With farm activities gaining momentum thanks to intermittent rains after the onset of northeast monsoon, the Agriculture department has cautioned farmers against excessive use of urea, the nitrogenous fertilizer widely used as a top dressing for paddy crops.
Excessive application of urea would help the crops grow quickly and turn greenish in colour, but it would also bring pest and diseases to the crops and affect the yield, S.S Shaiek Abdullah, Assistant Director of Agriculture (Quality Control), has said in a press release here on Monday. Instead of applying urea alone, the farmers could apply other nitrogenous fertilizers such as Ammonium Chloride and Ammonium Phosphate. They could also apply DAP, Potash and NPK complex as a combined fertilizer, he said adding balanced application of nutrients would ensure healthy growth of crops.
As per the recommendations, farmers could use 44 kg of urea per acre in rain-fed areas and 64 kg in semi rain-fed areas, he said adding instead of applying the required quantity at one go, the farmers could split the same in two or three doses and apply them by mixing with neem cake at a ratio of 5:1.
He said paddy crops in 1.05 hectares in the district were in good condition thanks to the recent rains. The district received 535 mm of rainfall so far since January this year, exceeding the normal rainfall level of 508 mm.
Mr. Abdullah said that during this season, the farmers had so far procured 2,446 tonnes of urea, 445 tonnes of DAP, 205 tonnes of Potash and 628 tonnes of NPK complex from private dealers and from Primary Agriculture Cooperative Credit Societies (PACCS). As on Monday, the stock position stood at 1,711 tonnes of urea, 1,399 tonnes of DAP, 175 tonnes of Potash and 1,236 tonnes of NPK complex, he said.
Joint Director N.V. Krishnamurthy said the district administration was taking steps to ensure free availability of fertilizers at prices fixed by the government. He warned action against dealers if they failed to display the price list and stock position, he said. Surprise inspections were conducted in the last three days and show cause notices issued against those who violated provisions of Fertilisers Control Order, 1985, he said.
