IMBALANCED APPLICATION OF FERTILISERS

1. Context

The easing of global prices has boosted fertiliser availability and cut the subsidy bill. However, asymmetry in the pricing structure has led to a worsening nutrient imbalance due to the over-application of urea and DAP.

2. Global Prices of Fertilisers

The year 2022 saw global prices of fertilisers go high due to the post-Russia invasion of Ukraine in February.
Landed prices of urea imported into India (cost plus freight) are ruling at around $550 per tonne, as against $900-1,000 average in November-January 2021-22, when global demand for food and plant nutrients surged with the lifting of Covid lockdowns by most countries.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s Food Price Index hit 159.7 points in March 2022.
From that all-time high, the index -which is a weighted average of global prices of a representative basket of food commodities over a base period value, taken at 100 for 2014-2016- has fallen for nine consecutive months.
However, till December 2022 a number of 132.4 points was below even the year-ago value of 133.7 points and the lowest since the 129.2 points of September 2021.

Image Source: The Indian Express

3. Major Reasons behind over-usage

3.1 High fertilizer subsidy on urea

High Government subsidies are behind the low pricing, and high sales, of these two fertilisers.

Under the Nutrient based subsidy scheme, a fixed amount of subsidy, decided on an annual basis, is provided on each grade of subsidised phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers, except for urea, based on the nutrient content present in them.

3.2 Cooling of global fertilizer prices

The easing of global fertilizer prices significantly improved overall availability of the fertilizers, except Muriate of Potash (MOP), during the ongoing rabi cropping season. India is the top country by diammonium phosphate import in the world.

4. About Urea

Urea is a source of nitrogen, an essential nutrient crucial for crop growth and development.
Urea is the most important nitrogenous fertilizer in the country because of its high N content (46%N).
It is a white crystalline organic chemical compound with neutral pH.
Urea is widely used in the agricultural sector both as a fertilizer and animal feed additive.

The Ideal Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium ( NPK) use ration is 4:2:1.

Urea has 46% Nitrogen (N), while DAP contains 46% Phosphorous (P) plus 18% N and MOP has 60% Potassium (K).

5. About Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP)

It is a very popular fertilizer because of its excellent physical properties and nutrient content.
It is free-flowing, dust-free and does not normally give any storage problems.
DAP is almost water-soluble and ultimately leaves an acid effect on soils because of the ammonia (NH4) it contains.
DAP on incorporation into soil reacts with water and gets converted into HPO4 and NH4.
Ammonium (NH4) follows the same routes as in the case of urea.
Phosphorus in DAP is present in the best available form (HPO4).
Depending upon the soil reaction (pH),phosphorus exists in 3 forms which can be absorbed by plant roots.
These are HPO4, H2PO4 and PO4. Phosphorus, which is immobile in the soil, is not subjected to leaching losses.

6. Challenges

6.1 Over-use of fertilisers

India’s fertiliser sector has been riddled with distortions from excessive use of urea. The diammonium phosphate or DAP is seeing a similar phenomenon of over-application due to under-pricing.
The effects of overconsumption of urea and DAP:
The current NPK ratio of 13:5:1, as against the ideal 4:2:1, would adversely affect crop yields
It will adversely affect the health of plants and humans, due to the unavailability of a balanced nutrient mix.

6.2 Increase in Urea consumption

Urea has 46% nitrogen (N), while DAP contains 46% phosphorus (P) plus 18% N and MOP has 60% potassium (K).
Neem oil supposedly also acted as a mild nitrification inhibitor, allowing a more gradual release of nitrogen. Increased nitrogen use efficiency would, in turn, bring down the number of urea bags required per acre.

7. The road ahead or Suggestive measures

Restriction of DAP- The DAP use must be restricted to rice and wheat. All other crops can meet their Phosphorus requirement through SSP and complexes.
Promotion of SSP -The SSP’s acceptance can be raised by permitting sale only in granular and not in powdered form as SSP powder is prone to adulteration with gypsum or clay.
Farmers can be assured of quality through granules, which will also promote slower release of P without drift during application.

For Prelims & Mains

For Prelims: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium ( NPK), Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

For Mains: 1. What are the impacts of global ease on the prices of fertilisers and discuss the reasons behind increased consumption of urea and DAP?

Source: The Indian Express

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