Fertilisers

Fertilisers

Subject – Agriculture

Context – Ministry calls for meeting on fertilizer shortage

Concept –

• Fertilizer is any material of natural or synthetic origin added to the soil to supply one or more plant nutrients.

Classification Of Fertilisers

1. Straight fertilizers:  Straight fertilizers are those which supply only one primary plant nutrient, namely nitrogen or phosphorus or potassium.
   eg. Urea, ammonium sulphate, potassium chloride and potassium sulphate.
2. Complex fertilizers:  Complex fertilizers contain two or three primary plant nutrients of which two primary nutrients are in chemical combination. These fertilisers are usually produced in granular form.
   eg. Diammonium phosphate, nitrophosphates and ammonium phosphate.
3. Mixed fertilizers: are physical mixtures of straight fertilisers. They contain two or three primary plant nutrients. Mixed fertilisers are made by thoroughly mixing the ingredients either mechanically or manually.

Fertilisers can also be classified based on physical form:

1. Solid
2. Liquid fertilizers

Solid fertilizers are in several forms viz.

1. Powder (single superphosphate),
2. Crystals (ammonium sulphate),
3. Prills (urea, diammonium phosphate, superphosphate),
4. Granules (Holland granules),
5. Supergranules (urea supergranules) and
6. Briquettes (urea briquettes).

Liquid fertilizers:

1. Liquid form fertilizers are applied with irrigation water or for direct application.
2. Ease of handling, less labour requirement and possibility of mixing with herbicides have made the liquid fertilisers more acceptable to farmers.

For more details on classification of fertilizers, please click here.

Organisational Set up and Functions

• The main functions of the Department of Fertilizers include planning, promotion and development of the fertilizer industry, planning and monitoring of production, import and distribution of fertilizers and management of financial assistance by way of subsidy/concession for indigenous and imported fertilizers.
• Secretary of the Department is the Chief Accounting Authority of the Department of Fertilizers who is assisted by a Financial Adviser and a Chief Controller of Accounts to perform his/her duties.

Fertilizer Industry in India

• It is 1 of the 8 core industries. Fertilizer has the minimum share in Index of Core Industries.
• India is the 2nd largest consumer of Urea fertilizers after China. India also ranks 2nd in the production of nitrogenous fertilizers and 3rd in phosphatic fertilizers. Potash requirement is met through imports since we have limited reserves of potash. There are 2 types of Fertilizers

1. Primary Fertilizers: classified on the basis of nutrients they supply to soil like N:P:K:
   1. Nitrogenous (Urea),
   2. Phosphatic (di-ammonium phosphate – DAP) and
   3. Potassic (muriate of potash (MOP) fertilizers.
2. Secondary Fertilizers includes Calcium, Magnesium and Sulphur.
3. Micronutrients include Iron, Zinc, Boron, Chloride etc.

• Fertilizer subsidy (Food > Fertilizer > Petroleum > Interest payments)

1. Earlier no Fertilizer subsidy was paid till 1977. Oil crisis of 1973led to increase in Fertilizer prices leading to a decline in consumption and an increase in food prices. In 1977, Govt subsidized manufacturers.
2. After 1991 crisis, Govt decontrolled the import of Phosphate and Potashbut Urea imports is restricted.