Fertiliser Imbalance, Soil Organic Carbon and Farm Sustainability

Context

A decline in fertiliser sales was reported in connection with El Niño related agricultural conditions. Separately, an analysis published in the Ideas section highlighted how India’s fertiliser pricing structure encourages imbalanced nutrient application. It emphasised the need to improve soil health and align input subsidies with agricultural requirements.

Key Highlights

• Nutrient Imbalance: The Ideas article reported an N:P:K fertiliser use ratio of approximately 10.5:4:1, indicating an imbalance compared to crop-specific nutrient requirements.
• Low Potassium Usage: Potassium consumption remains particularly low, while substantial subsidies on urea can encourage excessive application of nitrogenous fertilisers.
• Khet Bachao Abhiyan: The article highlighted this initiative, launched in Haryana in October, to promote balanced fertiliser application.
• Impact of Soil Degradation: Deteriorating soil health affects agricultural productivity, water quality, cultivation costs and the resilience of farming systems.
• Fertiliser Sales and Soil Health: A decline in fertiliser sales alone cannot be considered evidence of improved soil health, as several other factors influence fertiliser consumption.

Key Concepts

• NPK Nutrients: The three primary macronutrients required for plant growth:
  • Nitrogen (N): Promotes vegetative growth and the development of leaves and stems.
  • Phosphorus (P): Supports energy transfer and root development.
  • Potassium (K): Regulates water balance and improves plant tolerance to environmental stress. The appropriate nutrient ratio varies according to crop requirements and soil conditions.
• Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS): A fertiliser subsidy mechanism introduced in 2010 for specified phosphatic and potassic fertilisers, with subsidies linked to their nutrient content. Urea continues to operate under a separate controlled pricing regime.
• Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): Carbon present in decomposed plant and animal matter within the soil. It improves soil structure, water retention, nutrient cycling and microbial activity.
• Soil Health Card Scheme: A government initiative that provides farmers with information about the nutrient status of their soil along with recommendations for appropriate soil amendments and fertiliser application.
• El Niño: A warming phase in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean associated with changes in atmospheric circulation. It can influence Indian monsoon conditions, although its impact is not uniform or deterministic.

Way Forward

• Reform fertiliser subsidy incentives to encourage balanced nutrient application while protecting small and marginal farmers from sudden price increases.
• Expand access to soil testing facilities and crop specific fertiliser recommendations.
• Promote organic soil amendments, integrated nutrient management and precision fertiliser application.
• Assess agricultural policies through indicators such as crop yields, soil organic carbon and water quality rather than relying solely on fertiliser sales figures.