UNIT 2 FERTILIZERS

Structure
2.1 Introduction

2.2 Objectives

2.3 Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture

2.4 Fertility Status of Indian Soils

2.5 Fertilizers and its Use

2.6 Fertilizer Consumption

2.7 Classification of Chemical Fertilizers

2.8 Fertilizer Pollution

2.8.1 Nitrate pollution
2.8.2 Eutrophication
2.8.3 Nitrous Oxide Emission and Global Warming
2.8.4 Heavy Metal Pollution

2.9 Let Us Sum Up

2.10 Key Words

2.11 References and Suggested Further Reading

2.12 Answers to Check Your Progress

2.1 INTRODUCTION
The benefits of agriculture have been quite immense. Before the dawn of
agriculture, the hunter gatherer way of living supported about 4 million people
globally. Nevertheless, modern agriculture now feeds more than 7.2 billion
people. Global cereal production has increased from 0.8 billion tonnes (1960)
to 2.646 billion tonnes (2017) mainly from the increased yields resulting from
greater use of inputs like fertilizer, irrigation water and pesticides, high yielding
crop varieties and hybrids. This quantum jump in agricultural production has
increased the global per capita food supply. Fertilizer application is one of the
most widely accepted practices for increasing crop yield and income of farmers.
Fertilizers are essential agricultural input as they replenish the soil, meet the
crop requirement, and also they ameliorate the soil and act as soil amendments.
Further, the declining soil fertility due to continuous intensive cultivation
warrants the use or judicious application of fertilizers to the soil so as to improve
the soil physical, chemical and biological properties of soil. Nevertheless,
feeding 10 billion people by 2050 is a remarkable task in the back drop of
shifts in dietary pattern, pressures on agricultural resources and urges to maintain
the environmental integrity. Occupational and public health are also
contemplated in the trajectory of sustainable agricultural growth. Fertilizers
23
Agricultural Pollution being an effective but costly input, information on its correct use is always
sought and needed along with best management practices. Through this unit,
you would be learning the importance of fertilizer use in agricultural landscape,
a close look on the fertilizer consumption, map the fertilizers, and gauge the
gravity of impacts due to injudicious use of fertilizers.

2.2 OBJECTIVES
After studying this unit, you should be able to:

 discuss the importance of fertilizer use;

 interpret the trends in fertilizer consumption;

 classify the chemical fertilizers; and

 explain the impacts of fertilizers on the environment.

2.3 FERTILIZERS IN INDIAN AGRICULTURE

Agriculture productivity holds the key to meeting the food security demand of
our country. Fertilizers have played a major role in increasing the agriculture
productivity in the country particularly in the last few decades and expected to
contribute significantly towards the future growth and economy by increased
and balanced use of fertilizers. Despite being one of the largest fertilizer
producing countries in the world, the fertilizer sector in India still faces
formidable challenge. India is relatively comfortable in the production of urea
but indigenous production of phosphatic and potasic fertilizer falls short of
demand.

Fertilizer use is neither new in this world nor in India. The first commercially
made fertilizer, single super phosphate (SSP) was produced about 160 years
ago in England. In India, first SSP factory was set up in 1906 at Ranipet in the
province of Madras (now in Tamil Nadu). Most of the fertilizers that we are
using in the distant past have been mined from the mineral rich rocks or
extracted from ore complexes by adopting innovative technologies.
Nevertheless, the synthesis of nitrogenous fertilizers is different.

At present, in India about 33 million tonnes of chemical fertilizers are used

every year, out of which 26 million tonnes are produced indigenously. There is
a well developed network for the distribution and marketing of fertilizers with
2,75,000/- fertilizer sale points (both Government, Co-operative and private)
to serve 6,27,000 villages for judicious application of fertilizers. In India, about
50-55% of the fertilizers are used for the cultivation of rice, wheat and
sugarcane, 10-15% for cotton 15% for fruits and vegetables, 10% for coarse
cereals and 10% for oilseeds and pulses. Although, India is the world’s third
largest producer and consumer of fertilizers, the average consumption of
fertilizer is only 97 kg/ha as against 345 kg/ha in China. Less use of fertilizer
in our country is on account of fragmented land holdings, preponderance of
marginal and small farmers, etc.

24
 Table 2.1: Type of Fertilizers Produced in India Fertilizers

Type of fertilizers Grade

Straight Nitrogenous
Ammonium Sulphate (AS) 20.6% N
Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) 25% N
Ammonium Chloride 25% N
Urea 46% N
Straight Phosphatic
Single Super Phosphate (SSP) 16% P2O5
Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) 46% P2O5
NP/NPK Complex Fertilizers
Urea Ammonium Phosphate 24 -24 -0
28 -28 -0
14 -35 -14
Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate 16 -20 -0
20 -20 -0
Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) 18 -46 -0
Mono Ammonium Phosphate (MAP) 11 -52 -0
Nitro Phosphate 20 -20 -0
23 -23 -0
Nitro Phosphate with Potash 15 -15 -15
NP/NPKs 17 -17 -17
14 -28 -14
19-19-19
10-26-28
12-32-16

Source: Indian fertilizer scenario (2013). Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Chemicals

and Fertilizers, New Delhi.

The fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) has been on the decline mainly due to
emergence of deficiency of soil nutrients, due to adoption of intensive
cultivation and cropping systems on fragile soils like rice- wheat on sandy
soils, etc. We have ignored the soil fertility health largely due to imbalance use
of fertilizers or nutrients. Balanced fertilization or nutrient use ensures that
plant receive all the essential nutrient elements in adequate amounts and
proportion, neither less nor in excess amounts, to meet fully the nutritional
requirement of crop(s) or cropping systems on a particular soil to attain optimum
or potential crop yield or productivity. 25
Agricultural Pollution
2.4 FERTILITY STATUS OF INDIAN SOILS
Soil is a marvelous gift of nature to mankind. The rise and fall of ancient
civilizations were believed to be led by the sustenance or deterioration of the
soil quality and health. Therefore the sustainable management of soil holds
the key for meeting the basic requirements of food, fodder, feed and fiber and
fuel production for burgeoning population. In this era of modernization, and
intensive agriculture, soil has been exploited in such a way that it often exceeds
its carrying capacity which has resulted in poor soil health which is emblematic
of declining soil fertility and productivity across the Indian agricultural
landscape. Crop geography is mainly driven by the interaction of biotic and
abiotic factors, and more importantly, the soil and microclimate are essential
factor deciding the cropping system. Nevertheless, cropping systems and policy
framed without due care to the soil environment and soil fertility scenario
would lead to condition wherein injudicious use of agricultural inputs mainly
fertilizers have resulted in accelerated soil erosion, incidence of macro- and
micro-nutrient deficiencies and depletion of soil biodiversity.
Assessment of fertility vis a vis nutrient status of soil has been made by
developing or standardizing soil test methods and soil test rating charts. In
India, soil testing laboratories (STL) run by the State Government, fertilizer
industries, State agriculture Universities and ICAR Institutes assess the nutrient
status of the soil and based on this study, soil fertility mapsare published
frequently. Nitrogen is low in about 62% and medium in 37% of tested soil. In
an analysis of more than 9.6 million soil samples from 363 districts indicated
phosphorous is low in about 49% and medium in 47% respectively and
potassium is low in about 20 % and medium in 42% respectively in various
samples. Analysis of more than 252,000 soil samples of the country showed
deficiency of Zn in about 50 % of samples. Once the fertility status of soil is
known through soil testing, the fertility status can be maintained through
optimum use of fertilizer and organic manure to maintain and restore the soil
fertility with increased agricultural productivity.

2.5 FERTILIZERS AND ITS USE

Fertilizers are essential inputs for boosting the output of various crops. Plants
require 17 essential nutrient elements for their normal growth and completion
of life cycle. On the basis of their relative concentration or amount in plant
tissues, these are divided into (i) macronutrients and (ii) micronutrients. The
essential nutrient elements are “carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen(O), nitrogen
(N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur
(S), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), boron (B), molybdenum
(Mo), chlorine (Cl) and nickel (Ni)”. These are recognized as universally
essential nutrient elements, because these meet the essential requirements for
diverse groups of organisms, algae, bacteria, fungi and green plants. However,
the list of essential nutrients may expand further as evidence of their essential
for leguminous plants only.
Soils vary in their capacity to supply different nutrients to different crops. Two
soils having the same content of available nutrients may not supply the same
amounts of these nutrients even to the same crop. Similarly, the same amount
of nutrients added to two soils may not supply their nutrients in the same amount
to the same crop. Under a given situation of soil, the system of farming, soil
management, fertilizer and manure practices, etc. influence the productivity
26 of soils and crop yield from them. Stability and growth of agricultural production
to a great extent is influenced by the fertilizer industries on the global landscape, Fertilizers
their ability to meet the farm demand for agricultural fertilizers, quality inputs,
and socio-economic concerns.
Every tonne of fertilizers increased food grains yield by 10-12 tonnes. Fertilizers
essentially provide additional N, P and K to crops. Their use in optimal quantities
is essential for maintaining the soil fertility. Because of the limited availability
of land, their use becomes more important not only for increased yield but also
to meet the food requirements of the growing population. A fertilizer can be
defined as a “mined or manufactured material containing one or more essential
plant nutrients in potentially available forms in commercially valuable
amounts”. The suitable material can be used as such (rock phosphate) or with
some processing (MOP) or products made from raw materials in a factory
(urea, DAP,SSP, complexes, etc.). A fertilizer must provide one or more of
essential nutrients.
Fertilizers in the broadest sense are products that enable the availability of
nutrients to the soil and also improve the physico-chemical properties of soil.
It is an established fact that improvement in physical, chemical and biological
properties of soil greatly improves the life cycle of plants including growth
and development, crop yield, and quality of crop produce.

2.6 FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION

In India, farmers have practiced a cultural system that has ensured stable yields
for centuries and maintained a desired level of fertility in soil. Unfortunately
due to increase in agricultural production through introduction of high yielding
varieties, intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and intensive tillage
practices, this fragile equilibrium got disturbed resulting in unsustainable
growth. In the last half of 20th century, North-western India though lying in
trans-gangetic plains receiving less rainfall, experienced enormous agricultural
growth due to the adoption of high yielding, fertilizer responsive varieties,
irrigation facilities and industrious farmers and forthcoming agricultural
extension activities. It is estimated that to feed 1.4 billion population by 2025,
India needs minimum food-grains production of 300 million tonnes, which
would necessitate the use of 30-35 Mt of NPK from fertilizer carriers/synthetic
fertilizers and an additional 10 Mt from organic and biofertilizer sources. This
perspective throws light on the dire need to augment the production and
consumption of crop plant nutrients by 2025 to meet the food demand of
burgeoning population.

Fig. 2.1: All India Consumption of Fertilizers

Source: Graphical presentation by the author from data accessed from Agricultural Statistics 27
at a glance 2016, GOI.
Agricultural Pollution Chemical fertilizer are and would remain the major and very important
component of the integrated nutrient supply system under intensive cropping
as these contribute nearly 50 % increased crop yield. The National Academy
of agriculture Sciences, India has estimated that for meeting the food needs of
India’s increased population by 2025, India may have to increase its plant
nutrient supply by over 45 million tonnes from the current level of nutrient
supply through NPK fertilizer and 4-6 million tonnes through organic manure.

2.7 CLASSIFICATION OF CHEMICAL

FERTILIZERS
Based on their chemical composition, fertilizers are classified as:
1) “Mineral fertilizers consist of inorganic or synthetically produced organic
compounds.
2) Organic fertilizers are waste products from animal husbandry (stable
manure, slurry manure), plant decomposition products (com-post, peat),
or products from waste treatment (composted garbage, sewage sludge).
3) Synthetic soil conditioners are products whose main function is to improve
the physical properties of soils, for example, friability and water and air
transport”.
Based on the nutrient content, fertilizers can also be classified as:
1) Straight fertilizers that generally contain only one primary nutrient. For
instance, urea (N) or triple superphosphate (P2O5).
2) Compound (complex or multi-nutrient) fertilizers contain several primary
nutrients and sometimes micronutrients as [Link]-nutrient or
compound fertilizers contain two or more nutrients. The term complex
fertilizerrefers to a compound fertilizer formed by mixing ingredients that
react chemically. In bulk-blend or blended fertilizers, two or more granular
fertilizers of similar size are mixed to form a compound fertilizer.
3) Micronutrient fertilizers contain nutrients required in small quantities by
plants, as opposed to macro-nutrients.
Fertilizers can be classified as solid or liquid fertilizers and as soil or foliar
fertilizers, the latter being applied exclusively by spraying on an existing plant
population.
Check Your Progress 1
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) Check your answers given at the end of this unit.
1) Discuss the importance of fertilizer use in agriculture sector?
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
2) Classify the fertilizers on the basis of their chemical composition?
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
28 ..............................................................................................................
 Fertilizers
2.8 FERTILIZER POLLUTION
The agricultural production depends on chemical fertilizer application, as most
of our high yielding varieties and hybrids are fertilizer responsive. Though
chemical fertilizers increase crop production, their continuous application lead
to soil deterioration and degradation. Pollution from fertilizer nutrient occurs
when chemical fertilizers are applied at a greater rate than they are fixed by
soil particles or they are washed off from soil surface before the plant uptake.
The excess nitrogen and phosphorus pollute the surface water through run-off
or ground water through leaching. Fertilizers like urea, ammonium sulphate,
and ammonium chloride reduce the soil pH. Excess nitrogen in soil leads to
soil acidification and soil salinization through nitrification and other nitrogen
transformation processes. Acidification of soil will further leads to oil pollution
through the mobilization of toxic heavy metals. Overuse of chemical fertilizer
has hardened the soil, decreased fertility, strengthened pesticides, polluted air
and water, and released greenhouse gases, thereby bringing hazards to human
health and environment as well.
The excessive use of fertilizer has resulted in:
 Occurrence of increased concentration of nitrates in the potable water.
 The process of nutrient enrichment through leaching, sediment erosion
leads to eutrophication and deterioration of surface water quality.
 The contamination of soils by heavy metal, through fertilizers such as Cd
from P fertilizers.

2.8.1 Nitrate Pollution

Nitrogen occurs in many forms in the environment and takes part in many
biochemical reactions. The four forms of nitrogen that are of particular
significance in environmental technology are organic nitrogen, ammonia
nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen. The circulation of nitrogen in
its various forms through the environment results in nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen,
particularly in the nitrate form, is a basic nutrient that is essential to the growth
of [Link] fertilizers are carried into streams and rivers through
runoff, and further to seas and oceans. They do contaminate groundwater as
they seep into soil and reach the aquifers. Excessive nitrate concentrations in
surface waters encourage the rapid growth of microscopic plants called algae
and excessive growth of algae called algal blooms which degrades water
[Link] growth, death and decomposition of algae cause oxygen depletion
which prohibits growth of fish or marine life resulting in dead zones. Algal
blooms are observed in Baltic Sea, Gulf of Mexico and other nutrient enriched
aquatic environments.
Nitrate in ground water also leads to serious health hazards such as
methemoglobinemia and formation of other nitrosamine compounds. Nitrate
leaching from excessive and imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers result in
surface and groundwater contamination. Contamination of surface and
groundwater has caused immense social, environmental and political pressure
warranting the use of environmental friendly fertilizer which releases nutrient
in a very controlled and balanced manner.
29
Agricultural Pollution 2.8.2 Eutrophication
The process of nutrient enrichment and gradual filling in of a lake is a natural
process. It is called eutrophication and can be thought of as an inevitable and
continual aging of the lake. All lakes go through a natural aging process called
eutrophication. Human activity often accelerates this process. Lakes have a
natural life cycle. Most lakes start out geologically as deep, cold, clear bodies
of water. At this stage, they are called oligotrophic lakes. They usually have
sand or rock bottom, very few nutrients, and a scarcity of plant or fish life.
Over the years, nutrients slowly accumulate and more organisms enter from
inlet streams and the surroundings. Silty sediments begin to form at the bottom
as the lake passes through a mesotrophic stage of existence.
The eutrophic stage of a lake’s life cycle is characterized by a relatively shallow
and warmer body of water, with enough nutrients to support large populations
of plants and animals. In a eutrophic lake, there are frequent algal blooms, and
at certain times of the year, the water at the bottom may be devoid of dissolved
oxygen. Further aging or eutrophication leads to what is called a senescent
lake, characterized by thick deposits of organic silts and very high nutrient
levels. Senescent lakes are very shallow, with much rooted emergent vegetation
growing throughout the lake. Eventually, what was once a lake will become a
marsh as natural geological and ecological processes continue.
The natural process of lake eutrophication, from the oligotrophic through the
senescent stages, takes many thousands of years. It is an exceedingly slow
process. But many people use the term eutrophication synonymously with
pollution in reference to lakes. Perhaps, a more accurate characterization of
the problem would be the term cultural eutrophication. Cultural eutrophication
is the acceleration and hastening of the natural aging process because of human
activity in the drainage basin or watershed of a lake.

2.8.3 Nitrous Oxide Emission and Global Warming

Global atmospheric N2O concentration has increased from the preindustrial
level of 270 ppb to 319 ppb in 2005. Nitrous oxide (N2O), having the “Global
Warming Potential” of about 300 is construed as a highly potent greenhouse
gas as the atmospheric lifetime of the nitrous oxide is 120 years. Nitrous oxide
emissions into the atmosphere are due to use of nitrogenous fertilizers, forest
clearing, and combustion. FAO has estimated that by the year 2030, global
N2O emission from fertilizer and manure application will increase by 35-60%.

2.8.4 Heavy Metal Pollution

The main metal contaminants that are found in chemical fertilizer are Cadmium
(Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Cobalt (Co), Molybdenum (Mo), Lead
(Pb), Nickel (Ni), Arsenic (As), Mercury (Hg), Selenium (Se), Vanadium (V)
and Radionuclide 266 (Ra). These metal contaminants are required by the plant
as micronutrient for their growth and development. Heavy metals accumulate
in the soil due to repeated applications of fertilizer. They accumulated in the
human food chain through biomagnification and causes serious health problem.
The health effects associated with the exposures of Cd, lead, arsenic, mercury,
etc are well known.
In integrated nutrient management, to sustain the productivity of our soils,
30 organic manures and biofertilizers are recommended as supplements to chemical
[Link] concept of Integrated Nutrient Management is the continuous Fertilizers
improvement of soil productivity on long term basis through appropriate use
of fertilizers and organic manures and their scientific management for optimum
growth, yield and quality of crops and cropping systems in specific agro-
ecological situations. The concept gained significance on account of increased
demand for agricultural production and scientific findings highlighting the
advantages of judicious combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The
Integrated Nutrient Management helps to restore and sustain the soil fertility
and crop productivity. This strategy also checks the nutrient deficiency and
soil problems.
The INM strategies focus on the following areas:
1. Reduction of nutrient losses from the applied fertilizers
2. Fertilizer application to synchronise with the crop demand
3. Timing, placement and choice of the fertilizers
4. Controlled release of nutrients
5. Retention and efficient use of the native soil nutrients
6. Research and development of alternative sources of nutrients
The components of INM are the following:
1. Organic manures (Farmyard manure, crop waste, animal waste, industrial
waste, sludge, oil cakes, etc.)
2. Bio-fertilizers (Rhizobia, Azospirillum, Azotobacter, Phosphobacteria,
etc.)
3. Chemical fertilizers (Urea, Urea super granules, Single Super phosphate,
Muriate of potash, micronutrient fertilizers).
4. Green manure and Green leaf manure (Sesbania rostrata, [Link],
Crotalaria juncea, Azolla, etc.)
Check Your Progress 2
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) Check your answers given at the end of this unit.
1) What is Eutrophication?
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
2) Discuss the importance of Integrated Nutrient management?
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
..............................................................................................................
31
Agricultural Pollution
2.9 LET US SUM UP
Since industrial revolutions, humans primarily with the fertilizer use have
revolutionized the agriculture food production. Chemical fertilizer has immense
potential to increase the agriculture productivity. Globally, we are applying
excess fertilizer which ultimately causing pollution to our environment. The
atmosphere is polluted by NO2 and other nitrogen gases causing global warming.
Nutrients like nitrogen is also leached from agriculture land and NO3 – overload
in the river, lake, pond, ocean causing a “dead zone” in the water bodies which
destroys aquatic life and poses serious threat to environmental health. As we
know that current agriculture practices heavily relies on fertilizers, scientist
has now engineered nano enable fertilizers which deliver nutrients to crop in a
very controlled manner and thereby reducing the pollution and increase in
food production.

2.10 KEY WORDS

Fertilizer: Any substance containing one or more recognized plant nutrient(s)
which is used for its plant nutrient content and which is designed for use or
claimed to have value in promoting plant growth.
Leaching: It refers to the downward movement of free water (percolation) out
of the plant root zone. It occurs when the amount of rainfall or irrigation water
entering the soil becomes greater than its water-holding capacity.
Soil fertility: Soil fertility is the inherent capacity of the soil to supply nutrients
to plants in adequate amounts and suitable proportions.
Soil productivity: Soil productivity is the capacity of the soil to produce crops
with specific systems of management.
Macronutrients: Macronutrients are required in large quantities (in g/Kg dry
matter) by the plants. The macronutrients are C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S.
N, P and K are called primary nutrients. Ca, Mg, and S are called secondary
nutrients.
Micronutrients: Micronutrients are required in small quantities. The
micronutrients are Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl and Ni

2.11 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED

FURTHER READING
Fulekar M.H. (2010). Environmental Biotechnology. CRC Press, USA. pp.159.
Gaur A.C., Neelakantan S., and Dargan K.S. (2013). Organic Manures.
Directorate of Knowledge Management in Agriculture, ICAR. pp.159.
GOI (2016). Agricultural Statistics at a glance 2016. Department of Agriculture,
cooperation & Farmers welfare, Directorate of Economics & Statistics,
Government of [Link].489.
ICAR (2013). Handbook of Agriculture. Directorate of Knowledge
Management in Agriculture, ICAR. pp.1617.
32
Indian fertilizer scenario (2013). Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Fertilizers
Chemicals and Fertilizers, New Delhi.
Kannaiyan S. (2002). Biotechnology of biofertilizers. Narosa Publishing House,
India.
Palaniappan S.P. and Annadurai K. (2003). Organic Farming: Theory and
practice. Scientific publishers, Jodhpur. pp.257.

2.12 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Answers to Check Your Progress 1
1. Your answer should include following points:
 Fertilizers are essential inputs for boosting the output of various crops.
 Plants require 17 essential nutrient elements for their normal growth
and completion of life cycle.
 On the basis of their relative concentration or amount in plant tissues,
these are divided into (i) macronutrients and (ii) micronutrients.
2. Based on the chemical composition, fertilizers are classified as:
1) Mineral fertilizers consist of inorganic or synthetically produced
organic compounds.
2) Organic fertilizers are waste products from animal husbandry (stable
manure, slurry manure), plant decomposition products (compost,
peat), or products from waste treatment (composted garbage, sewage
sludge).
3) Synthetic soil conditioners are products whose main function is to
improve the physical properties of soils, for example, friability and
water and air transport.
Answers to Check Your Progress 2
Your answer should include following points:
1. The process of nutrient enrichment and gradual filling in of a lake is a
natural process. It is called eutrophicationand can be thought of as an
inevitable and continual aging of the lake. All lakes go through a natural
aging process called eutrophication. Human activity often accelerates this
process.
2. Integrated Nutrient Management is the cornerstone of sustainable
agriculture. INM focusses on capitalising the positive underpinnings of
synthetic chemical fertilizers, organic manures, and biofertilizers and
enhancing the activity of soil microbiota so as to improve the health of
soil ecosystem.

33