Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?

1. Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms.
2. Neem coating slows down the rate of distribution of urea in the soil
3. Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into the atmosphere by crop fields.
4. It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops.

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Urea is a white crystalline substance; it is highly water-soluble and contains 46% nitrogen. It is used extensively as a chemical fertiliser and for industrial purposes. In May 2015, the Centre made it mandatory to coat all indigenously manufactured and imported urea with neem oil.
• Neem coating was intended to check the illegal diversion of the highly subsidised urea for non-agricultural uses, including plywood, dye, cattle feed, and synthetic milk makers.
• Neem has proven Nitrification inhibition properties and hence slows down the release of nitrogen from urea and makes available nitrogen over a longer period with minimum loss of nitrogen thereby increasing nitrogen use efficiency. It reduces the chances of diversion of agricultural grade urea for many non-agricultural uses.
• Fertilisers are essentially food for crops. They, like humans, need nutrients – primary (N, P, K), secondary (S, calcium, magnesium) and micro (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, molybdenum) – for plant growth and grain yield. Chart and table show trends in their use and crop yields after usage:

Image source: IE

Answer: (b) Neem coating slows down the rate of distribution of urea in the soil; Difficulty Level: Easy