This report evaluates emission mitigation options to achieve net-zero carbon emissions through marginal abatement cost (MAC) curves for the existing plants in the fertiliser industry. MAC curves were developed for three major fertilisers produced in India, which account for 85 per cent of total fertiliser production—urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), and …
Ber (Ziziphus mauritiana) is an important indigenous fruit. The farmers of western Rajasthan have adopted various commercial improved varities of ber at large scale. However, the attack of pests and diseases on ber/ber based cropping system is a major problem of ber growers. The low fertility level of the soil …
the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is deliberating on a mechanism to promote neem-coated fertilizers. The move is an attempt to prevent soil fatigue caused by imbalanced and excessive use of urea, and increasing crop yields. With the government set to promote neem-coated fertilizer, its manufacturers recently approached the …
lakkhan Raghuwanshi had a bad harvest last monsoon. The farmer from Shyampur village, Guna district, cultivated soyabean, wheat and chana in 121 hectare (ha), of which he sowed soyabean in 61 ha. Despite the high-quality seeds sowed, the yield was a meagre 15 quintals per ha. "I got my land …
for 18 years now, scientists have discussed the reasons for the global decimation of amphibian populations. The cause list has been expanding: from pesticides, to new diseases, to climate change that exacerbates both. But there is little confusion on what's driving nature's hardiest, most adaptive creatures to the brink. Mounting …
Opposition to gm The All India Rice Exporters Association filed an application in the Supreme Court, in November 2006, asking to be included as petitioners in the civil writ petition filed by Aruna Rodrigues and others (see
Small and marginal farmers are the worst hit by the problems that afflict agriculture. The macro and micro level factors together have created stress among the poor farmers forcing them to commit suicide.
The intensive agricultural production by the over use of agro-chemicals in the state of Punjab has resulted in higher NO3-N concentration in ground water, which leads to ground water pollution. The LEACHM model developed by Wagenet & Hutson is used to predict nitrogen transport in multi layered soil profile under …
In June this year, the government revoked a proposal for giving fertiliser subsidies to farmers instead of giving payouts to fertiliser manufacturers directly, which is the prevailing practice. The department of fertilisers, Union ministry of chemicals and fertilisers (mocf) had constituted a committee in 2000 under the chairmanship of economist …
Environmental pollution is not the only problem with pesticides. Pests develop resistance to synthetic pesticides, making it necessary to constantly develop newer and more powerful (hence more costly) pesticides. What's worse, pesticides are more damaging to friendly insects and natural predators of pests; pesticide use strengthens pests. This vicious cycle …
When the monsoon played truant in 1992, officials of the Mumbai-based Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited (rcf) realised that the water-dependant company had to find alternatives to municipal water supply. They proposed rcf recycle sewage to run its plants. "The cooling towers of our plants require round-the-clock water supply. Any …
Here are some figures that might make puritans cringe in revulsion. An average adult human produces 500 litres of urine in a year and experts reckon this nutrient-rich
Of late, there is an emerging concern about increasing disruption in the global nitrogen cycle Wherever you produce food and energy, they disrupt the nitrogen cycle. Increased food production produces more nitrous oxide
Environmentalists have launched a global movement to encourage nitrogen management in view of the fact that reactive nitrogen can considerably improve but equally damage the quality of life on the planet. Through their call Nanjing Declaration on Nitrogen Management, 400 green experts have urged policy makers at all levels of …
the resolve to rid agriculture of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, expressed by Sikkim an year ago, has been given a shot in the arm by Mizoram. The state made history by becoming the first in the country to legislate for turning its entire agricultural produce organic. It passed the Mizoram …
on january 20, 2004, the Indian government announced its revised urea policy. The regulations, given the green signal by the cabinet committee on economic affairs, mainly entail urea units to use feedstock (fuel) of natural gas (ng) or liquefied natural gas (lng). The fertiliser industry has welcomed the development since …
the Spices Board India (sbi) in Kochi, Kerala, has identified 43 villages in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh to grow residue-free chillies using the integrated pest management (ipm) system. The move is a part of the board's strategy to encourage farmers to totally avoid the use of chemicals in the …
