Shree Prasad Vista^1* and Nabin Rawal²
National Soil Science Research Centre/NARC, Khumaltar, Nepal
*Corresponding author's email: spvista002@gmail.com
^1*ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9008-7001
²ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6231-1232

Abstract

Horticultural crops are highly susceptible to nutrient deficiencies, soil and irrigation issues. Their production and productivity, which are largely influenced by factors such as climate, soil characteristics and management inputs, vary greatly depending on the specific crop. Digital soil maps (DSM) developed by Nepal Agricultural Research Council can be used as a important tool for making appropriate decisions about soil-based agricultural inputs. These maps provide valuable information about agro-ecology, topography, soil properties and crop suitability, with a particular emphasis on soil characteristics such as pH values, soil textures, organic matter content and nutrient availability. Till date, the webpage has been searched by more than 37 thousand users and 167 countries. By utilizing DSM data, policy makers and planners can develop effective horticultural programs, researchers can optimize their resources, extension worker can provide agro-advisory services, academics can use it as teaching materials and farmers can optimize their soil resources to improve production and productivity of horticultural crops. The DSM has been used for updating fertilizer recommendations and estimating fertilizer requirement.