Introduction
- Balanced fertilisation refers to the use of nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potash (K) in ratios tailored to the specific needs of the soil and crop.
- This approach aims to discourage excessive use of high-concentration nutrients like urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and muriate of potash (MOP), and is likely to become a significant policy focus for the government.
- Urea usage reached a record 35.8 million tonnes in the fiscal year ending March 2024, a 16.9% increase from 30.6 million tonnes in 2013-14.
- Notably, urea consumption decreased between 2016-17 and 2017-18 due to the introduction of neem-coated urea in May 2015.
Body
Importance of Balanced Fertilisation:
- Fertilisers are essential for crop growth and yield, providing primary (N, P, K), secondary (sulphur-S, calcium, magnesium), and micro (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum) nutrients.
- Balanced fertilisation ensures these nutrients are supplied in the correct proportions based on soil type and crop requirements at different growth stages.
Neem-Coated Urea:
- In 2015, the Government of India mandated 100% neem coating of all subsidised agricultural urea.
- Neem oil, containing 150 ppm azadirachtin, was used to coat urea, preventing its diversion for non-agricultural uses such as in plywood, dye, bovine feed, and synthetic milk production.
- The neem coating also acted as a nitrification inhibitor, leading to a more gradual release of nitrogen, thereby improving nitrogen utilisation efficiency and reducing the quantity of urea needed per acre.
Conclusion
Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) System:
- Introduced in April 2010, the NBS system was designed to promote balanced fertilisation.
- Under NBS, the government set a per-kg subsidy for N, P, K, and S, linking subsidies to the nutrient content of fertilisers.
- This policy aimed to encourage product innovation and reduce dependence on high-concentration fertilisers like urea, DAP, and MOP, in favor of complex fertilisers containing balanced proportions of N, P, K, S, and other nutrients.
- By implementing such balanced fertilisation practices, India can ensure sustainable agricultural productivity, minimize environmental impact, and enhance the efficiency of nutrient use in farming.
Legacy Editor Changed status to publish December 4, 2024