Approach:
- Intro – define nano urea.
- Elaborately discuss its perceived benefits.
- Conclusion
Urea also forms 82% of the total nitrogenous fertilisers consumed in India, with an annual consumption of 33.6 million tonnes in 2019-20. Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) has started commercial production of ‘nano urea liquid’, a first-of-its-kind product – the only approved by the government and included under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO).
This new product is expected to replace the usage of urea granules, one of the most widely used fertilisers in farmlands across the world. Conventional granular urea is one of the most important nitrogenous fertilisers in the country, with a high nitrogen content of 46%. Nano urea liquid promises to radically transform farming in India and across the world by raising productivity while reducing environmental pollution and input cost.
Beneficial factors:
- Field trials have shown that a 500 ml bottle of nano urea can replace one bag of conventional urea as it has 40,000 ppm of nitrogen, which is equivalent nitrogen nutrient provided by one bag of conventional urea. It was also found that nano urea can curtail the requirement of the same by at least 50%.
- The costing proposition of nano urea liquid should make it more favourable over conventional urea as its 500 ml bottle will be priced at Rs 240. A 45-kg bag of conventional urea costs Rs 267. The new product will significantly bring down the cost of logistics and warehousing.
- Apart from substantially increasing farmers’ income by cutting down on input and storage cost, nano urea liquid also aims to increase crop yield and productivity against conventional urea. It is proven to increase the crop yield by an average of 8%.
- Nano-urea provides higher nutrient efficiency for crops while reducing soil, water and air pollution. While conventional urea is effective just for 30-50% in delivering nitrogen to plants, the effectiveness of the nano urea liquid is over 80%.
- Upon penetration, these nanoparticles reach plant parts where nitrogen is required and release nutrients in a controlled manner, thereby reducing usage while also reducing wastage into the environment.
- Nano urea has also been tested for biosafety and toxicity according to norms followed in India and the international guidelines.
Nano Urea is a product of the 21st century and it is the need of the hour to keep the environment soil, air and water, safe for future generations while securing food for all.