Ludhiana, Sept 10 — The recent floods in Punjab have not only wiped out standing crops but also changed the very soil beneath them. Red sand and silt washed down from the Himalayan foothills have settled across large tracts of farmland, creating uncertainty about soil health, nutrient balance and the viability of the upcoming rabi season.
Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said the new layer of mountain soil presents both risks and opportunities. “The red mountain soil is rich in minerals and supports crops in hilly regions. If mixed properly with our state’s soil, it may help, but we need to test it thoroughly,” he said.
PAU has announced a large-scale soil testing drive to assess nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels and determine strategies to restore fertility. Gosal said the university’s Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) would also evaluate losses in affected villages and distribute wheat seeds at nominal rates, particularly where stored seeds have been destroyed.
Despite his cautious optimism, Gosal warned of layered damage. “The floods have destroyed the present crop and compromised the next sowing season. Fields are waterlogged, seeds kept for rabi have been ruined, and the remaining crops are now vulnerable to diseases, insect infestations and nutrient deficiencies,” he said. “This isn’t just a loss of one season — it’s a disruption of the entire agricultural cycle.”
The state has reported crop losses on 2.7 lakh hectares of farmland, with Gurdaspur district the worst affected. Crops such as rice, maize, oilseeds and pulses were devastated as 4–5 feet of floodwater submerged paddy fields and lodged sugarcane. Fodder crops like jowar and bajra were buried under heavy silt, creating a shortage of livestock feed.
The PAU chief said that while mountain soil could, in some cases, enrich fields, the sudden shift requires urgent management. “If we act quickly and manage the soil properly, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity. Mountain soil supports vegetables and crops — we just need to understand how to harness it,” Gosal noted.
To guide farmers through the crisis, PAU has released a crop contingency plan and circulated contact numbers of experts for different crops across its social media platforms. The university is also preparing advisories on seed replacement, disease management and ways to improve soil health in affected areas.
