Field Level Constraints and Suggestionsfor

Better Adoption of Fertigation

DR.S.RAMANADVISOR GGRC

AND FRELANCE CONSULTANTNATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

MUMBAI

HEAD UNIT

VENTURY

PROPERFERTIGATION!!!

HARDWARE RELATED PROBLEMS HIGH COSTS OFWSF AND UNAFFORDABILITY

BY FARMERS

TECHNOLOGY AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS

FIELD LEVEL CONSTRAINTS

HARDWARE RELATED ISSUES AT FARMERS’ FIELDS

No filter ventury

Filter No ventury

Filter ventury

No filter no ventury

0

25

35

40

KARNATAKA - VIJAYAPURASample survey of 40 respondents

Yes

No

50

50

KARNANATKA CHIKMAGALURFERTIGATION

All had ventury112 rspondents

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING VENTURY USE FOR FERTIGATION

ALWAYS check and adjust the pressure before starting the system considering pressure drop due

to ventury

Use Portable pressure gauge

Test pressure at Section valve level / instead of at head unit for better pressure management

Make Fertigation Equipment Mandatory

Improvement in Pressure Gauges and their use

Consider providing filter and Ventury within the

stipulated subsidy amount for those

Who have not availed for them earlier

Consideration :MOA and FW ,NCPAH , State Implementing Agencies

SUGGESTIONS REGARDING HARDWARE RELATED ISSUES

Straight Nitrogenous

Fertilizers

Straight Phosphatic Fertilizers

Straight Potassic

Fertilizers

Water soluble Fertilizers

Ammonium Sulphate Urea (46% N)

Ammonium Chloride

Calcium Ammonium Nitrate

Anhydrous AmmoniaUrea (coated) (45% N) (While free flowing) Anhydrous Ammonia Urea Super Granulated Urea (Granular) Urea Ammonium Nitrate (32%) (Liquid)Neem Coated Urea

Single Superphosphate (16% P2O 5 Powdered and granulated)

Triple Superphosphate

Bone meal,

Rockphosphate

Superphosphoric Acid (70% P2O 5 ) (Liquid)

Potassium Chloride(Muriate of Potash)

Potassium Sulphate

Potassium Schoenite

Potassium Chloride (Muriate of Potash) (Granular)

Potash derived from Molasses

13:0:45 (Pot.Nit)0:52:34 (Mono Pot Phos)Calcium nitrate13:40:1318:18:1813:5:266:12:3620:20:20

17:44:0 (UP)19:19:19Pot.mag.sulph12:61:0 (MAP)

FERTILIZER CONTROL ORDER CLASSIFICATION

8471

108

84

30

130

6 20

Approximate Prices of Some WSF (Rs/kg)

MAP UP MKP Pot. Nitrate Mag. Sulph All19 Urea MOP

Imported Locally available

Without

With

Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

50

20

50

95

45

80

Estimated Fertilizer Use Efficiency with Fertigation

Majorly Imported WSF includes different combinations from

MAP, All19, Cal. Nitrate, Pot.nitrate,Urea, AS, Mag.sulphate, muriate of potash

Locally Available WSF includes

Urea, Urea phosphate and Muriateof potash

53 54

38

19

47

1923

16

5

27

TOMATO ( K) TOMATO (T) CAPSICUM COTTON (G) S.CANE (TN)

Estimated Fertigation Costs ( Rs ‘000)

Majorly Imported WSF Locally Available WSF

Application of whole ‘P” as

basal Recommended

by TNAU

Since P is required more during initial stages and P use efficiency does not improve much due to fertigation apply whole/part of P as basal

Encourage use of locally manufactured Urea Phophate for Fertigation

Use of liquid bio fertilizer and organics like Vermiwash, Panchakavya etc ( WITH PROPER FILTRARTION ONLY )

Adopt ‘P’ Fertigation ONLY in ‘P’ responsive soils and Crops

HOW TO MAKE ‘P’ FERTIGATION MORE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE AT FIELD LEVEL

WHY UREA PHOSPHATE

• High Analysis water soluble ‘P” Source 17:44:0

MANUFACTURED IN THE COUNTRY

• Has a solution pH of around 2

• Acidic pH prevents Ca&Mg precipitation

• Can retard P precipitation in calcareous soils also

• Becomes urea and Phosphoric acid on dissolution

• and can act as an “auto System Cleaner”

• Cheaper than other phosphatic specialty WSF

• presently available in India and hence more

• affordable by the farmers

WEST GODAVARI GUJARAT STATEKURNOOL Ahmedabad

MAKE USE OF SOIL FERTILITY MAPS ESPECIALLY FOR THE

COSTLY ‘P’ FERTIGATION

Use of Urea and Muriate of potash for fertigation have decreased

Instead,use of 19:19:19:, 12:61:0, 0:0:50, Potassium nitrate,Calcium nitrate, Magnesium sulphate etc. WHICH ARE MORE COSTLY have increased

To make fertigation more economical and viable it is suggested that the locally available /manufactured sources as

Urea, Urea phosphate and KCl must be used.Wherever quality is of prime concern 0:0:50 can be used

STATUS AND SUGGESTIONON PRESENT FERTIGATION SCHEDULES

Present schedules are not location specific but crop specific and mostly based on total nutrient removal

Location specific fertigation schedule need be developed based on soil test and crop uptake pattern

The relative TECHNO ECONOMIC ViabilityOf present WSF usage vis a vis urea, urea phosphate

and muriate of potash need be worked out

The NEED of Mg.Sul in non acidic and non sandy soils and Response to foliar application of 19:19:19 need be has to be established

TECHNOLOGY AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS

Appropriate Technology for use of Organicbased liquids for fertigation need be developed

CONSIDERATION:NCPAHPFDCSSAU /ICAR WATER MANGEMENT PROJECTSDEPT. OF AGRONOMY/SOIL SCIENCE ANDHORTICULTURE IN SAUS AND SHUS

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

MAGNESIUM SULPHATE USE

Required only acidic and very sandy soils

Presently it is being used in almost all types of soils in the country

Advise farmers to use it STRICTLY ON SOIL AND WATER TEST BASIS

If calcium content in water is more, the calcium sulphate formed will result in clogging problems

In both districts more than 80 per cent of the farmers used Calcium nitrate and All19

Around nine per cent farmers in Anand and five per cent farmers in Narmada district used NPK 13:40:13

Grade.

Sulphate of Potash (00:00:50) was not used by farmers in Anand District Around 62 per cent of farmers used SOP in Narmada District

UNFORTUNATELY USE OF UREA IS NOT CONSIDERED AND REPORTED AS WATRER SOLUBLE FERTILIZER !!!!!!!!!!!!!

WATER SOLUBLE FERTILIZERS USE IN ANAND AND BHARUCH DISTRICTS

Source: IIM Ahmedabad

HIGH COST OF THE “WSP”

RESTRICTS ITS USAGE