Introduction
A few decades ago, it was hard to believe that sustainability can go hand in hand with agriculture. With the rise in demand for consumption, agriculturists have introduced to the entity, ‘technology’ that can work as a tool in the world of agriculture too.
"The modern equipment boosted production and even made it accessible to a large sector of people. We saw the upsurge of biotechnology and genetic engineering skyrocketing pest resistance and crop yield. Particularly in India, IoT (Internet of Things) and censors have helped to monitor crop and soil health.
Content
The latest nanotechnology innovation to make nano urea liquid by Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has placed India higher than other countries in the field of agriculture. So, what is this innovation and how will it benefit production? Let's dive deep into it!
What is the innovation?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the fertilizer cooperative IFFCO's use of nanotechnology to manufacture IFFCO nano-urea liquid at the country's first National Cooperative Conference on September 26, 2021. IFFCO for its part in making the Green Revolution a success in the country by producing the world's first nano-liquid urea has been termed as a revolution in the agricultural sector. To address the imbalanced and excessive usage of conventional urea, IFFCO developed a nanotechnology-based Nano Urea (Liquid) fertilizer.
Through a proprietary patented method, this nano fertilizer was produced for the first time in the world at IFFCO - Nano Biotechnology Research Centre (NBRC) Kalol, Gujarat. Nano Urea (Liquid) is a nitrogen supply, which is a critical ingredient for a plant's normal growth and development. A plant's amino acids, enzymes, genetic components, photosynthetic pigments, and energy transfer molecules all contain nitrogen. A healthy plant's nitrogen concentration is usually in the range of 1.5 to 4%.
Different from conventional urea
In contrast to conventional urea, foliar application of Nano Urea (Liquid) at crucial crop growth stages effectively fulfills a plant's nitrogen requirement and leads to increased crop productivity and quality. Urea: Its use in agriculture Urea is the world's most extensively used solid nitrogen fertilizer.
Because it is excreted in the urine of animals, urea is widely found in nature.
Urea's high nitrogen content makes it easy to carry to farms and apply to fields.
Urea is a nitrogen fertilizer that may be used in a variety of ways to help plants develop. It's usually combined with soil or applied directly to the soil surface.
It can be dissolved in water and applied to soil as a fluid, mixed with irrigation water, or sprayed into plant foliage due to its high solubility. Plant leaves can readily absorb urea in foliar applications.
Management of urea application
When urea comes into touch with soil or plants, a naturally occurring enzyme called urease begins converting the urea back to NH3 in a process known as hydrolysis. The N in urea is vulnerable to unwanted gaseous losses as NH3 during this procedure.
To reduce the loss of this important nutrient, a variety of management strategies can be applied.
Urea hydrolysis is a quick process that happens within a few days of application. Plants can use urea directly as a source of nitrogen in tiny doses, although they prefer to use ammonium (NH4 +), as well as nitrate (NO3) that are manufactured after the transformation of urea by urease and soil microorganisms. Nano urea = A sustainable approach Nano Urea (Liquid) is made up of nanoscale nitrogen particles with a larger surface area (10,000 times that of a 1 mm Urea prill) and a higher particle count (55,000 nitrogen particles over 1 mm Urea prill), as a result of which it has a greater impact.
Effectiveness
Nano Urea has an uptake efficiency of more than 80% when compared to Urea. As a result, it is used in smaller amounts than traditional urea fertilizers to meet the nitrogen needs of plants.
On 43 crops, effectiveness studies were undertaken across India at 20 ICAR research institutes and State Agricultural Universities. 11,000 farmer field trials on 90 crops were conducted across India under the supervision of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. Nano Urea (liquid) has been shown in studies to boost crop productivity while also reducing the need for conventional Urea by 50%. Nano urea (liquid) application also boosts yield, biomass, soil health, and the nutritional quality of the crop.
Benefits of opting for IFFCo’s Nano Urea
• Reduces the amount of traditional urea required by 50% or more. • Less is required, but more is produced: One bottle of Nano Urea (500 mL) has the same efficacy as one bag of urea.
• Environmentally friendly products can improve soil, air, and water quality, which aids in addressing global warming issues and reaching United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It's less expensive than regular urea.
• Farmers' income rises when their input costs are reduced.
• Increases crop yield, soil health, and produces nutritional quality.
Conclusion
Nano Urea is quickly absorbed by plant cells after being sprayed on leaves. It penetrates through stomata and other holes. It is easily transferred throughout the plant via phloem from the source to the sink as needed. Indeed, we appreciate the innovation brought up by IFFCO and team, this has opened doors to number of new opportunities for farmers to grow crops in bond with sustainability. We hope that it is adopted by large number of farmers to procure production in abundance.
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