The Hindu Business Line : Nilachal to promote use of soil conditioner

NILACHAL Refractories, a Tata group company manufacturing a soil conditioner (Growell), intends to take up a campaign soon to popularise and promote the product in Andhra Pradesh. The product is being sold on a limited scale in the State at present, according to a release issued by the company.

Mr Suresh Thawan, Chief Executive, said in the press release that Growell was essentially enriched slag used as a soil conditioner or liming agent to condition acidic soils. Soil acidity occurs in humid regions from continuous application of acid-forming fertilisers such as ammonium sulphate and super phosphate, accumulation of organic matter and their decomposition and leaching of bases such as calcium and magnesium in heavy rainfall areas.

There are about 49 million hectares of land in the country India having acidic soil, 26 million ha with a pH of below 5.6 and 23 million ha with pH in the range of 5.6 - 6.6.

"One of the outstanding characteristics of soil is its reaction. Since micro-organisms and higher plants respond markedly to their chemical environment, the importance of soil reaction should be understood properly. The soil reaction below pH 6.6 is acidic, above pH 7.3 alkaline and pH in the range of 6.6 to 7.3 is neutral. Growell neutralises soil reaction and paves the way for optimum availability of micro-nutrients to plants. It is not a fertiliser, but a soil conditioner which optimises the use of fertilisers," adds the release.

Growell is made by using the TISCO basic slag and it contains calcium, phosphates and other elements. The product has been certified by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and the Fertiliser Association of India has noted that application of Growell in acidic soils increases the yield by 25 per cent and above. "Growell is being sold in the State for the past eight years and the results have been very encouraging. Initially, we had to take a lot of pains to explain to the farmers that it is not another fertiliser, but a soil conditioner, but now the concept is catching on. The impact of the soil conditioner has been noticed by farmers on a variety of crops in all the regions of the State," says Mr P. Lakshmana Rao, the sole agent for the product in the State.

The company is selling the product at Rs 200-225 a bag (50 kg) and it is planning to take up a campaign soon to take it to the interior areas.

Excessive and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilisers, without taking into account the soil conditions, is one of the major problems in modern agriculture. "In Andhra Pradesh, too, farmers are habituated to increased use of fertilisers. Growell conditions the soil and makes for better absorption of the manure. The emphasis of late has been on soil testing and scientific use of fertilisers. Therefore, in acidic soils, Growell is a very useful product," he said.

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