Lok Sabha Question No. 713 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-26
Subject: Impact of Chemicals and Fertilizers on Soil in Punjab
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS DEPARTMENT OF FERTILIZERS LOK   SABHA

UN STARRED QUESTION NO . 713 TO BE ANSWERED ON

:26.07.2024

## IMPACT OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS ON SOIL IN PUNJAB

## 713.   SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any data regarding the impact of chemicals and fertilizers on soil in the State of Punjab and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the use of chemical fertilizers has impacted public health adversely;
- (c) if so, the details thereof alongwith the scheme of the Government to counter the same;
- (d) whether the government has considered providing organic fertilizers to farmers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has given any subsidy on organic fertilizers during the last five years and if so, the details thereof, year-wise?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS & FERTILIZERS (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL )

- (a): Long  term  fertilizer  experiment  conducted  by  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture Research (ICAR) at Ludhiana revealed that integrated nutrient management practices maintained  the  soil  fertility  status  (organic  carbon, available nitrogen,  phosphorus, potassium with  improved  biological  activity),  and  that  imbalanced  use  of  chemical fertilizers resulted in decrease in soil fertility.

Further,  studies  on  rice-wheat  system  with  integrated  nutrient  management  for  30 years in Punjab indicated no negative effect on soil organic carbon, available nitrogen (N)  and  phosphorus  (P).    As  such,  there  is  no  harmful  effect  of  fertilizers  on  soil fertility, if applied in a balanced and judicious manner.

The fertility  of  soil  is  lost  in  certain  situations  mainly  due  to  the  imbalanced  use  of chemical fertilizers coupled with low use of organic manures.

- (b)  &  (c) : The  Ministry  of  Chemicals  &  Fertilizers  does  not  conduct  such  type  of study.    However,  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  &  Research  (ICAR)  furnished  the following details:

'The nitrogen  use  efficiency  of  nitrogenous  fertilizers  varies  between  30-50% depending on soil type and crop grown. Remaining nitrogen is lost mainly by way of nitrate leaching (causing nitrate contamination in ground water above the permissible limit of 10 mg NO3-N /L).

Thus, ICAR is recommending soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management practices through conjunctive use of both inorganic and organic sources (compost,  bio-fertilizers,  green  manure  etc.),  split  application  and  placement  of nitrogenous fertilizers, use of slow releasing N-fertilizers, nitrification inhibitors and use of neem coated urea etc.  to avoid such situation.'

(d) & (e):   Government is implementing dedicated schemes for promotion of organic farming  in  the  country  viz.  Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  and  Mission Organic Value Chain Development in North East Region (MOVCDNER) since 201516. Under these schemes, farmers are encouraged to take up organic cultivation using organic inputs and the schemes provide end to end support to farmers'   i.e.  from production to marketing of organic produce. Hands-on training to farmers about onfarm production of organic fertilizers and its use are integral part of these schemes. Farmers are provided a subsidy of Rs 15000/ ha / 3 years under PKVY and 15000/ ha/ 3  years  under  MOVCDNER  for  various  organic  inputs  including  bio-fertiliozers  and organic manure.

Further,  the  Government  has  approved  the  Market  Development  Assistance (MDA) @ ₹ 1,500/MT to promote organic fertilizers i.e.,  manure  produced  at  plants under GOBARdhan initiative covering different biogas/CBG support schemes/programmes  of  stakeholders  Ministries/  Departments  at  the  total  outlay of₹1,451.84 crore (FY 2023-24 to 2025-26), which includes a corpus of ₹ 360 crore for research gap funding etc.

The  PM-PRANAM  initiative  aims  to  complement  the  efforts initiated by States/UTs to save the health of Mother Earth by promoting sustainable and balanced use of fertilizers, adopting alternate fertilizers, promoting organic & natural farming etc.

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