Two-year field experiment on the efficacy of Liquid Nano Urea by scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has found a substantial decrease in rice and wheat yields when compared to conventional nitrogen (N) fertiliser application.The findings emphasize the necessity for further long-term field evaluations spanning 5-7 years to ascertain nano urea’s equivalence to conventional urea and its sustainability in maintaining crop yields.
Key Findings about the Efficacy of Liquid Nano Urea
Yield Reduction
- There is a significant decrease in crop yields when nano urea was used compared to conventional nitrogen fertilizers.
- Specifically, there was a 21.6% decrease in wheat yield and a 13% decrease in rice yield.
Grain Nitrogen Content
- The application of nano urea resulted in a decline in grain nitrogen content in both rice and wheat crops.
- There is a 17 and 11.5% decrease in grain N content of rice and wheat, respectively.
- The lowered grain nitrogen content implies reduced protein levels in the harvested crops.
- This is a concern in a country like India, where rice and wheat are staple foods providing protein and carbohydrates. Low protein content could impact the population’s protein energy requirements.
Cost Considerations
- The cost of nano urea formulation was 10 times higher than that of granular urea and will add to the cost of cultivation for farmers.
Crop Biomass and Root Volume
- The application of nano urea led to a reduction in above-ground biomass and root volume. This decrease in root volume resulted in decreased root-surface area, impacting nutrient uptake processes by the roots.
Liquid Nano Urea
- It is urea in the form of a nanoparticle. It is a nutrient (liquid) to provide nitrogen to plants as an alternative to the conventional urea.
- Urea is a chemical nitrogen fertilizer, white in colour, which artificially provides nitrogen, a major nutrient required by plants.
- It is developed to replace conventional urea and it can curtail the requirement of the same by at least 50%.
- It contains 40,000 mg/L of nitrogen in a 500 ml bottle which is equivalent to the impact of nitrogen nutrient provided by one bag of conventional urea.
- Nano liquid urea was launched in June 2021 by the Indian Farmers and Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO).
Developed At
- It has been indigenously developed at IFFCO- Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Kalol, Gujrat in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Atmanirbhar Krishi.
- India is dependent on imports to meet its urea requirements.
Application
- This fertiliser is a foliar spray, meaning it should only be used once leaves arrive on the crops.