India, the world’s second-largest consumer of fertilizers, faces a critical challenge: a significant portion of the nutrients applied to crops is never absorbed, leading to massive financial losses, environmental damage, and deteriorating soil health.
Current estimates place India’s Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) at 30–45% for nitrogen, 15–25% for phosphorus, and 50–60% for potassium. This means that for every bag of urea applied, over half can be lost to the environment through volatilization, leaching, or runoff.
The cost of inefficiency
This inefficiency carries a heavy cost. The average fertilizer-to-grain response ratio has declined significantly, with recent studies showing a range of 9.55 to 11.05 kg of grain per kg of fertilizer applied. To maintain productivity, farmers are forced to apply ever-increasing amounts, creating a cycle of dependency and soil degradation.
ICAR studies reveal that continuous nitrogen-only application leads to declining yields and deterioration of soil properties over time, whereas balanced nutrient management can improve yields by 20–30% over nitrogen-only use.
The 4R approach
Scientists advocate for the 4R Nutrient Stewardship principle—applying the Right source at the Right rate, Right time, and Right place. The government has launched several major initiatives to drive adoption of balanced fertilization.
PM-PRANAM – This scheme provides a unique grant mechanism to incentivize States and Union Territories to reduce chemical fertilizer consumption. States that cut usage compared to their previous three-year average receive incentives equivalent to 50% of the fertilizer subsidy saved. While no incentives have been disbursed yet, 14 states recorded a reduction of 15.14 lakh metric tonnes in chemical fertilizer consumption during FY 2023–24.
Soil Health Card Scheme – Farmers receive plot-wise diagnostic reports assessing soil health across 12 key parameters, including macronutrients (N, P, K, S), micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, B), and soil properties (pH, EC, OC). Over 25.55 crore SHCs have been distributed, along with more than 93,000 farmer training programs.
Digital decision support tools
Digital tools are revolutionizing nutrient management at the farm level. The Nutrient Manager for Rice (NMR) , a web-based decision support tool, calculates field-specific fertilizer rates based on target yield, soil fertility, and crop establishment method. On-farm trials in Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery Delta showed that NMR reduced fertilizer N and P rates and lowered total fertilizer cost compared to blanket recommendations, while maintaining comparable yields.
Similarly, the Rice Crop Manager (RCM) in Odisha increased grain yields by 17–19% compared to traditional farmer practices while significantly improving nitrogen and potassium use efficiency. Importantly, RCM treatments demonstrated reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Nano fertilizers emerging as game-changer
Nano fertilizers are emerging as a transformative technology. IFFCO has conducted nearly 3,000 Nano DAP and 448 Nano Urea field trials across all 15 agro-climatic zones of the country . These formulations allow nutrients to be absorbed more efficiently by crops, with minimal waste. The government has launched a “Maha Abhiyan” to promote adoption of nano fertilizers nationwide.
Conservation Agriculture practices combined with Precision Nutrient Management have also shown remarkable results. Permanent raised beds with residue retention, paired with nutrient expert and GreenSeeker technologies, have enhanced wheat productivity by 25.97% in the Indo-Gangetic Plains while significantly improving energy efficiency and profitability.
Environmental imperative
The stakes extend beyond economics. A substantial portion of applied fertilizers is lost through leaching, volatilization, and runoff. These losses contaminate groundwater with nitrates, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and create oceanic dead zones. The ICAR has emphasized that balanced and integrated nutrient application is essential not only for sustaining soil fertility but also for ensuring environmental sustainability.
For India to achieve its sustainable agriculture goals, improving fertilizer efficiency is not optional—it is imperative. With initiatives like PM-PRANAM incentivizing states to cut chemical fertilizer use and technologies enabling precision application, the path to efficiency is clearer than ever before.
