Diagnostics of soil quality indicators based on farmer experiences

Indicators Qualitative Soil Quality Indicators used by Farmers Answer

(“Tick”
wherever
applicable)
Soil organic matter Soil is dark-coloured and feels good to touch
Soil Chemical Based on yield response and observing plant growth
Fertility
Soil acidity Looking for the presence of selected weed species in the filed
Soil compaction Soil feels hard when ploughing or hoeing
Soil moisture Soil feels moist to the touch, observing the leaves at noon and evening
Surface (A horizon) Observing the depth of dark colored soil when ploughing hoeing
thickness
Soil erosion Observing the surface after the rain; Comparing year –to-year variation in
top soil depths
Soil structure Observing soil when ploughing or hoeing
Earthworm Observing earthworm casts at the surface in the morning or after rain
population
Weed incidence Observing evidence of weed species and communities in the filed

Farmer Perceptions of the change in soil properties with tea cultivation

Indicators No Change Increase Decrease No Idea
Soil organic matter
Soil chemical fertility
Soil acidity
Soil compaction
Moisture in dry season
Top soil thickness
Soil erosion
Soil structure
Earthworm Numbers
Weed incidence

Farmers’ Perception on Importance of Soil Quality

Ranking 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Indicator SO Soil Soil Soil Moistur earthwor Soil Soil Top Soil Weed
s M Fertilit Compactio Structur e in dry m Erosio Acidit Thicknes Incidenc
y n e season numbers n y s e
Note: Each farmer will be ranked on a scale from 1 to 10, with 1 amongst the most important and 10 will be the
least important

comparative analysis for select socio economic environmental indicators (1 for yes and 0 for no)
Indicators CTC Workers Orthodox Workers
Occupational poor health performance
Salary / income generation
Labour rights addressed
Impact on the community
Increased social satisfaction

Pests and Pesticides Application

a) General
Q. Which type of pests are associated in the tea state?
Types “1” for Names of pests Tentative Persistent Remedial Remarks
presence Attack period Measure
and “0” Period
Root

Stem

Leaf
2. If you use chemical pesticides, for what purpose do you use them? (apply tick)
a) Weeds control b) Fungi / mold control c) Insect and pest control d) Others (if any, specify)
3) Which type of chemical pesticide do you prefer? a) Broad spectrum b) Pest specific c) Do not know
4) Which chemicals do you use in the tea estate?
S. N. Pesticides Applic Frequency Application Remarks
ation Period
Dose
Herbicides
Sickle(pretilachlor 50%)
RUNOUT (Glyphoste 41% S.L)
RUNOUT-71(Ammonium salt of Glyphosate
71% S.G)
SEIZURE(parquate dichloride 24% S.L)
Insecticides
RUBY
SENSEX GOLD (Imidacloprid 70% W.G)
SENSEX 200 S.L (Imidacloprid 17.8% S.L)
SLAYER (Thiamethoxam 25% W.G)
NIZE(Acetamipride 20% S.P)
CHETAK(Acephate 75% S.P)
MONOMAR(Monocrotophs 36% S.L)
SARPANCH(Deltamethrin 1% + Triazophos
35% E.C.)
AMAZER(Fenpyroximate 5%E.C)
Herbicides
MERCURY (Carbendazim 12%+ Mancozeb
63% W.P)

5) Where do you buy these products? (apply tick)

a) Agricultural supplier b) Local shops c) Open market d) Other (if any, specify)
6) What do you consider before buying a pesticide?
a) Price b) Availability c) Toxicity d) Recommended by neighbor e) Others
7) Does the applied pesticide solve the pest problem? a) Yes b) No c) Do not know
8) Does the amount of pesticide used on tea estate increase or decrease each year? a) Increase b) decrease c)
Varies d) Don’t know
b) Pesticide Application – Knowledge and Practices
1) Who does spray / apply the pesticides?
a) Father b ) Mother c) Son d) Daughter e) Hired labour f) Others
2) Do you spray / apply pesticides yourself? Yes / No, If Yes
i. What do you wear when spraying? Normal clothes; Boots; Bare feet; Gloves; Handkerchief over mouth;
Cotton overallsl Disposable coveralls; Hats; Goggles; Spectacles; Others….
ii. Have you been trained in the proper use of protective equipment or clothing? Yes / No

3) Do you usually read the labels on pesticide containers? Yes / No

4) Have you ever brought chemical pesticides without a label or without instructions? Yes / No
5) Do you understand the instructios for use? Yes / No / Sometimes / Don’t know
6) Do you know the doses of every pesticide you use? Yes / No
7) Where do you store pesticides?
a) In the kitchen b) In the house c) In the Animal shed d) Elsewhere e) Others
8) What do you do with empty pesticide containers?
a) Use for water / food storage b) Sell them c) Scrappers d) Bury in the ground e) Nothing to do f) Others
9) Is there an expiry date on the container of pesticides that you use? Yes / No / Don’t know / Erased
10) Have you ever come across expired chemicals in the market? Yes / No
11) What do you do with expired pesticides?
a) Continuing in use b) Ask agro officer c) Self disposal in soil d) Others
18) Are you aware that some pesticides my now be obsolete and no longer suitable for use? Yes / No
19) What type of pesticide formulation do you use? Powder / Liquid Spray / Granules / Others
20) How do you apply powder pesticides? With hands / Mechanical device / Plastic bucket
21) How do you apply granuels? With hands / Can or tub / Mechanical device
22) How do you apply liquids? From a bottle / Backpack sprayer / Spinning disk / vehicle mounted sprayer
23)Where do you prepare pesticides before application?
a) Near community water source b) Near a river c) At home d) In your field
24) Do you follow instructions on the label to mix and prepare pesticides for application? Yes / No
25) If you do not follow instructions on the label, how do you decide on the corret dosage of to be used?
a) Advice from supplier b) Advice from agricultural office d( Experience e) Other farmers
26) Do you consider wind direction when you spray pesticides? Yes / No
27) Are there any water bodies near where you spray pesticides? Yes / No / Don’t know; If yes please specify: lakes
/dams; rivers; Others

Health and Environmental Impacts of the Pesticides

Is the use of pesticides
a) Always good b) sometimes good c) Sometimes harmful c) Always harmful d) Not effective e) Don’t know
28) what are the benefits to you from pesticide use?

29) Can chemical pesticides can be dangerous? Yes / No; If harmful, what is the damage?
a) To human health b) To Animal health c) To Wildlife d) Water bodies e) To all of these f) Others

30) What can be done to minimize the negative effects of the chemical pesticides?

31) Have you, or anyone else in the household ever felt any discomfort or illness after pesticide application?
Yes / No / Sometimes / Don’t know; If yes, what was your feeling? Nausea / Vomiting / Headache / Skin irritation /
Eye irritation / Long-term problems / Others

32) How did the incident happen?

a) During preparation / mixing b) During transport c) During disposal d) During application / spraying e) as result
of poor storage