Nano Urea Fertiliser

The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers recently approved the use of Nano urea for commercial purposes.

Image Source - Hindi Shobha

About Nano Urea Fertiliser

• IFFCO created the liquid fertilizer known as nano urea. It serves as an alternative to regular urea.
• It is urea in the shape of a nanoparticle, essentially.
• An artificial source of nitrogen, a key nutrient needed by plants, urea is a chemical nitrogen fertilizer that is white in colour.
• Its objective is to lessen farmers' reliance on urea in bags.
• The 1985 Fertilizer Control Order (FCO): Is based on current regulations that, in the interim, permit the use of fertilisers based on information from just two crop seasons.
• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) typically needed three seasons of independent evaluation before endorsing or rejecting a novel fertiliser for commercial usage, but in the case of nano urea, this was decreased to two.
• Information on production: Approximately 440 million 500 ml bottles of nano urea will be made by FY25. This will be roughly 20 million tonnes of urea equivalent. The 9 million tonnes that India imports each year will be handled by it.
• National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) and Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF), two Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), have signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding with IFFCO to transfer the technology of Nano Urea.
• The goal of this is to increase domestic manufacturing of nano urea.
• Data on imports: The nation produces about 26 million tonnes of urea domestically, whereas consumption is about 35 million tonnes. The shortfall is also filled by imports.
• After switching to Nano Urea from traditional urea, the government will save about Rs 40,000 crore in foreign currency annually.
• After 2023–2024, urea imports might not be necessary anymore.

How is the LNU better than the Conventional Urea?

• Higher Efficiency: Liquid nano urea has an efficiency range of 85–90%, compared to the 25% efficiency of traditional urea.
• Because it is frequently administered incorrectly and the nitrogen in it is wasted as gas or vapour, conventional urea does not have the desired effect on crops. During irrigation, a lot of nitrogen is also carried away.
• Targeted Supply of Nutrients to Crops: The plant absorbs liquid nano urea that is sprayed directly on its leaves.
• As they are absorbed by the stomata pores located on the epidermis of leaves, fertilizers in nano form deliver a focused supply of nutrients to crops.
• Economical: One bag of urea can be successfully replaced by a bottle of nano urea.
• Currently, there is no subsidy on the half-litre bottle of liquid nano urea, which costs Rs 240.
• A farmer, on the other hand, spends about Rs 300 for a 50-kilogram bag of highly discounted urea.
• Nano urea directly onto leaves causes it to be absorbed by the plant.

Potential advantages

• Farmers do not need to worry about its "caking" when it comes into touch with moisture because it has a one-year shelf life.
• Pricing: It is currently subsidy-free and available in half-litre bottles for Rs 240.
• A farmer pays about Rs 300 for a 50 kg bag of highly discounted urea, in contrast.
• Efficiency: Liquid nano urea has an efficiency range of 85–90%, compared to traditional urea's efficiency of roughly 25%.
• Spraying liquid nano urea directly onto leaves causes it to be absorbed by the plant.
• As they are absorbed by the stomata pores located on the epidermis of leaves, fertilizers in nano form deliver a focused supply of nutrients to crops.
• Reduced subsidy Bill: It is intended to decrease the unbalanced and indiscriminate use of traditional urea and will lower the nation's subsidy bill.
• Crop productivity is improved by the use of nano urea.
• This is viewed as a fantastic substitute for artificial fertilizers because it encourages development while lowering environmental damage.
• Additionally, nano-fertilizers shorten the length of the agricultural cycle and boost crop output.
• Nanoparticles have special qualities that could be used to boost plant growth, including high absorption capacity, higher surface-to-volume ratios, and controlled-release kinetics to specific areas.

The drawbacks of nano-fertilizers

• Lack of a risk management strategy for nano fertilizers

Nano fertilizers are not produced in sufficient amounts or are not readily available. This restricts the use of nano-fertilizers as a source of plant nutrients on a larger scale.

• The expensive price of nano fertilizers

The procedure of formulation is not standardized. Due to the diverse pedoclimatic circumstances, the same nanomaterial produces various effect

Way Ahead

• Guidelines for the establishment of entrepreneurs for the drone spraying of liquid fertilizers have also been released by the department.
• Numerous initiatives are used to promote the use of nano urea, including awareness campaigns, webinars, nukkad nataks, field demonstrations, Kisan sammelans, and regional language movies.
• The nation's first liquid nano urea facility was recently opened by the Prime Minister at Katol.

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