Why in News? Source: DTE

• A two-year field trial by scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on the efficacy of Liquid Nano Urea indicated a significant decline in rice and wheat yields when compared to conventional nitrogen (N) fertiliser treatment.

• The findings highlight the importance of additional long-term field trials lasting 5-7 years to determine nano urea’s equivalency to conventional urea and its viability in preserving crop yields.

What is Liquid Nano Urea?

It is urea in the form of a nanoparticle, and it is a nutrient (liquid) that plants can use as an alternative to traditional urea. Urea is a chemical nitrogen fertilizer, white in colour, which artificially provides nitrogen, a major nutrient required by plants.

Feature:

• 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) and developed at IFFCO- Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Kalol, Gujrat in line with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Atmanirbhar Krishi. Note: India is dependent on imports to meet its urea requirements.

• This fertilizer is a foliar spray, which means it should only be applied once the crops’ leaves have appeared.

The key features and potential Benefits associated with Liquid Nano Urea may include:

Enhanced Nutrient Uptake: The reduced particle size may allow for improved penetration through plant cell walls, permitting increased nutrient uptake by plants, potentially improving nutrient absorption efficiency.

Reduced Environmental Impact: The use of nano-sized urea particles attempts to lessen the environmental effect of conventional urea fertilizers, as improved nutrient efficiency can assist minimize nitrogen losses through volatilization and leaching, lowering the danger of environmental pollution.

Improved Crop Performance: Liquid Nano Urea is frequently marketed as a solution to improve crop performance by delivering nutrients in a more efficient and targeted manner, which may contribute to higher crop production and quality.

Precision Agriculture: Precision agriculture is the application of technology to optimize the application of inputs, such as fertilizers, based on precise demands in different regions of a field.

What are the Key Findings about the Efficacy of Liquid Nano Urea?

Yield Reduction:	Crop yields are much lower when nano urea is utilized than regular nitrogen fertilizers. Specifically, there was a 21.6% decrease in wheat yield and a 13% decrease in rice yield.
Crop Biomass and Root Volume:	The application of nano urea resulted in a drop in above-ground biomass and root volume, which resulted in a decrease in root-surface area, influencing nutrient uptake processes by the roots.
Cost Considerations:	The cost of nano urea formulation was ten times that of granular urea, adding to farmers’ cultivation costs.
Grain Nitrogen Content:	The use of nano urea reduced the nitrogen content of grain in both rice(17%) and wheat(11.5%) harvests means reduced protein levels. In a country like India, where rice and wheat are essential foods that provide protein and carbs, a low protein content could impair the population’s protein energy requirements.