSNM have been elaborated in this chapter. The chapter includes the present approach and constraints in the adoption of SSNM particularly in India.