Soil Testing & Fertilizer Recommendation (STFR) Kit
The Soil Testing & Fertilizer Recommendation (STFR) Kit is a portable digital soil-testing solution designed and developed by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), PUSA, New Delhi. It brings scientific soil analysis closer to farms, villages, and agricultural service centres — analyzing 14 key soil parameters, generating fertilizer recommendations for 100+ crops, and producing a Soil Health Card, so testing translates directly into better nutrient-management decisions.
Uses
- Farmer-Level Soil Testing: Tests soil directly on-farm to guide crop-specific fertilizer application before sowing.
- Village & Soil Health Card Programmes: Supports village and Gram Panchayat-level Soil Health Card programmes with on-the-spot testing.
- Government & Institutional Use: Used by agriculture departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and agricultural institutions for large-scale soil monitoring.
- FPOs & Agri-Entrepreneurship: Enables Farmer Producer Organizations and agri-entrepreneurs to run licensed soil-testing labs as a livelihood.
- Fertilizer & Input Advisory: Helps agricultural input advisors recommend the right fertilizer type and quantity based on actual soil data.
Specifications
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Parameters tested | 14 (pH, EC, Organic Carbon, N, P, K, S, Zn, B, Fe, Mn, Cu, Lime, Gypsum requirement) |
| Crop recommendations | 100+ crops, based on soil-test results |
| Output | Digital Smart Soil Health Card, delivered to mobile within 24 hours |
| Data storage | Up to 999 sample records on-device |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth and internet, with optional SMS facility |
| Power | 3-hour battery backup, with optional solar charging |
| Additional testing | Supports water and leaf testing alongside soil analysis |
| Development partner | ICAR-IARI, PUSA, New Delhi |
| Availability | PAN India, available in regional languages |
The STFR Kit is a portable digital soil-testing system designed to assess soil health and generate crop-specific fertilizer recommendations based on actual soil-test results.
The kit analyzes 14 important soil parameters covering soil characteristics, major nutrients, secondary nutrients, micronutrients, and soil amendment requirements.
The kit covers pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sulphur, Zinc, Boron, Iron, Manganese, Copper, and soil amendment requirements for Lime and Gypsum.
Yes. Based on soil-test results, the system generates crop-specific fertilizer recommendations for more than 100 crops, supporting balanced and scientific nutrient application.
Yes. The STFR Kit generates a Digital Smart Soil Health Card containing soil-test results, nutrient status, soil amendment needs, and crop-specific fertilizer recommendations.
The STFR Kit technology was designed and developed by ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), PUSA, New Delhi.
Yes. It functions as a portable digital soil-testing mini lab and can be used at farms, villages, Gram Panchayats, agricultural service centres, FPOs, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
The system is microcontroller-based with a large LCD display and computer connectivity. It supports Bluetooth and internet connectivity and can store up to 999 sample records on the device.
The kit provides approximately 3 hours of battery backup and also supports optional solar charging for field use.
According to the product information, the system also supports water and leaf testing alongside soil analysis and includes a season-wise crop calendar to assist agricultural planning.
