Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and food is a physiological necessity for the survival of human being. One of the major factor for soil health degradation is imbalanced use of fertilizers. Low or negligible application of organic manures and nonreplacement of depleted essential nutrient elements over the years, caused widespread nutrient deficiencies and decreased soil fertility in many parts of the country. Presently, the number of nutrients deficient in Indian soils are about ten. The deficiencies grew from one with Nitrogen (N) (in 1950) to ten viz. Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Molybdenum (Mo), and copper (Cu). The widespread nutrient deficiencies and impaired soil health are the reasons for low nutrient use efficiency, stagnation or decline in crop productivity and profitability. The Government of India started a scheme called ”Soil Health Card” (SHC) from Sri-ganganagar district of Rajasthan (February 2015) to provide SHC to all farmers in the country for sustaining crop productivity without deterioration in soil health. The aim of scheme is to promote integrated nutrient management through judicious use of inorganic fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures and biofertilizer for improving soil health and its productivity. The SHC provide necessary information to farmers about present nutrient status of their soil/farm and recommendation for appropriate dosage of different sources of nutrient for improving soil health and its fertility. The utmost step in maintaining soil fertility and achieving sustainable crop production is possible through proper blend of knowledge of current soil nutrient status. It can be achieved by scientific soil sampling method, testing and recommendations. Thus, soil health card provides sound information or recommendations on integrated nutrients management through right source and right amount to be applied in soils in order to enhance soil health and crop productivity.

Keywords: Fertilizers; Organic Manure; Soil Health; Soil Health Card.