Chemical and physical nature

• Inorganic polymeric compounds

• Crystalline

• Water solubility <10%

• Citrate and DTPA solubility >90%

• Non-hygroscopic and powdery

Advantages  

• Significant improvement in yield and quality of crops

• Lower dosages required (1/4 to 1/10 of normal)

• Highly cost-effective

• Higher use-efficiency

• Economically attractive returns

• Non-polluting                                         

• Negligible leaching losses

• Easy application by broadcasting

• Storehouse of continuous nutrient source throughout
   crop growth period

Can be used in all soils that are deficient in any one of the micronutrients and in soils that show responses to micronutrient application. Useful for cereals, vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc.

Test information

• Over 30% increase in rice, wheat and maize

• 25% increase in gram      

• 25% increase in cabbage and radish

• 100% increase in chillies                               

• 50% increase in spinach                              

• Significantly higher nutrient levels in crop     

• Significant increase in vitamin C conten

•  

Dosages at which responses have been observed

   Zn : 1 kg/ha                             Mn :     1 kg/ha           

   Cu : 1 kg/ha                             B   :  0.5  kg/ha

    Fe :  2 kg/ha                           Mo : 0.04 kg/ha

Stage of technology: Several products licensed for commercialisation.

Patent information: All processes have either been patented or are awaiting grant of patent.

Publications & Patents :

1. Development of a Novel Slow-Releasing Iron-Manganese Fertilizer Compound. I. Bhattacharya, S.Bandyopadhyay, C Varadachari  and  Kghosh : Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research : 46 : 2870-2676

2. Novel slow-releasing micronutrient fertilizers. I. Zinc compounds : S.K. Ray, C.Varadachari & K. Ghosh :Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research [American Chemical Society] (USA) 32 : 1218-1227 (1993).

3. Novel  slow-releasing  micronutrient  fertilizers 2. Copper Compounds:   S.K. Ray, C. Varadachari & K. Ghosh : Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry [American Chemical Society] (USA)  45 : 1447-1453 (1997).

4. Removing   micronutrient   metal   cation  interferences  prior  to  titrimetric determination  of  polyphosphate  chain  length’  :  S.K.  Ray,  P.K. Chandra, C. Varadachari & K. Ghosh :Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry [American Chemical Society] (USA)  46 : 2222-2226 (1998).

5. Polyphosphates : The future of fertilizer development : C. Varadachari, S.K.  Ray & K. Ghosh :  Everyman’s Science 28 : 64-66 (1993).

6. Phosphoric acids, phosphates and fertilizers for the future : C. Varadachari :  Indian National Science Academy Proceedings (Part B)  58 : 119-126  (1992).

7. Phosphoric  acid  polymerisation  and  its  role  in  fertilizer development : C.Varadachari : ‘Indian Fertilizer Scene Annual - 1992’, Commercial Publications, Bombay, 125-126 pp.  (1992).

8. Novel slow-releasing  micronutrient  fertilizers : C.  Varadachari  : Fertilizer News 37(3) : 49-53 (1992).

Patents

Anyone interested in these technologies for commercialisation may contact

 apradhan@nrdcindia.com or rcais@cal3.vsnl.net.in 

1.   Varadachari C (2005) Process for the manufacture of bio-release fertilizers of zinc-iron-manganese, iron-manganese-copper and zinc-iron-manganese-copper, [NRDC]  PCT Application and Indian Patent Application No 531/Kol/2005 dated 21.06.05.

2.   Varadachari C (2004) A process for the manufacture of bio-release iron-manganese fertilizer, [DST/TIFAC]: PCT Application No PCT/ IN 04/00234 and US Patent Application No 10/567,303 dated 06.10.04

3.   Varadachari C (2004) A process for the manufacture of a bio-release fertilizer of an anionic micronutrient, viz., molybdenum,  [DST/TIFAC] : PCT Application No PCT/ IN 04/00235 and US Patent Application dated 06.10.04.

4.   Varadachari C (2003) A process for the manufacture of bio-release iron-manganese fertilizer, [DST/TIFAC]: Indian Patent Application No 971/Del/2003 dated 06.08.03.

5.   Varadachari C (2003) A process for the manufacture of a bio-release fertilizer of an anionic micronutrient, viz., molybdenum,  [DST/TIFAC] : Indian Patent Application No 970/Del/2003 dated 06.08.03.

6.   Varadachari C (1999) A process for the manufacture of slow-release fertilizers, [NRDC]: Indian Patent Application No 194747 dated 06.01.99.

7. A Process  for   producing   a   slow-releasing   copper  fertilizer  :  S.K. Ray, C.Varadachari & K. Ghosh : Indian Patent No. 177205 dated      28.11.91 (1991).

8. A Process   for   producing   a   slow-releasing   boron   fertilizer  :  S.K. Ray, C.Varadachari   &   K. Ghosh   :   Indian Patent  No. 175597 dated 14.05.91 (1991).

9. A Process   for   producing   a   slow-releasing    zinc   fertilizer   :   S.K. Ray, C.Varadachari  &  K. Ghosh  :  Indian   Patent   No. 172800  dated 13.08.90 (1990).