Liquid Nano-Urea: An Emerging Nano Fertilizer Substitute for Conventional Urea

Abstract

Farmers are mostly dependent on urea fertilizer to meet the nitrogen requirement of different crops. Further, they are applying urea in an indiscriminate manner and this is causing degradation of soil and imbalance in fertilization leading to high cost of cultivation and low/stagnant production and productivity. Granular/Prilled urea is readily soluble in water leading to leaching, denitrification and volatilization losses resulting in low nitrogen use efficiency and environmental pollution. Liquid Nano urea developed by Indian Farmers’ Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) as a substitute to urea to meet the nitrogen requirement of crops especially during critical growth stages. It is applied as a foliar spray, helps in efficient absorption and penetration of nitrogen into the leaves and reaches plant parts where nitrogen is required and release nutrients in a controlled manner, thereby reducing wastage into the environment. Further, it improves physiological traits of crops especially under drought stress conditions. Nano urea due to its high surface area, more solubility and less size might help for different metabolic reactions, resulting in improved yields and quality parameters and reduced wastage of fertilizers.