Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Prospects of Customized Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture


Affiliations
1 Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560 065, India
 

In many countries, blanket fertilizer recommendations for different crops have caused poor nutrient supply, low nutrient use efficiency and limited crop response. In contrast, soil and area specific, customized fertilizers may help to sustain soil health by ensuring appropriate fertilization. Hence, specific customized fertilizers should be promoted to counteract the problem of expanding multi-nutrient deficiencies in Indian soils. This article discusses the manufacturing methodologies, eligibility criteria, success in Indian fertilizer industry, adoption of fertilizer recommendations and problems in marketing of customized fertilizer.

Keywords

Customized Fertilizer, Fertilizer Policy, Fertilizer Grades, Fertilizer Subsidy, Micronutrient Deficiency.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2012 revision, Methodology of the United Nations and projections, estimates and projection, Working Paper No. ESA/P/WP. 235, 2014.

  • Government of India, 2014, Census_Data_2001/Project population/ Projected_Population.Pdf (accessed on 15 April 2016).

  • United States, Census Bureau, 2014; http://www.census.gov/population/international (accessed on 11 April 2016).

  • Ganesh Kumar, Mehta, R., Pullabhotla, H., Prasad, S. K., Ganguly, K. and Gulati, A., Demand and supply of cereals in India: 2010–2025, IFPRI Discussion Paper 01158, Environment and Production Technology, IFPRI, New Delhi, 2012.

  • Singh, A. K., Feeding 1.6 billion: Can soil scientists deliver? J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2014, 62(Suppl), 114–116.

  • FAI, Fertilizer Statistics, The Fertiliser Association of India, New Delhi, 2015.

  • Majumdar, K., Dey, P. and Tewatia, R. K., Current nutrient management approaches-Issues and Strategies. Indian J. Fert., 2014, 10, 14–27.

  • Johnston, A. M., Khurana, H. S., Majumdar, K. and Satyanarayana, T., Site-specific nutrient management – concept, current research and future challenges in Indian agriculture. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2009, 57(1), 1–10.

  • NAAS, Low and declining crop responses to fertilizers. Policy paper No. 35, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, 2006, pp. 1–8.

  • ICAR, From the DG’s desk. News Reporter, April–June 2008, 2008, p. 2.

  • Prasad, R., Manures and Fertilizers. Curr. Sci., 2012, 102(6), 894–898.

  • Rakshit, A., Bhadoria, P. B. S. and Mittra, B. N., Nutrient use efficiency for bumper harvest. Yojana, 2002, 46, 12–15.

  • Chander, S., Improving balanced fertilization in India. In Fertilizer Focus, Argus, London, UK, November/December 2017, pp. 42–45.

  • FAI, Fertilizer Statistics, The Fertilizer Association of India, New Delhi, 2013.

  • Chand, R. and Pandey, L. M., Fertilizer growth, imbalances and subsidies – trends and implications, 2008, Discussion paper NPP 02/2008.

  • Tandon, H. L. S., Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture from 20th Century to 21st Century, FCDO, New Delhi, 2004, p. 240.

  • Sanyal, S. K., Gill, M. S. and Majumdar, K., Proceedings of the IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 5–7 November 2009, pp. 389–405.

  • Satyanarayana, T. and Tewatia, R. K., Proceedings of the IPIOUATIPNI International Symposium Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India, 5–7 November 2009, pp. 467–485.

  • Dutta, S., Majumdar, K., Khurana, H. S., Sulewski, G., Govi, V., Satyanarayana, T. and Johnston, A., Mapping potassium budgets across different states of India. Better Crops, 98(1), 6–9.

  • Prasad, R., Sustaining Indian Agriculture (Souvenir 1905–2005), Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 2005, pp. 103–106.

  • Subba Rao, A. and Sammi Reddy, K., Integrated nutrient management vis-a-vis crop production/productivity, nutrient balance, farmer livelihood in India. In improving plant nutrient management for better farmer livelihood, food security and environmental sustainability. In Proceedings of a Regional Workshop 2005, Beijing, China (Rap Publications 2006/27, FAO of the UN, Regional Office for Asia and Pacific, Bangkok, 2006).

  • Tandon, H. L. S., Soil sulphur deficiencies: towards integration of diverse data bases. Indian J. Fert., 2010, 6, 14–20.

  • Gupta, S. P., Singh, M. V. and Dixit, M. L., Deficiency and management of micronutrients. Indian J. Fert., 2007, 3, 57–60.

  • Prasad, J., Soil health management – a key for sustainable production. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2015, 63(Suppl), 6–13.

  • Swami, B. N., Coating of fertilizers for improving their use efficiency. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2015, 63(Suppl), 146–156.

  • Prasad, J., Environmental implications of soil degradation in India – a review. Agril. Rev., 2004, 25, 57–63.

  • Dwivedi, B. S., The 41st Dr R. V. Tamhane Memorial Lecture – Revisiting Soil Testing and Fertilizer Use Research. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2014, 62(Suppl.), 40–55.

  • Singh, M. K. and Prasad, S. K., Agronomic aspects of zinc biofortification in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. India Sect. B. Biol. Sci., 2014, 84, 613–623.

  • Cakmak, I., Enrichment of cereal grains with Zn: agronomic or genetic biofortification? Plant Soil, 2008, 302, 1–17.

  • Mandal, B., Agronomic bio fortification of Zn in cereals – problems and prospects. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2014, 62(Suppl.), 106–113.

  • Shukla, A. K., Micronutrient research in India: Current status and future strategies. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2011, 59(Suppl), 88– 98.

  • Shukla, A. K., Tiwari, P. K. and Prakash, C., Micronutrient deficiencies vis-à-vis food and nutritional security of India. Indian J. Fert., 2014, 10(12), 94–112.

  • Graham, R. D. et al., Nutritious subsistence food systems. Adv. Agron., 2007, 92, 1–74.

  • Mayer, J. E., Pfeiffer, W. H. and Beyer, P., Biofortified crops to alleviate micronutrient malnutrition. Curr. Opin. Plant Biol., 2008, 11, 166–170.

  • Murgia, I., Arosio, P., Tarantino, D. and Soave, C., Biofortification for combating hidden hunger for iron. Trends Plant Sci., 2012, 17(1), 47–55.

  • Saltzman, A., Birol, E., Bouis, H. E., Boy, E., De Moura, F. F., Islam, Y. and Pfeiffer, W. H., Biofortification: progress toward a more nourishing future. Global Food Security, 2013, 2, 9–17.

  • Singh, M. V., Micro- and Secondary-Nutrients and Pollutant Elements Research in India. In Coordinator Report – AICRP Microand Secondary-Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants (ICAR-IISS, Bhopal, India), 2006, pp. 1–110.

  • Singh, M. V. and Bahera, S. K., Emerging Multiple Nutrient Deficiencies and Need for Developing Customized Fertilizers for Enhancing Crop Production in India. In Proceedings of national seminar on Standards and Technology of Value Added/Fortified/ Customized Fertilizers as a Source of Plant Nutrients (ICAR-IISS, Bhopal, India), 2007.

  • Singh, M. V., Micronutrient deficiencies in Indian soils and field usable practices for their correction. IFA, International Conference on Micronutrients, New Delhi, 23–24 February 2004.

  • Shukla, A. K., Malik, R. S., Tiwari, P. K., Prakash, C., Behera, S. K., Yadav, H. and Narwal, R. P., Status of micronutrient deficiencies in soils of Haryana – Impact on crop productivity and human health. Indian J. Fert., 2015, 11(5), 16–27.

  • Patel, K. P. and Sigh, M. V., Management of Multi-micronutrients Deficiencies for Enhancing Yield of Crops. In 19th World Congress of Soil Science, Soil solutions for a changing world, published in DVD, Brisbane, Australia, 1–6 August 2010, pp. 129–132.

  • Hegde, D. M., Sudhakara Babu, S. N. and Murthy, I. Y. L. N., Role of customized fertilizers in the improvement of productivity of different crops and cropping systems. In Proceedings of National Seminar on Standards and technology of value added/fortified/customized fertilizers as a source of plant nutrients. ICAR-IISS, Bhopal, India, 2007.

  • Dobermann, A. and Cassman, K. G., Plant nutrient management for enhanced productivity in intensive grain production systems of the United States and Asia. Plant Soil, 2002, 247, 153–175.

  • Wang, G., Dobermann, A., Witt, C., Sun, Q. and Fu, R., Performance of site specific nutrient management for irrigated rice in South-east China. Agron. J., 2001, 93, 869–878.

  • Wopereis, M. C. S., Donovan, C., Nebie, B., Guindo, D. and N’Diaye, M. K., Soil fertility management in irrigated rice systems in the Sahel and Savanna regions of West Africa. Part I. Agronomic analysis. Field Crop Res., 1999, 61, 125–145.

  • Angus, J. F., St.-Groth, C. F. D. and Tasic, R. C., Between-farm variability in yield responses to inputs of fertilizers and herbicide applied to rainfed low land rice in the Philippines. Agril. Ecosys. Environ., 1990, 30, 219–234.

  • Tiwari, K. N., Breaking yield barriers and stagnation through sitespecific nutrient management. J. Indian Soc. Soil Sci., 2007, 55, 444–454.

  • Rakshit, R., Rakshit, A. and Das, A., Customized fertilizers: marker in fertilizer revolution. Int. J. Agril. Environ. Biotech., 2012, 5(1), 67–75.

  • Anon., Annual review of fertilizer production and consumption 2010–11: Highlights. Indian J. Fert., 2011, 7, 144–148.

  • Chander, S., Impact of fertilizer policy on Indian agriculture. Indian J. Fert., 2015, 11(10), 77–83.

  • Tiwari, K. N., Relevance of customized fertilizers in the era of multi-nutrient deficiency. Indian J. Fert., 2010, 6(12), 76–86.

  • FAI, Fertilizer Statistics, The Fertiliser Association of India, New Delhi, 2011.

  • Mudalagiriyappa, B., Raghavendra Goud, B., Ramachandrappa, B. K. and Nanjappa, H. V., Influence of customized fertilizers on growth and yield of Finger Millet {Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.} in Alfisols of Southern India. Indian J. Dryland Agril. Res. Dev., 2015, 30(1), 50–54.

  • Kamble, B. M. and Kathmale, D. K., Effect of different levels of customized fertilizer on soil nutrient availability, yield and economics of onion. J. Appl. Natr. Sci., 2015, 7(2), 817–821.

  • Goel, M. C., Singh, K. J. B. and Bhende, S. N., Response of application of customized fertilizer Grade (CFG) on yield and quality of pomegranate. Acta. Hort., 2011, 89, 333–340.

  • Dwivedi, S. K., Meshram, M. R. and Pandey, N., Response of customized fertilizer on wheat (Triticum aestivum) under Chhattisgarh condition. Bioscan, 2014, 9(4), 1509–1512.

  • Sekhon, B. S., Kaur, S. and Singh, P., Evaluation of a customized fertilizer on wheat. Indian J. Ecol., 2012, 39(1), 71–75.

  • Dwivedi, S. K. and Meshram, M. R., Effect of customized fertilizer on productivity and nutrient uptake of rice (Oryza sativa). Indian J. Agron., 2014, 59(2), 247–250.

  • Meshram, M. R. and Dwivedi, S. K., Growth, yield and net return from rice (Oryza sativa L.) with customized fertilizer application. Curr. Adv. Agril. Sci., 2013, 5(2), 263–265.

  • Meshram, M. R., Dwivedi, S. K., Ransing, D. M. and Pandey, P., Response of customized fertilizer on productivity, nutrient uptake and energy use of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Ecoscan, 2015, 9(1&2), 373–376.

  • Kumar, V. and Singh, K. V., A study on customized fertilizer’s on paddy. Agriways, 2015, 3(2), 89–94.


Abstract Views: 494

PDF Views: 113




  • Prospects of Customized Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture

Abstract Views: 494  |  PDF Views: 113

Authors

Sabyasachi Majumdar
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560 065, India
Nagabovanalli B. Prakash
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560 065, India

Abstract


In many countries, blanket fertilizer recommendations for different crops have caused poor nutrient supply, low nutrient use efficiency and limited crop response. In contrast, soil and area specific, customized fertilizers may help to sustain soil health by ensuring appropriate fertilization. Hence, specific customized fertilizers should be promoted to counteract the problem of expanding multi-nutrient deficiencies in Indian soils. This article discusses the manufacturing methodologies, eligibility criteria, success in Indian fertilizer industry, adoption of fertilizer recommendations and problems in marketing of customized fertilizer.

Keywords


Customized Fertilizer, Fertilizer Policy, Fertilizer Grades, Fertilizer Subsidy, Micronutrient Deficiency.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv115%2Fi2%2F242-248