FERTILIZERS AND MANURES:ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE

[A] A GENERAL PERSPECTIVE:The chemical fertilizers play quite a significant

role in in the development of agriculture by enhancing the agricultural output.
In general , the Indian solil is deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus:the two most
prominent nutrients which influence crop pattern while in particular the soils of Patna
district are no exception to the same. An out right comparison is that for the same area
under rice in Bihar, the state like West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh produce almost
double of the output.Also comparing the yield of Patna district with the those in
Haryana , the production of wheat is almost double,The same trend applies for
sugarcane and oilseeds.
This differential pattern in the production of agricultural crops in patna with those of
other state is due to the difference in yield .The root cause of this lies in the input and
the farm management practices.In order to maximise the yield the application of
fertilizers equipped with irrigation and HYV seeds and the enhancement of
institutional credit facilities contributes massively to the development of agriculture.

A major feature of agriculture in patna district is that agriculture is on the progressive

path of development with regards to the main foodgrain crops as well as non-
foodgrain crops since the mid-eighties.But it is still not compatiable with the richness
of soil and climate available in comparison to the districts in the other agriculturally
developed states like Punjab and Haryana.
(DUTT AND SUNDARAM PG-464)

PATTERN OF FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION IN PATNA DISTRICT

With the adoption of New Agricultural Strategy in the sixties, the general pattern of
fertilizer consumption in Patna district is on the increasing trend.Also the government
policy of subsidization has facilitated the increased consumption of fertilizers .
Specifically with reference to Patna district the following steps were taken to
facilitate and streamline the distribution of fertilizer supplies enumerated as follows:
[1] Better transportation facilities
[2] Regulated supplies to specially identified areas and crops as specified by the State
Governments
[3] Effective coordination with railways to ensure adequate supplies of wagons for
fertilizer carriage and distribution.
[4]Provision of short term credit to farmers for the purchase and distribution of
fertilisers
[5]Propagating and disseminating the knowledge about proper and balanced use of
fertilizers.
But in spite of all these efforts , a lot is to be done for enhancing the usage of
fertilizers in Patna district.
Proceeding from the macro level to the micro level, the fertilizer consumption in
Bihar was a mere 9.06kg/ha in1970-71 which increased to 21.01kg/ha . in 1982-1983.
Further it increased to a high of 57.20kg/ha in 1992.93.Boradly, the fertilizer
consumption recorded a compound annual growth rate of 8.73% during 1971-93But
in spite of all this the state as a whole was lagging behind in the level of fertilizer
consumption in states like Punjab with 162.2 kg/ha, Haryana (107.8kg/ha), Uttar
Pradesh (86.00kg/ha), Tamil Nadu(117.1kg/ha) with the all-India average(67.1kg/ha)
in 1992.93.
COMPOSITION OF FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION:
The fertilizer composition is quite significant since it is important to use fertilizers in
required doses as well as in optimum composition and if it is used disproportionately
it can adversely affect the soil fertility. In patna district, fertilizer was used largely for
paddy and wheat.However, one thing is crystal clear that the use fo fertilizer nutrients
as not balanced in the district.Urea has almost predominated the fertilizer
consumption in Patna district with nearly 70% with the total input being 101 thousand
metric tonnes .The average consumption pattern shows the ssp has gained the
maximum usability and its consumption has risen by nearly 50% in the last 4 year
since 1998-99 . But the percentage share of
NPK,POTASH,SUPHLAandAMMONIUM SULPHATE is far below the desire level
and needs to be taken care of in the district they comprise 4% ,3%,2%,6%on an
average respectively.
Since fertiliser is the basic resource for the development of agriculture in the
district ,hence there is immense scope for increasing the fertilizer consumption in
Patna district .Going by the present level of consumption of fertilizer there is much
need to guarantee the balanced use of fertilizers.

REGIONAL LEVELCOMPARISON OF PATNA DISTRICT :

Patna the representative district of south-west plains ,with reference to the

consumption of nitrogen , it was as high as 75.53% . in 1990-91 which showed a
pattern of over-consumption. In comparison Rohtas district in the same region showed
a consumption of 60% while in all the other district the share was more than 65.00%.
The consumption of potash showed a pattern of under consumption being as low as
7.26% in Patna district in 1990-91.But in the subsequent years it has shown an
increasing trend.Also the consumption of phosphorus over the years, the share has
shown an increasing trend in all the districts..it was less than 10% in 1976-1977 which
increased to around 20.00% in 1990-1991 showing an annual compound growth rate
in the range of 9.32% and 4.95% .
A comparative analysis of Patna district with the other representative districts shows
the following pattern;
Some districts were showing a balanced consumption of nitrogeneous fertilizers like
Saran, East and West Champaran .The high rate of consumption of nitrogeneous
fertilizers as present in Patna was existing in these districts also :for instance it was
quite high in 1970s and 1990s ranging between 65-80%.But subsequently these
districts have also shown a declining trend.The analysis of phosphorus and potash
consumption in these districts shows a rather deficient trend like Darbhanga , Vaishali
and Gopalganj phosporus consumption was 25% .So the comparative picture shows
that Patna district shows a common feature of resemblance in the fertilizer
consumption pattern.
A further comparison can be attempted with the districts in the eastern part like
Munger and Bhagalpur where though the share of nitrogen was high but the trend
shows a declining feature and the consumption of potash was showing an increasing
feature.
And last not the least , comparing the consumption pattern of fertilizer in Patna
district with the State level average outrightly exemplifies thatcomparing in general
the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer with the actual consumption the use of
fertilizer nutrients was not balanced. As pointed out earlier,Patna the representative
district of south-west plains ,with reference to the consumption of nitrogen , it was as
high as 75.53% . in 1990-91 which showed a pattern of over-consumption. In the
same way in Bihar as a whole, against the recommended share of 56% for nitrogen it
was 74% in 1970-1971.The trend has been decreasing form 1975-76 to 1992-1993,
the figures being 80% and 67.5% respectively. Further the figures for potash and
phosphorus have revealed the same trend.As pointed out earlier the potash
consumption was 7.26% in 1990-1991 in which the figures for Bihar showed a
deficienty trend though on the higher side i.e. 10% .Still the recommended figures are
14%.In the similar manner phosphorous was also deficient in comparison to the
recommended dosage of 14%.
To summarize, the Patna district exhibiting a common feature with Bihar in the
pattern of fertilizer consumption shows:
[1] Consumption of nitrogeneous fertilizers have been more than the recommended
dose.
[2]Potash and phosphorus are still been on the deficient side though the trend is ever
increasing.
[3] The impact of unbalanced use of fertilizers on the yield of foodgrain production
shows an adverse impact circumscribing the various agro-climatic zones in general
and the Patna district in particular.
[4]A coorealtionship of the fertilizer consumption with the irrigation facilities
,irrigational infrastructure , the rainfall pattern and the foodgrain production clearly
shows the positive trend which is well manifested in Patna district.

INPUT SUPPLYING AGENCIES:

Patna district is rich regarding having a good network of input suppliers of fertilizers.
Focussing upon the blocks they have been present in noticeable numbers with the
highest in Patna Sadar, danapur, Masaurhi in the wholesale outlets while Fatwah ,
patna sadar , Phulwarisharif in the retail outlets.
A major advantage of these is their magnificent role in disseminating information
about the use and utilization of agro-chemicals to the farmers.As detailed earlier
using facts and figures the commercial interests of farmers as some times different
with the scientific recommendations which in turn results in improper use of the agro-
chemicals.This pattern is seen in almost all the blocks of the district.

This can be very well examined with the tabulated presentation of facts and figures:

CONCLUSION:
On the basis of the aforesaid facts, the following conclusions are apparent by the
study:
[1]Consumption of fertilizer has shown a marked increase, particularly during the
period o f1980s,but inspite of such an increase the level of fertilizer consumption the
level of fertilizer consumption is far less than the agriculturally developed states like
Punjab,Haryana and even the all-India average.

[2] Patna district comprising a part of south-west alluvial plains has relatively higher
fertilizer consumption equipped with the higher irrigation network as a direct
consequence of which the foodgrain production is also higher.
[3] Patna district with the average consumption of 135.86 k/ha the level of fertilizer
consumption is one of the highest in comparison to the agriculturally most
prosperous states.

[4] Regarding the compostion of fertilizer consumption, this trend is explicitly clear
that the composition patter is not in recommended fashion .The pattern clearly shows
that the alignment in case of excess in case of nitrogen and deficient in phosphorous
and potash.A recent trend has emerged that the over-consumption of nitrogen is on
decline and the proportionate share of phosphorous and potash is increasing .

[5] fertilizer consumption and irrigation has shown a positive coorelation since the
blocks and regions in Patna district with better irrigation facilities have shown an
inclined trend of fertilizer consumption.

[6] As a result of all these the food production has also shown a considerably positive
trend with the increased use of fertilizers. On an average, as per the studies(Source:)
For every increase of .57 kg of fertilizer, increase in yield was observed to be 2.40kg
of foodgrains.

[7]Deviation from the recommended pattern of fertilizer consumption has led to an

adverse effect on the soil conditions and in turn on the pattern of foodgrain
production.

[8] Lack of proper funds and impoverishment of the farmers has compelled them to
refrain from the usage of modern fertilizer inputs and in turn has made them
dependent on the traditional manures and composts.

[9]An estimate shows that about one-third of cow dung is still used a fuel by the
villagers and the cattle urine which has valuable manorial properties is completely
wasted.The provision of alternative fuels to the rural population will help to increase
the availability of farmyard manure.Also, the increasing use of gobar gas plants will
help in making organic7 manures available to the cultivator.

[10]There is a great scope for the manufacture of compost from urban waste, from

forest litter and other waste materials and also for the use of green manures.this will

help in reducing our dependence on chemical fertilisers.