Punjab: Study shows how a smart combo of fertilisers can protect soil health

Indian Express

17-06-2025

A recent field study has shown that combining IFFCO's Nano Urea Plus and Nano Di-ammonium Phosphate (DAP) with traditional granules type urea DAP fertilisers can help farmers save 20% nitrogen and 25% phosphorus, without compromising on crop yield.
The test was conducted on potato crop which demands high dose of both Urea and DAP. The findings point to a promising path forward for farmers looking to reduce the quantity of traditional fertilisers while protecting soil and water health.
Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative limited (IFFCO), had lanched both Nano urea Plus and nano DAP in liquid form a few years ago. These fertilisers are being manufactured by the IFFCO while DAP and Urea in granules form are also manufactured in India but quite a significant quantities of both the fertilisers is imported by the country to meet the demand of Indian farmers.
The research, led by RK Gupta, former professor and head of department of soil science, PAU, found that two foliar sprays of Nano Urea Plus used alongside just 80 of the recommended urea (traditional) dosage produced potato yields equal to a full (100%) urea dose. 'This means farmers can reduce their nitrogen fertilizer use by one-fifth and still maintain their harvest,' Gupta said.
On the phosphorus side, Nano DAP showed even stronger results. When used as two sprays along with seed treatment and just 75% of the recommended DAP, potato yields were actually higher than those achieved using full doses of regular DAP, the study revealed. 'This translates into a 25% saving on phosphorus fertilizer without any drop in productivity—and in some cases, even an increase,' Gupta added.
He said that they have also conducted tests by using lower and higher doses of both Nano urea and nano DAP with traditional fertilisers but results were not good. 'For instance when two sprays of Nano Urea Plus were used with only 60% of the usual traditional urea, potato yield dropped by 59%, meaning it didn't work well. Even using higher doses of urea with just one spray of Nano Urea Plus could also not increase the yield considerably and the best results were available at a combination of 80% traditional and 20% of nano urea and similarly for DAP at 75% (traditional) and 25% (nano) combination.'
Why this matters
Conventional nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are not only costly but also environmentally damaging. A significant portion of nitrogen fertilizer is lost to the environment through leaching and gas emissions, while phosphorus often gets locked in the soil and becomes unavailable to crops.
These inefficiencies drive up costs for farmers and have pushed the government's fertiliser subsidy bill to Rs 1.67 lakh crore in 2025–26. As both urea and DAP are provided to the farmers by the government on a high subsidised subsidy.
According to Gupta, these nano formulations — due to their extremely small particle size and high absorption rate — improve nutrient use efficiency by up to 90%. 'They ensure more nutrients reach the plant rather than getting wasted in the soil or atmosphere,' he said.
A shift toward smarter farming
In states like Punjab, where overuse of fertilisers is common, the combined use of nano and conventional fertilisers offers a balanced, eco-friendly approach to crop nutrition.
Not only does this save huge import costs of these fertilisers, but it also reduces groundwater pollution from nitrates, cuts greenhouse gas emissions, and eases the country's dependency on imported fertilizers.
With sales of Nano Urea Plus and Nano DAP rising sharply—up 18% in Punjab in 2024-25—experts say farmers are beginning to embrace these modern solutions.
In Punjab, for instance, sales reached 2.93 million bottles in 2024-25, 'With Punjab farmers historically applying more fertilisers than necessary, these findings offer a compelling case for a shift toward precision nutrient management,' said scientist, reducing fertiliser use by even 20% can yield wide-ranging benefits.