Lok Sabha Question No. 440 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-20
Subject: Impact of Chemical Fertilizers on Farming
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: S.R. Parthiban

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 440

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  JULY, 2021

## IMPACT OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS ON FARMING

440. SHRI PARTHIBAN S.R.:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the ill effects of use of chemical fertilizers in farming;
- (b)    if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether chemical fertilizers contaminate ground water and environment?
- (d)     if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)     the details of steps taken/being taken to protect ground water and environment from chemical fertilizers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान क  याण मंी

(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a)    &  (b):          There  is  no  scientific  evidence  of  loss  of  soil  fertility  with  judicious  use  of chemical  fertilizers.  However,  indiscriminate  and  imbalanced  use  of  chemical  fertilizers coupled with low addition of organic matter and neglect of micro and secondary nutrients over years  may  cause  multinutrient  deficiencies  and  deterioration  of  soil  health  particularly in intensively  cultivated  areas. Results  of  All  India  Coordinated  Research  Project  on  'Long Term Fertilizer Experiments' over five decades at fixed sites have revealed that continuous use of nitrogenous fertilizer alone had deleterious effect on soil health and crop productivity showing deficiencies of other major and micro nutrients. Even with recommended doses of NPK, deficiency of micro and secondary nutrients has become yield limiting factors over the years.

(c) & (d):    There is possibility of nitrate contamination in groundwater above the permissible limit  of  10  mg  NO3-N  /L  due  to excessive  use  of  nitrogenous  fertilizers  particularly  in  light textured soils.

(e): Steps  taken  to  protect  ground  water  and  environment  from  chemical  fertilizers  are given below:

(i) Soil  Health  Card  Scheme is  implemented  to  provide  soil  test  based  information  on nutrient status to farmers along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and fertility.  Financial assistance is provided under Soil Health Card (SHC) for imparting farmer's trainings and field demonstrations on balanced use of fertilizers.

(ii) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic  sources  (manure,  bio-fertilizers  etc.)  of  plant  nutrients  with  4Rs  approach  i.e  right quantity,  right  time,  right  mode  and  right  type  of  fertilizer  for  judicious  use  of  chemical fertilizers to prevent deterioration of soil health and contamination of groundwater. In addition, split application and placement of fertilizers, use of slow releasing N-fertilizers and nitrification inhibitors, growing leguminous crops and use of Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) are also advocated.

(iii) Government  is  focusing  on  creating  awareness  and  educating  the  farmers  about organic  farming  practices  (including  use  organic  sources  of  plants  nutrients)  under  the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development of North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) schemes.

(iv) Awareness  generation  programs/workshop  on  various  aspects  of ground  water including  preventing  ground  water  pollution  and  safe  use  of  contaminated  water  are  being conducted by Central Ground Water Board periodically.

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