, Nov. 26 -- Soil fertility in eight districts of northern Bangladesh is steadily deteriorating, raising concerns about long-term agricultural productivity, according to a new research report by the Rangpur Divisional Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI).

Researchers say that fertility loss, nutrient imbalance, and increasing soil acidity are spreading rapidly across the region, with organic matter, the foundation of healthy soil, falling to its lowest recorded levels in some areas.

"The decline is so severe that even heavy application of chemical fertilisers is failing to translate into higher productivity," the report warns.

Researchers estimate that fertilisers worth hundreds of crores of taka are wasted annually, as crops are...