Chandan SinghDr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural

University, Pusa

Fertilizer Development- concept, scope, need, resource availability

Import and export avenue of fertilizerTypes of fertilizerGrading and chemical constituent of fertilizersRole of fertilizer in agricultural productionProduction and consumption of fertilizers in India

Contents

“Wiothout manure, the rice plant grow but do not bear acrop”- PARASAR, 1300 B. C.

Management of soil fertility has been the pre-occupation of farmers for thousands of years.

The start of the modern science of plant nutrition dates to the 19th century and the work of German chemist Justus Von Leibig,(Law of Restitution)

(For maintenance of soil fertility, the replacement of the nutrients removed from the soi by the crop was essential)The secret of rapid agricultural progress in the under developed countries is to be found much more in agricultural extension, in fertilizers, in new seeds, in pesticides and in water supplies than in altering the size of the farm, in introducing machinery, or in getting rid of middle men in the marketing process”. W.A.Lewis

HISTORY

John Bennet Lawes, an English entrepreneur, began to experiment on the effects of various manures on plants growing in pots in 1837, and a year or two later the experiments were extended to crops in the field.

One immediate consequence was that in 1842 he patented a manure formed by treating phosphates with sulphuric acid, and thus was the first to create the artificial manure industry.

In the succeeding year he enlisted the services of Joseph Henry Gilbert, with whom he carried on for more than half a century on experiments in raising crops at the Rothamstead Experiment Station

Fertilizer (or fertiliser) is any organic or inorganic material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming materials) that is added to a soil to supply one or more plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants. Conservative estzimates report 30 to 50% of crop yields are attributed to natural or synthetic commercial fertilizer. Global market value is likely to rise to more than US$185 billion until 2019. The European fertilizer market will grow to earn revenues of approx. €15.3 billion in 2018.

Any element that is necessary for plant growth, development and completion of life cycle.

Criteria of essentiality

1. The absence of an essential nutrient elements make it impossible for the plant to complete the vegetative or reproductive stage of its life cycle

2. The deficiency is specific to the element & can be prevented or corrected only by supplying that element

3.The element is involved directly in the nutrition and metabolism of plant

As proposed by Arnon & Stout (1939) and modified by Arnon (1954)

Essential elements for plant growthC H O – Supplied through air and water

N P K – Primary Nutrients

Ca, Mg, S - Secondary Nutrients

Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, B, Cl, Mo – Micronutrients

Co & Ni – recently added Micronutrients

Typical Plant Dry-matter CompositionELEMENT Amount by mass

% ppm Hydrogen 6

Carbon 45 Oxygen 45

Nitrogen 1.5Potassium 1.0

Calcium 0.5 Magnesium 0.2 Phosphorous 0.2

Sulfur 0.1Chlorine 0.01 100

Iron 100Boron 20

Manganese 50Zinc 20

Copper 6Molybdenum 0.1

Typical composition of soil solution

Cation Conc. mmol L-1 Anion Conc. mmol L-1

Ca2+ 10 NO3- 5

Mg2+ 3 SO32- 4

K+ 1 Cl- 2

Na+ 1 HCO3- 2

NH4+ 0.5 HPO4

2-/H2PO4- 0.01

Sources of nutrients

Inorganic

OrganicChemical

FertilizersMinerals

Farm Yard ManureGreen ManureVermi-Compost

Fertilizer Fertilizer is generally defined as “any material, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic , which supplies one or more of the essential elements required for the plant growth.”

INTRODUCTIONIndia is the third largest producer (after China & USA) and the second

biggest (next only to China) consumer of fertilizer in the world.Indian fertilizer industry started in 1906 with SSP production facility at

Ranipet near Chennai. Started operating in a big scale since 1940s, when the Fertilizer &

Chemicals Travancore of India Ltd. and the Fertilizers Corporation of India were set up in Kerala and Bihar

The production of urea in India has reached near self-sufficiency. The requirement of the nitrogenous fertilizers is met through the indigenous industry

In the case of phosphatic fertilizers, the raw materials and intermediates are imported in large scale.

The requirement of potash (K) is met entirely through imports.

Fertilizer Production, Consumption and Import Status

The Indian Fertilizer companies produced around 32.4 million tonnes of fertilizer in the year 2012-13

However, the total availability was short of demand and was met through imports.

Of total fertiliser production, urea output increased to 22.6 million tonnes in FY12-13 from 22.0 million tonnes in FY11-12 due to better capacity utilization.

While production of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) output down 3.6 million tonne in FY12-13 from 4.0 million tones last year.

Output of NPK (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium) decreased 6.2 million tonnes in FY12-13 from 7.8 million tonnes in FY11-12

•India has 30 manufacturing units of Urea with an Installed capacity of 21.6 million tonnes till 2013. There are 12 units of DAP producing plants with a combined capacity of 8.3 million tonnes. Complex fertilizers in the country have installed capacity of 6.4 million tonnes from 19 units

Highest number of fertilizer units in the country belongs to SSP. India has 85 SSP units with a combined production capacity of 7.7 million tonnes

India is meeting 80 per cent of its urea requirement through indigenous production but is largely import dependent for its requirements of phosphatic and potassic (P & K) fertilizers either as finished fertilizers or raw materials.

Its entire potash requirement, about 90 per cent of phosphatic requirement, and 20 per cent urea requirement is met through imports.

In India, complex fertilizer is produced by public sector, cooperative sector and private sector players.

Taking a closer look at the production scenario of complex fertilizer in the country which has witnessed an overall negative growth for the period from 2008-09 to 2012-13, maximum fall in production by both cooperative and the private sector was witnessed between 2010-11 and 2012-13.

Consumption, Production and Imports of Fertilizers from 2000-2013 (thousand tons of nutrients) Year   Consumption Production Imports

N P K TOTAL N P K TOTAL N P K TOTAL

2000-01 109.2 42.2 15.67 167 109.6 37.43 - 147 1.54 3.96 15.41 20.91

2001-02 113.1 43.8 16.67 173.6 107.7 38.6 - 146.3 2.69 4.29 17.01 23.99

2002-03 104.7 40.2 16.01 160.9 105.6 39.04 - 144.7 0.67 1.7 15.2 17.57

2003-04 110.8 41.2 15.98 168 106.3 36.32 - 142.7 1.32 3.38 15.48 20.18

2004-05 117.1 46.2 20.61 184 113.4 40.64 - 154 4.11 2.96 20.45 27.52

2005-06 127.2 52 24.13 203.4 113.5 42.21 - 155.8 13.9 11.2 27.47 52.53

2006-07 137.7 55.4 23.35 216.5 115.8 45.18 - 161 26.8 13.1 20.69 60.58

2007-08 144.2 55.2 26.36 225.7 109 38.07 - 147.1 36.8 13.9 26.53 77.21

2008-09 150.9 65.1 33.13 249.1 108.7 34.64 - 143.3 38.4 29.3 33.8 101.5

2009-10 155.8 72.7 36.32 264.9 119 43.21 - 162.2 34.5 27.6 29.45 91.48

2010-11 165.6 80.5 35.14 281.2 121.6 42.23 - 163.8 44.9 38 40.69 123.6  

2011-12 173 79.1 26.76 277.9 122.6 41.04 - 163.6 52.4 44.3 33.35 130  

2012-13 168.2 66.5 20.62 255.4 121.9 35.41 - 157.4 35.1 26.3 11.78 73.08  

Indian fertilizer industry65 large-sized fertilizer plants in India .32 units-urea20 units-DAP & complex fertilizers 13 units-ammonium phosphate & CANNitrogenous fertilizers-88% urea ,10% DAP &

2% ammonium fertilizers.

MAJOR PLAYERS:The public sector companies in Indian fertilizer market are

listed below:Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL) Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFC) Pyrites, Phosphates & Chemicals Limited (PPCL)Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (RCF) National Fertilizers Limited (NFL) Projects &Development India Limited (PDIL) The Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore Limited

(FACT) Madras Fertilizers Limited (MFL) FCI Aravali Gypsum & Minerals India Limited, Jodhpur

Some Private fertilizer CompaniesThe Scientific Fertilizer Co Pvt Ltd Coromandel Fertilizers Deepak Fertilizers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited Apratim International Aries AgroVet Devidayal Agro ChemicalsGujarat State Fertilizers &Chemicals LimitedTata Chemicals LimitedChambal FertilizersNagarjuna Fertilizers and chemicals limitedGodavari Fertilizers and Chemicals limitedZuari Industries limited

Fertilizer use and crop production in India24%8%3%9%5%3%4%

2.00%5%

Rice 37%Wheat 24%Food Grains 8%Pulses 3%Oil Seeds 9%Sugarcane 5%Cotton 3%Vegetables 4%

Figure 2: Crops wise consumption of Fertilizer in India

Rice37%

Wheat24%

Food Grains8%

Pulses3%

Oil Seeds9%

Sugarcane5%

Cotton3%

Vegetables4%

Fruits2%

Others5%

Rice

Wheat

Food Grains

Pulses

Oil Seeds

Sugarcane

Cotton

Vegetables

Fruits

Others

13.4

11

8.27

5.84.9

4.1 3.7

02

468

1012

1416

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Res

pons

e ra

tio (k

g gr

ain/

kg N

PK)

Low Fertilizer Response - Irrigated Areas

Declining Fertilizer Response

YearYear

??BB BB

MnMn MnMn MnMnSS SS SS

KK KK KK KKZnZn ZnZn ZnZn ZnZnPP PP PP PP

FeFe FeFe FeFe FeFe FeFeNN NN NN NN NN NN

19501950 19601960 19701970 19801980 19901990 20002000

Emerging Multi-Nutrient Deficiencies in Soils

Types of FertilizersStraight Fertilizer – only one declarable major nutrient

e.g. UreaComplex Fertilizer – at least two declarable major

nutrient e.g. DAPMixed Fertilizer – blending of fertilizers to supply 2 or 3

major nutrients e.g. Suphala -15:15:15Liquid Fertilizer – Fertilizers which are in liquid form e.g.

anhydrous ammoniaFortified Fertilizer - Fertilizers which are enriched with

some specific nutrient e.g. Zincated ureaCoated Fertilizers – Fertilizers which are coated with

relatively slowly soluble materials to have slow release of nutrient e.g. Neem coated urea

Customized Fertilizer - Location and crop specific fertilizers e.g. Paras Formoola (Tata Chemicals)

Fertilizer Grade:-The grade of fertilizer is expressed as a set of three numbers in the order of

percent. If a nutrient is missing, it is represented by a zero. i.e. SN Fertilizer Grade1. Ammonium sulphate 20.6-0-02. SSP 0-16-03. M O P 0-0-604. Diammonium phosphate 18-46-05. Suphala 15-15-15 where as,

Fertilizer ratio refers to the relative percentage of N, P2O5 and K2O i.e. 1:4:4 if fertilizer grade is 6 – 24 – 24 .

Primary Nutrients – N,P & KNITROGEN (N)In the case of nitrogenous fertilizers, nitrogen may

be in the ammonical , nitrate (or a combination there of) or amide form.

(NH4)Cl, (NH4)2so4 - Ammonical form

NaNO3 (Chile Saltpeter) - Nitrate formAmmonium Nitrate, CAN - Both form of NUrea - Amide form

Phosphate (P2 O5 )

The portion of phosphatic fertilizer which is soluble in water is called water

soluble phosphate

The portion of phosphatic fertilizer which is not soluble in water but soluble in

2% neutral ammonium citrate solution is called citrate soluble phosphate.

The portion of phosphate which is neither soluble in water nor in 2% neutral

ammonium citrate is termed as insoluble phosphate

Available phosphate = Water soluble + Citrate soluble

Total phosphate = Available phosphate + Insoluble phosphate

Secondary nutrients – Ca, Mg, S Secondary nutrients are the essential elements

which are required in relatively low amounts.

Therefore, to obtain opt results crops have to be supplied with secondary nutrients in addition to primary nutrients.

- Lime - Source of Ca- CaSo4 (gypsum) - Source of Ca & S - Dolomite, MgSo4 etc - source of Mg- Pyrite, Elemental S - Source of S

MicronutrientsGroup of nutrients which are required by plant

in small quantities. Deficiency of which are often not seen, especially in cereal crops but they have the hidden hunger for the deficient nutrients.

Intensive cropping deplete all nutrients including micro-nutrient, from the soil at a fast rate with a differential intensity

Therefore, proper use of micronutrients is necessary for increasing agricultural production.

Sources of micronutrientsZinc Sulphate , Chelated Zinc - for Zn

Manganese Sulphate - for MnBorax, Solubor - for B

Copper Sulphate - for CuFerrous Sulphate, Chelated Iron - for FeAmmonium Molybdate - for Mo

Recently Zincated Urea & Boronated SSP has also been incorporated in FCO.

CHALLENGES IN FERTILISER INDUSTRYGap between demand and supplyGreater dependency of country on

imports( also feedstock)Unable to reduce burden of government

in subsidiary ratesInfrastructural bottlenecksUncertainties in government policiesSmall size of older plants

Year Urea DAP NP/NPKs SSP MOP*

2013-14 31192 11784 10577 4682 4343

2014-15 32029 12002 10861 5091 4492

2015-16 32858 12212 11142 5513 4643

2016-17 33677 12413 11420 5948 4793

2017-18 33754 12764 11841 6476 4934

Demand forecast of fertilizer products (thousand tonnes) 2012-13 to 2016-17

Projected Food Grain Production, Fertilizer Demand, likely Consumption and Gap

05

101520253035404550

2003 2010 2025Year

Nut

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s

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Food

grai

n pr

oduc

tion

Foodgrain production (Mt)NPK Demand (Mt)NPK Consumption (Mt)NPK Gap (Mt)

THANKS

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CONSUMPTION OF CHEMICAL FERTILISER( LAKH TON)

020406080

100120140160

1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

YEAR

CONS

UMPT

ION

IN L

AKH

TON

Nitrogenous(N)

Phosphatic(P)

Potassic(K)

Nutrient content of fertilizersMaterialMaterial TotTot

al al nitrnitrogeogen n (N)(N)

AmmoAmmoniacal niacal nitrognitrogen (N)en (N)

NitraNitrate te nitronitrogen gen (N)(N)

NitrogeNitrogen in n in form of form of urea urea (amide)(amide)(N)(N)

Neutral Neutral ammonium ammonium citrate citrate soluble soluble phosphosphaphosphosphate (Pte (P22OO22) )

Water Water soluble soluble phosphphosphate ate (P(P22OO55))

Water Water soluble soluble potash potash (K(K22O)O)

11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88

I. Nitrogenous foretellersI. Nitrogenous foretellers

1. Ammonium 1. Ammonium sulphatesulphate

20.620.6 20.620.6 -- -- -- -- --

2.Ammonium chloride2.Ammonium chloride 25.025.0 25.025.0 -- -- -- -- --

3.Calcium ammonium 3.Calcium ammonium nitratenitrate

25.025.0 12.512.5 12.512.5 -- -- -- --

4.Urea4.Urea 46.046.0 -- -- -- -- -- --

II. Phosphatic fertilizers II. Phosphatic fertilizers

5. SSP5. SSP -- -- -- -- -- 16.016.0 --

III. Potassic fertilizersIII. Potassic fertilizers

6. Potassium chloride6. Potassium chloride -- -- -- -- -- -- 60.060.0

7. Potassium sulphate7. Potassium sulphate -- -- -- -- -- -- 50.050.0

IV. Complex fertilizers IV. Complex fertilizers 8. Ammonium phosphate 8. Ammonium phosphate sulphate sulphate 16-20-016-20-0 20-20-020-20-0

161620.020.0

16.016.018.018.0

----

--2.0 2.0

(max)(max)

20.020.020.020.0

19.519.517.017.0

--

9. Diammonium 9. Diammonium phosphate 18-46.0phosphate 18-46.0

18.018.0 15.515.5 -- 2.52.5 46.046.0 41.041.0 --

10. Nitrophosphate 20-10. Nitrophosphate 20-20-020-0 23-23-23-023-0 15-15-15-15-1515

20.020.023.023.015.015.0

10.010.011.511.57.57.5

10.010.011.511.57.57.5

------

20.020.023.023.015.015.0

5.45.418.518.54.04.0

----

15.015.0

11.Ammonium nitrate 11.Ammonium nitrate phosphate 23-23-0phosphate 23-23-0

23.023.0 13.013.0 10.010.0 -- 23.023.0 20.520.5 --

12. Urea ammonium 12. Urea ammonium phosphate 28-28-0phosphate 28-28-0 20-20-020-20-0

28.028.020.020.0

9.09.06.46.4

----

----

28.028.020.020.0

25.225.217.017.0

----

13.NPK fertilizers 10-26-13.NPK fertilizers 10-26-2626 12-32-12-32-1616 17-17-17-17-1717 14-35-14-35-1414 19-19-19-19-1919

10.010.012.012.017.017.014.014.019.019.0

7.07.09.09.05.05.0

12.012.05.65.6

----------

3.0 3.0 (max)(max)

3.0 3.0 (max)(max)12.012.02.0 2.0

(max)(max)13.413.4

26.026.032.032.017.017.035.035.019.019.0

22.122.127.227.214.514.529.029.016.216.2

26.026.016.016.017.017.014.014.019.019.0

The main aim of the fertilizer industry is to provide the primary & secondary nutrients

Primary nutrients are normally supplied through chemical fertilizers.

Chemical fertilizers are chemical compound, containing one or more of the primary nutrients and generally produced by chemical reactions.

The primary nutrients are nitrogen, phosphors and potassium, however, their concentration in a chemical fertilizers is expressed as parentage of total nitrogen (N), available phosphate (P2O5) and soluble Potash (K2O).

Thus, Ammonium Sulphate - 20.6% N,Single Super phosphate – 16% P2O5

Muriate of Potash (MOP) - 60% K2O