DMR Sekhar
and
MSP Rao
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CONTENTS
Introduction
Natural take up of P by plants
Chemical P Fertilizers
Contribution of Chemical P Fertilizers
Problems of Chemical P Fertilizers
Organic Farming
Phosphate Rich Organic Manure
Effect of PROM & DAP
Citric Acid Soluble P in Rock Phosphate
Dissolution of Surface Molecules
Principles of P uptake by plants
High Time to Rethink
Definition of Fertilizer
Efforts by PROM Society
Integrated approach
References
Other Benefits of PROM
What is do be done
Introduction
Plant Nutrients
Macro Nutrients
Primary
Nutrients
N - Nitrogen
P - Phosphorous
K - Potassium
Secondary
Nutrients
Ca- Calcium
Mg- Magnesium
S - Sulphur
Micro Nutrients
B - Boron
Cl - Chlorine
Mn - Manganese
Fe - Iron
Zn - Zinc
Cu - Copper
Mo - Molybdenum
Ni - Nickle
Natural take up of P by plants
 Phosphorous an important nutrient is taken up by
the plants in water soluble form as phosphate
anions i.e [H2PO4-, HPO4-- , PO4---]
 Plants exude organic acids like citric and malic
acids through their roots that dissolve soil
phosphates. Organic acids produced by soil micro
organism also assist dissolution of soil P. Plants
take up naturally dissolved P through the roots.
 Plants can dissolve/take up soil P even if it is in
P
H2PO4- , HPO4-- ,
PO4---
citric soluble (soluble in 2% citric acid) form.
Soil
Containing
Phosphate
Water
Chemical P Fertilizers
 The fact that P is taken up by plants in water soluble forms led to the
development of chemical P fertilizers that contain P in water soluble form.
 Single super phosphate (SSP), Di ammonium phosphate (DAP), Nitrophosphates, etc are some examples.
 Single Super Phosphate was first produced and tested by Rothamsted
Experimental Station, UK during 1840 -43.
Single Super
Phosphate (SSP)
Nitro-Phosphate
Mono Ammonium
Phosphate (MAP)
Di Ammonium
Phosphate (DAP)
Contribution of Chemical P Fertilizers
 Introduction of Chemical P fertilizers increased agricultural
production throughout the world.
 Around 10 million tons of high-grade rock phosphate mineral is
consumed in India every year in the form of DAP and SSP.
Problems of Chemical P Fertilizers
 Less than 30% of P applied to the soil in the form chemical phosphatic
fertilizers is used by the plants and the rest of it is fixed by the soils (by Fe,
Al, Mn ions in acidic soils or by Ca, Mg ions in alkaline Soils) into
unavailable forms. Some of the applied P is carried away by water into near
by water bodies or into the ground water.
 Excessive use of chemical fertilizers however destroys the natural properties
of soil by killing soil micro flora and fauna and reduce the soil fertility.
P
Applied
to the soil
30%
70%
Organic Farming
 Realizing the adverse effects of chemical fertilizers the experts are now
advocating the reintroduction of organic manure in agriculture.
 Well composted manure contains humic / fulvic acids, vitamins and growth
promoting chemicals, low levels of nutrient elements such as N, P, K etc.
Manures host a variety of micro organism that dissolve P in the soil naturally
present or added.
Phosphate Rich Organic Manure
 Enriching manure with phosphate minerals improves the levels of nutrient
elements in them.
 PROM is produced by co-composting (or mixing) organic matter/manure with
high grade (32% p2o5 +or- 2%) rock phosphate mineral in fine (min. 80% finer
than 74 microns) size. Addition of phosphate solubilizing microorganism enhances
the effect.
 Research efforts since last 16 years show that PROM is as efficient as any other
chemical phosphatic fertilizer, plus it shows equal residual effect. PROM is in
FCO since 2012.
Composted
Organic
Manure
Rock
Phosphate
Mineral
Phosphate Rich
Organic Manure
: PROM
Effect of PROM and DAP on the output of Cyamopsis
tetragonoloba (Linn.), Soil pH 7.6, Udaipur, Ref: 2
Treatment
Treatment
No.
Seed Output
Seed Output per Plant (g)
per Plant (g)
(residual effect )
0
1
2
PR(34/23-d80) @40 kg P205 ha-1
Control (Soil)
PR(34/23-d80) @40 kg P205 ha-1 + Urea @ 18 kg N2 ha-1
6.69(+44.8)
4.62
7.76(+67.96)
8.63 (+25.43)
6.88
7.69 (+11.77)
3
4
DAP @ 40 Kg P205 ha-1
PR(34/23-d80) @ 40 kg P205 ha-1+ FYM @ 0.5ton ha-1
7.09(+53.46)
5.29(+14.50)
7.61 (+10.61)
7.92 (+15.11)
5
PR(34/23-d80) @ 40 kg P205 ha-1+ FYM @ 1ton ha-1
5.28(+14.28)
8.58 (+24.70)
6
PR(34/23-d80) @ 40 kg P205 ha-1+ FYM @ 2 ton ha-1
6.52(+41.12)
8.60 (+25.00)
7
PR(34/23-d80) @ 40 kg P205 ha-1+ FYM @ 4 tons ha-1
7.17(55.19)
10.75 (+56.25)
8
DAP @ 40 kg P205 ha-1+ FYM @ 4 tons ha-1
7.59 (+64.28)
9.76 (+ 41.86)
Agronomic Efficiency of FYM with and without Phosphate Rock
Citric Acid Soluble P in Rock Phosphate increase as size of the
Particles Decrease
Dissolution of Surface Molecules
 Unlike the atoms in the bulk of the mineral, atoms on the surface are bonded
with other atoms below the surface and have broken bonds on the surface. The
broken bonds result into surface charge.
 Surfaces of mineral particles in aqueous suspension may gain (adsorb) some
ions from aqueous phase or exchange ions from aqueous phase or lose (de-sorb)
some ions into aqueous phase.
 Thus surface molecules with broken bonds ionise/dissolve easily.
Principles of P uptake by plants
 Nitrogen applied to the soils either in organic form (organic
manure for example) or inorganic form (urea, ammonium
sulphate etc) enhances uptake of P by plants. Applied N
probably boosts the growth of soil bacteria that dissolve P
from the rock phosphate particles and there by enhance the
take up of P by plants.
 The primary requirements for rock phosphate mineral for
application as P fertilizer in alkaline soils as PROM are the
fineness of particle size (minimum 80% - 74 microns) and
high grade (minimum 30% P2O5). The content of P soluble in
2% citric acid (available form) increases as the mesh of grind
is finer. Further conversion of P into water soluble forms is
carried out in situ by organic acids released by soil micro
organism (naturally present or applied to the soil) and by the
plant roots.
 C:N ratio in the manure is best at 20: 1
High Time to Rethink
 It must be clear by now that P fertilizers need not necessarily
contain P in water soluble form. In fact water soluble P in the
fertilizers converts back into unavailable forms in a short period
wasting almost 70% of applied P. This is known as the problem of
P fixation by soils.
 Phosphate Rock (high grade) in fine size along with Organic
Manure (PROM) solves the P fixation problem effectively.
PROM may be accompanied by N containing fertilizers or more
Organic Manure at the time of application for enhanced effect.
Definition of Fertilizer
 Fertilizer is a substance (such as manure or a special
chemical) that is added to soil to help the growth of
plants: Merriam - Webster
 Fertilizer is a substance (as manure or a chemical
mixture) used to make soil more fertile: Merriam Webster
 A material may be validated as P fertilizer if it
shows agronomic efficiency equal to or more than
a standard fertilizer such as SSP or DAP
irrespective of in which form the P exists.
Efforts by PROM Society
 PROM has been tested by agricultural scientists extensively throughout India
due to research projects sponsored by M/s Rajasthan State Mines & Minerals
Ltd.
 PROM was produced in large scale and tested successfully on the field by M/s
Excel Industries: Mumbai, Karnataka Compost Development Corporation:
Bangalore, Simbhaoli Sugar Mills: Simbhaoli and several others.
 PROM Society honors individual farmers who tested PROM on large scale in
their fields by conferring AC Datta Award that carries a cash prize of Rs
10,000/-. So far 5 farmers from Gujarat, UP and Rajasthan were honored and
one NGO from Hyderabad received the award.
 All these developments were documented by PROM Society in the form of four
published books, display on its web site.
http://www.promsociety.net/gallery.htm
Mr. Mukeshbhai M Patel (far left) farmer from village Rahtalav, Anand,
Gujarat receiving the first award from Prof. BL Chaudhary, VC, MLSU,
Udaipur, 2004. http://www.promsociety.net/gallery.htm GCMMFL
identified the farmer for carrying out the farm trial.
Integrated Approach
 Organic Manure from sugar plants, biogas plants need to be encouraged along
with municipal compost for making PROM.
 Bio gas plants based on cattle dung can produce Electric Power that can be
commercially viable at 1000 kilo Watt capacity and PROM may be produced
using the discharge of bio gas plant. This in turn will generate rural employment.
 India is blessed with world class breeds of cattle such as Tharparkars, Ongoles
(cows and bulls) and Murrah Buffalos.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/Bull_of_Moses
_with_Balram_Jhakad_and_NT_Rama_Rao.jpg
Tharparkar cows are known to give 20 to 22 litres of milk a day with 5 to 6% fat
content. http://ongolebulls.wikifoundry.com/photo/9352455/Tharparkar+Cow
References
 Sekhar, D.M.R and Aery, N.C, Current Science, Vol.80 (9), 2001
.http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/may102001/1113.pdf
 Sekhar, D.M.R., Aery, N.C. and Gupta, D.K, 2002. Indian Chemical Engineer, Vol.44
(3), 2002.
 C. M. Narayanan, "Production of Phosphate-Rich Biofertiliser Using Vermicompost
and Anaerobic Digestor Sludge—A Case Study," Advances in Chemical Engineering
and Science, Vol. 2 No. 2, 2012, pp. 187-191.
http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=18876
 DMR Sekhar, Principles of Phosphate Fertilization and PROM – Progress Review
2012
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235918492_Principles_of_Phosphate_Fertiliz
ation_and_PROM__Progress_Review_2012?ev=prf_pub
 Dharmendra Singh, Parul Jain, Abhishek Gupta and Rajeev Nema, Soil Diversity: A
Key for Natural Management of Biological and Chemical Constitute to Maintain Soil
Health & Fertility, International Journal of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology, Vol. 5,
No. 1, February, 2013 http://www.sersc.org/journals/IJBSBT/vol5_no1/4.pdf
 www.smart-fertilizer.com
Other Benefits of PROM
(1) Organic Manure applied to the soils improve the
water holding capacity of the soil thereby reducing
the requirement of irrigation water.
(2) Organic Manure/Rock Phosphate mineral improve
the natural properties of the soil by boosting the
growth of soil flora and fauna.
(3) PROM because of the equal residual effect conserves
the rock phosphate mineral which is a non
renewable resource.
What is to be done
 Provide High Grade Rock Phosphate in fine size in 50
Kg bags to the farmers through the existing producers
of phosphate fertilizers, farmers cooperatives.
 Provide High Grade Rock Phosphate fine size to Sugar
plants, Municipal Solid Waste composting plants, Bio
Gas Plants, etc to produce PROM.
 Encourage large scale (0.5 mega Watt and above) rural
based bio gas plants to produce Power & PROM.
Thanks
 Thanks for patiently listening. Thanks to M/s RSMML and
Sri KS Money.
 Please join the efforts of PROM Society a body of Scientists,
Engineers, Farmers, Administrators, NGOs and Industries.
 Thanks to Dr. ChAI Raju and Er. DM Mihir