Lok Sabha Question No. 1227 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-02-09
Subject: Excessive use of Fertilizer
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Vijay Baghel, Chandeshwar Prasad, Arun Sao

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1227 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09/02/2021

## EXCESSIVE USE OF FERTILIZER

1227.  SHRI VIJAY BAGHEL: SHRI CHANDESHWAR PRASAD: SHRI ARUN SAO:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government has conducted any research to ascertain the extent to which the  land  fertility  is  being  affected  by  the  excessive  use  chemical  fertilizers  and  various diseases and other problems that are being caused because of it;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the follow up action taken by the Government on the conclusion of the said research;

(c) the details of the quantum of chemical fertilizers being used in the country during the each year of the last three years and in the current year;

(d) whether the Government has run any programme/ campaign to aware/train farmers regarding the use of harmless fertilizer/organic farming; and

- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f'k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) & (b): Yes,  Sir.  Investigations  carried  out  under  All  India  Coordinated  Research Project  on  'Long  Term  Fertilizer  Experiments'  over  five  decades  at  fixed  sites  have indicated 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 recommendated doses of NPK and more, deficiency of micro and secondary nutrients has  become  yield  limiting  factors  over  the  years.  Deficient  nutrient  may  also  affect  plant growth  and  cause  plant physiological disorders. There  is also possibility of nitrate contamination  in  groundwater  above  the  permissible  limit  of  10  mg  NO3-N  /L  due  to excessive/over-use  of  nitrogenous  fertilizers,  particularly  in  light  textured  soils  that  has

consequence on human/animal health if used for drinking purpose. ICAR recommends soil test  based  balanced  and  integrated  nutrient  management  through  conjunctive  use  of  both inorganic  and  organic  sources  of  plant  nutrients  to  reduce  the  use  of  chemical  fertilizers, preventing deterioration of soil health, environment 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.

(c) As per the latest information available, the consumptions of chemical fertilizers in the country during 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 (upto kharif 2020) are 54.38, 56.21, 59.88  and  33.85  million  tonnes  of  fertilizer  products  (Urea,  Di-Ammonium  Phosphate (DAP), Murate of Potash (MOP), Complexes and Single Super Phosphate (SSP), respectively.

(d) & (e): Yes,  Sir.  The  Government  has  launched  a  National  Mission  on  Soil  Health Card to promote soil test based balanced and judicious fertilizer application in the country. Similarly,  organic  farming  is  being  promoted  under  Parampragat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCDNER) in the country. Trainings and demonstrations are organized through ICAR institutions including Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs), and agricultural universities to educate farmers on all these aspects.

*******