Need for Higher Use of Plant Nutrients for Sustainable Growth in Agriculture

摘要

The phenomenal development in Indian agriculture during three decades after mid-sixties has raised the country to the level of self-sufficiency in foodgrains.However,it is yet to ensure food security to its growing population.Calorie intake per capita is low in India compared to many developed and developing countries.Fertiliser consumption and productivity of grains is lower in India compared to these countries.There is a negative balance of nutrients in the soil as a result of mining of more nutrients than replenishment through fertilisers and other sources.The fertiliser-crop response ratio has been declining due to lower use of fertiliser than the required amount.On the other hand,there is a need for extensive and intensive use of fertilisers to enhance productivity in order to ensure food security to the rising population.Apart from fertiliser,there are reports of growing deficiency of secondary and micro-nutrients in the soil.The use of secondary and micro-nutrients have to be stepped up to correct the deficiencies in the soil reported to be deficient in these nutrients.There would be need for higher use of plant nutrients in future in order to achieve sustainable growth in agricultural production.