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Nano Urea

IFFCO Nano Urea is a liquid foliar nitrogen formulation developed at the IFFCO Nano Biotechnology Research Centre, Kalol, and notified under the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO 1985) following its nano-fertiliser amendment. It is the first commercial nano-formulated fertiliser approved for sale in India, positioned as a complement to or partial replacement for granular Urea.

Composition

  • Active: nitrogen in nano-particulate form (manufacturer specification)
  • Form: 500 ml liquid bottle
  • Regulatory class: FCO 1985 (nano amendment)
  • Approval pathway: multi-location and multi-crop trials at 20 ICAR institutes, state agricultural universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendras across 43 crops, conducted by IFFCO

The product is marketed at approximately Rs 225 per 500 ml bottle, with the price set so that one bottle is comparable in cost to a subsidised conventional urea bag.

Mode of action

Nano-scale nitrogen particles are claimed to penetrate the leaf cuticle and stomata more efficiently than dissolved urea or ammonium ions, with rapid translocation to sink tissues. The mechanistic detail is the subject of ongoing scientific debate; independent reviewers have raised concerns about the completeness of the registration trial data, the absence of clear nanoparticle characterisation, and the difficulty of reconciling claimed yield benefits with first-principles mass-balance calculations of foliar nitrogen capacity.

Target use and dose

The standard label recommendation is 500 ml per acre, sprayed twice during the crop cycle, with the manufacturer claiming the two-spray programme can replace at least one 45 kg bag of granular urea. In practice, most farmers using nano urea also continue to apply substantial granular urea, treating the foliar application as a top-up rather than a full replacement. IFFCO trials reportedly show an average yield increase of approximately 8% over standard granular urea practice; independent confirmation of this figure has been limited.

Safety and regulatory status

Notified under the FCO 1985 nano amendment. Non-toxic at field rates. Storage requires shaking before use and protection from direct sunlight and freezing.

Adoption context

IFFCO has invested in large nano-urea production capacity and a wide distribution network through the cooperative channel. Adoption among farmers has been mixed: the product is accepted as a convenient foliar supplement but has not displaced granular urea as the primary nitrogen source on any large scale.

See also: Urea, Nano Potash Paddy, Paddy Tillering Top Dressing, Complex 20 20 0 13, Multi Nutrient Fertilizer Blends.

References

  1. Nano Urea (Liquid) Fertilizer. Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative.
  2. Nano Urea Doubts. The Wire Science.