Nano Urea Can Improve Crop Yields & Save up to 50% Nitrogen: Mansukh Mandaviya

Trials have shown that nano urea can boost farmer's crop yields and save nitrogen to the extent of 50%, Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers informed Parliament on Friday.

In a written response to Rajya Sabha, Minister said that nano fertilizers have braod application prospects in plant nutrition due to their dependence on size, high surface ratio & unique characteristics.

He added that "Nano-fertilizers release plant nutrients in a controlled manner contributing to higher nutrient use efficiency”. 

A press release issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers mentioned that Indian Farmers Fertilizers Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has launched the world's first Nano Urea, an innovative solution to reduce environmental pollution & soil health.

IFFCO has also sought permission from the Fertilizers Department for the export of Nano Urea (liquid) manufactured from its Nano Fertilizer Plant facility in Kalol, Gujarat.

Experimental trials of Nano Nitrogen during Rabi or Zaid 2019-20 via National Agriculture Research System (NARS) at seven ICAR research institute or state agri universities on various crops like paddy, maize, tomato, wheat, mustard, cabbage, cucumber, onion, capsicum, were found agronomically suitable indicating that Nano Urea can increase farmer's crop yields besides saving nitrogen up to 50 per cent.

National Fertilizers Limited & Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited has signed a MoU with IFFCO for the technology transfer for production of Nano Urea.

Imbalanced use of nitrogenous fertilizers and their low nutrient application efficiency (30 to 50%) ultimately ends in polluting the soil, air & water. NOx gases are main cause of air pollution while nitrates leaching results in eutrophication & toxicity of the water bodies. Excess nitrate accumulation in leafy veggies also harms human health.

Some of the important features of nano urea: 

• Nanotechnology-preparednano-urea contains nano-sized nano-urea  

• Theaverage physical size of nano-urea particles is in the range of 20 to 50  

• Nano Urea contains 4% by weight of nitrogen inits nano form.  

• The nitrogen in nano-urea effectively meets the nitrogen demand of crop and has better efficiency than conventional urea. 

• Nano Urea is suitable as a nitrogen source for most crops / plants.