THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Soil Museum at Parottukonam has got bigger and better. Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar will inaugurate the renovated Soil Museum at the Central Soil Analytical laboratory building next Monday. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will preside over the function.
A project of the Soil Survey and Soil Conservation Department, the Soil Museum began functioning on January 1, 2014. Initially, it occupied only the first floor of the Central Soil Analytical laboratory building. Now, the museum has been expanded and occupies two floors. The construction of the second floor and the renovation of State Soil Museum has been completed utilising the plan fund allocated by the state government from 2015-2018, the department said.
“The extension of the present museum is intended to create awareness on the role of soils and the need to conserve this valuable natural resource for future generations,” the department said. The main attraction of the museum is the soil monoliths, each of which stands 1.5 m in height. They represent the soil diversity of the state which boasts of 82 soil profiles.
The soil monoliths are accompanied by GIS maps showing the extent of distribution of benchmark soils, land use pattern, physical and chemical properties and information on the landscape and land use. Impressive models on various themes, including soil piping, soil erosion, sources of soil pollution, sustainable agriculture and wetland ecosystems of Kerala are displayed at the museum.
Also on display are district soil maps and watershed maps generated on GIS platform. “The museum is breaking new ground by taking advantage of technology advancements and new media in presenting the applied aspects of soil in much better ways to connect with the broader requirements of a diverse category of visitors from laymen to academics,” the department said.
Shashi Tharoor MP, Mayor V K Prasanth, district panchayat president V K Madhu and Haritha Keralam Mission executive vice-chairperson T N Seema will attend the function.