Neem Coated Urea
Before we move to the government policy on Neem Coated Urea, we need to
understand what is Neem coated Urea and what are its advantages
vis-a-vis uncoated urea.
Contents
Understanding Nitrogen Efficiency
Government Policy on Neem Coated Urea
Understanding Nitrogen Efficiency
With 46% N content, Urea is the most popular Nitrogenous fertilizer
around the world. When Urea is applied to soil, it is first hydrolysed
(i.e. broken by water) into Ammonical form (Ammonium Ion i.e. NH4+) and
then to nitrite (NO2-), followed by to nitrate (NO3-) forms by the
process called nitrification. Here, we note that most crops use nitrate
as source of nitrogen (A few crops such as Paddy prefer Ammonical form
over nitrate.).
Thus nitrification process is necessary for making nitrogen available to
plants. However, if the process of nitrification is too rapid; nitrogen
will escape to atmosphere and plants will not be able to recover it
from Urea efficiently. Generally, the plants are able to recover a
fraction of all Urea N and this fraction is known as Nitrogen Use
Efficiency (NUE). This NUE stands anywhere between 30 to 50%. Thus, two
third of Urea Nitrogen escapes from the soil and is not used by the
plants. Further, faster conversion of nitrate into Urea also results in
accumulation of nitrates in soil / underground water. Once nitrate
reaches underground water, it is most difficult to remove; and causes
diseases such as blue baby syndrome.
This implies that there is a need to regulate the urea hydrolysis and
nitrification. This is done by some chemical / natural agents which are
called Nitrification inhibitors. However, most of the nitrification
inhibitors are costly chemicals (examples nitrapyrin, dicyandiamide and
ammonium thiosulphate ) beyond reach of Indian farmers. Coating Urea
with Neem oil or Neem cake has been proved to be an effective natural
alternative to these chemicals. It has been scientifically established
that Neem oil serves as an effective inhibitor if coated on Urea. Thus,
the benefits are as follows:
Neem coating leads to more gradual release of urea, helping plants
gain more nutrient and resulting in higher yields.
Lower underground water contamination due to leaching of urea.
Neem serves as a natural insecticide
Collection of neem seeds is needed for manufacturing of neem coated
urea. This would generate employments in rural areas.
Neem-coating will help check heavily subsidized urea’s pilferage to
chemical industry and other uses such as making of adulterated milk.
Government Policy on Neem Coated Urea
In January 2015, the government allowed the urea producers to produce up
to 100% of production as Neem coated urea. Further, the government made
it mandatory to produce at least 75% of domestic Urea as Neem coated.
The current policy is that Government has mandated all indigenous
producers of Urea to produce 100% of urea as Neem coated urea only.
http://www.gktoday.in/blog/key-facts-about-neem-coated-urea-policy-of-india/
With best regards,
“Join the race to make the world a better place”.(2016)
Dr. AMAR NATH GIRI“Join the race to make the world a better place”.(2016)
M.Sc. -Environmental Science,Ph.D -Environmental Science law & DIPLOMA AS - P.G.D.E.P.L,CES, DCA,
EX IIM LUCKNOW FELLOW, EX RESEARCH SCIENTIST
IGIDR-MUMBAI
9912511918
amarnathgiri@nagarjunagroup.com
http://www.nagarjunagroup.com
http://www.nagarjunafertilizers.com
http://www.gprofonline.com/members/Default.aspx
http://dramarnathgiri.blogspot.in/2013/10/curriculum-vitae-of-dr-amar-nath-giri.html?q=BIO+DATA
http://dramarnathgiri.blogspot.in/2012/05/nagarjuna-management-services.html
Neem Coated Urea
Before we move to the government policy on Neem Coated Urea, we need to
understand what is Neem coated Urea and what are its advantages
vis-a-vis uncoated urea.
Contents [hide]
Understanding Nitrogen Efficiency
Government Policy on Neem Coated Urea
Understanding Nitrogen Efficiency
With 46% N content, Urea is the most popular Nitrogenous fertilizer
around the world. When Urea is applied to soil, it is first hydrolysed
(i.e. broken by water) into Ammonical form (Ammonium Ion i.e. NH4+) and
then to nitrite (NO2-), followed by to nitrate (NO3-) forms by the
process called nitrification. Here, we note that most crops use nitrate
as source of nitrogen (A few crops such as Paddy prefer Ammonical form
over nitrate.).
Thus nitrification process is necessary for making nitrogen available to
plants. However, if the process of nitrification is too rapid; nitrogen
will escape to atmosphere and plants will not be able to recover it
from Urea efficiently. Generally, the plants are able to recover a
fraction of all Urea N and this fraction is known as Nitrogen Use
Efficiency (NUE). This NUE stands anywhere between 30 to 50%. Thus, two
third of Urea Nitrogen escapes from the soil and is not used by the
plants. Further, faster conversion of nitrate into Urea also results in
accumulation of nitrates in soil / underground water. Once nitrate
reaches underground water, it is most difficult to remove; and causes
diseases such as blue baby syndrome.
This implies that there is a need to regulate the urea hydrolysis and
nitrification. This is done by some chemical / natural agents which are
called Nitrification inhibitors. However, most of the nitrification
inhibitors are costly chemicals (examples nitrapyrin, dicyandiamide and
ammonium thiosulphate ) beyond reach of Indian farmers. Coating Urea
with Neem oil or Neem cake has been proved to be an effective natural
alternative to these chemicals. It has been scientifically established
that Neem oil serves as an effective inhibitor if coated on Urea. Thus,
the benefits are as follows:
Neem coating leads to more gradual release of urea, helping plants
gain more nutrient and resulting in higher yields.
Lower underground water contamination due to leaching of urea.
Neem serves as a natural insecticide
Collection of neem seeds is needed for manufacturing of neem coated
urea. This would generate employments in rural areas.
Neem-coating will help check heavily subsidized urea’s pilferage to
chemical industry and other uses such as making of adulterated milk.
Government Policy on Neem Coated Urea
In January 2015, the government allowed the urea producers to produce up
to 100% of production as Neem coated urea. Further, the government made
it mandatory to produce at least 75% of domestic Urea as Neem coated.
The current policy is that Government has mandated all indigenous
producers of Urea to produce 100% of urea as Neem coated urea only.
http://www.gktoday.in/blog/key-facts-about-neem-coated-urea-policy-of-india/
http://www.gktoday.in/blog/key-facts-about-neem-coated-urea-policy-of-india/
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