Importance of agricultural chemicals and their role in farming community

classification of agricultural chemicals based on their usage and their relevant examples

1. IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS AND THEIR ROLE IN FARMING COMMUNITY Submitted By Sushma Sannidi PhD Scholar Department of Agronomy PJTSAU

2. DEFINITION: An agrochemical is any substance that humans use to help in the management an agricultural ecosystem. A chemical which can safely be applied to a crop in order to give the farmer: • Higher yields • Better quality produce • Reliability • Ease of harvest

3. Agrochemicals include fertilizers, liming and acidifying agents (which are designed to change the pH), soil conditioners,  Pesticides and herbicides chemicalsused in the raising of livestock such as antibiotics and hormones.

4. FERTILIZER : A  fertilizer i s any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soils or to plant tissues to supply one more  plant nutrients  essential to the growth of  plants . Many sources of fertilizer exist, both natural and industrially produced .

5. CLASSIFICATION OF FERTILIZERS: They are classified according to whether they provide a single nutrient (e.g., K, P, or N), in which case they are classified as "straight fertilizers." "Multinutrient fertilizers“ / "complex fertilizers" provide two or more nutrients, for example N and P. Fertilizers are also sometimes classified as inorganic and organic . Inorganic fertilizers exclude carbon-containing materials except  ureas . Inorganic are sometimes called synthetic fertilizers since various chemical treatments are required for their manufacture. Organic fertilizers are usually (recycled) plant- or animal-derived matter .

6. Straight fertilizer: Eg : Urea Complex fertilizer: Eg: DAP

7. INORGANIC/ SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS ORGANIC MANURES

8. Liming And Acidifying Agents Agricultural soils are commonly too acidic or too alkaline for the optimal growth of many crop species. When this is the case, chemicals may be added to the soil to adjust its  pH  to a more appropriate range. Acidic soils are commonly neutralized by adding calcium-containing minerals . Alkaline soils can be acidified by adding sulfur compounds , which generate acidity 

9. Soil Conditioners Soil conditioners are organic-rich materials that are sometimes added to soils to improve aeration and water-holding capacity, both of which are very important aspects of soil quality. Various materials can be utilized as soil conditioners , including peat, crop residues,  livestock manure etc. Some examples  include biochar, bone meal, blood meal, coffee grounds, compost, compost tea, coir, manure, straw, peat, sphagnum moss, vermiculite, sulfur, lime, hydroabsorbant polymers, and biosolids.

10. PESTICIDES/ INSECTICIDES: • Insecticides protect crops before and after harvest from potentially devastating pests that threaten yield and quality. • Some insects are chewing pests (e.g. caterpillars & beetles) which feed on plant material itself (leaves, fruits, roots, etc.). This leads to a reduction of the photosynthetic area and yield. The damage caused can seriously weaken the plant. They can also cause serious loss during material storage. • Others are sucking pests which feed on sap (e.g. Aphids). This method of feeding can lead to serious viral transmission that can destroy a crop

11. Herbicides: • ‘Weed’ is a term which describes any undesired vegetation and it consequently covers a very large spectrum of plants Weeds are generally categorised as grasses or broad leaf weeds • The presence of weeds in a field plot can dramatically reduce yield • Herbicides control weeds that compete with crops for light and nutrients • Herbicides can also prevent soil erosion and water loss by replacing or reducing the need for cultivation

12. Plant growth hormones: Plant hormones are signal molecules produced within plants, that occur in extremely low concentrations . Plant hormones control all aspects of growth and development . These hormones are naturally synthesized in the plant itself and also are artificially synthesized in the laboratory. Eg: Auxins, gibberillins, cytokinins,abscissic acid, ethylene.

13. FUNGICIDES : • Fungicides play a key role in keeping a crop healthy from fungal disease which can have severe adverse effects on crop yield and quality. Eg: During the Irish potato famine in the 1840s, 1 million people died and another1 million people left Ireland. The famine was caused by Phytophthora infestans (late potato blight) Fungicides are described as broad spectrum (e.g. effective on a wide range on fungi across the taxonomical groups) or specific (e.g. mildew-specific or oomycete-specific fungicides)

14. Based on the type of attack of the organism, fungicide can be: • Preventative : Prevents the establishment of infection • Curative : Inhibits the development of an established infectiowhich is not showing visible symptoms of disease • An eradicant : Inhibits the development of an established infection which is showing visible symptoms • An antisporulant : Prevents or reduces sporulation without necessarily stopping vegetative growth

15. ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS IN INDIA: India is the fourth largest producer of agrochemicals globally, after United States, Japan and China. The Indian agrochemicals market grew at a rate of 11% from USD 1.22 billion in FY08 to an estimated USD 1.36 billion in FY09. India’s agrochemicals consumption is one of the lowest in the world with per hectare consumption of just 0.58 Kg compared to US (4.5 Kg/ha) and Japan (11 Kg/ha). In India, paddy accounts for the maximum share of pesticide consumption, around 28%, followed by cotton (20%).

16. GLOBAL SCENARIO IN USE OF AGROCHEMICALS:

17. CROP WISE PESTS IN INDIA:

18. YIELD COMPARISON (t/ha):

19. EFFECT OF AGROCHEMICALS IN INCREASING CROP YIELDS:

20. CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF AGROCHEMICALS IN INDIA AND IN THE WORLD:

21. CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF PESTICIDES IN INDIA AND IN THE WORLD:

22. STATEWISE AGROCHEMICAL CONSUMPTION IN INDIA:

23. The first green revolution was fairly successful in putting the country on a path to self-sufficiency of food grains. However it had certain limitations in that it could not help achieve absolute sustainability in agriculture: Direct impact on humans. Impact through food commodities. Impact on environment. Surface water contamination. Ground water contamination. Soil contamination. Effect on soil fertility (beneficial soil microorganisms). Contamination of air, soil, and non-target vegetation. Non-target organisms.

24. EFFECTS INDISCRIMINATE USE OF AGROCHEMICALS ON ENVIRONMENT:

25. BENEFITS OF AGROCHEMICALS:

26. CONCLUSION: The global population currently stands at 7.2 billion, and is expected to rise to 9.3 billion by 2050. This will lead to an increased demand for food. The dietary needs in emerging countries will change as economy grows. To meet the food & nutrition needs of a growing population requires a sustainable approach that puts thrust on increasing productivity against the background of lower yields & decreasing farm sizes. It requires a push from all stakeholders – the farmer, the government and the agrochemical/agro industry collectively so that the changing needs of the society are met. Around 25% of the global crop output is lost due to attacks by pests, weeds and diseases which doesn't augur well for farming given the critical challenges ahead and thus agrochemicals have an increasing role to play.