Product Background
The currently available foliar nutrient mixtures contain different combinations of secondary nutrients, micronutrients and humic acid or fulvic acid. Most of these mixtures are not crop specific and may be used for general purpose only. Standard macronutrient fertilizers such as nitrogenous fertilizers or N-P-K fertilizers, often lack a number of essential micronutrients required by the plant. Presently, there are no nutrient compositions available in the market which overcomes nutrient deficiencies of spices crops at different critical stages growth and enhance yield of the crops. Efforts to correct this imbalance have to be made through promotion of site specific nutrient management taking into consideration the initial soil fertility status. In order to find a solution for this serious problem, ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, Kerala has developed crop specific, soil pH based micronutrient mixtures for foliar application in black pepper, which guarantees 15 to 25% increase in yield, besides enhancing quality
Description
The black pepper micronutrient formulation contains all the essential nutrients in a balanced manner that support and promote growth of black pepper. 40-55% of soils are moderately deficient in micronutrients like Zinc, while 25-30% is deficient in Boron. Deficiency of other micronutrients occurs in 15% of soils. Long term research trials conducted on these spices crops have shown 15 to 25 % increases in yield and also overall improvement in the health and quality of crops
The industry/customer problem
- Studies across black pepper growing tracts of Kerala and Karnataka under different cropping systems showed an alarming trend of nutrient imbalance. Soils were acidic with >54% of samples falling below 5.5 pH. The mean available P level was above 25 kg ha-1 and more than 60% of the soils had very high (36-100 kg ha-1) available P. The exchangeable K levels were low-medium in 70% of soils, exchangeable Ca was low in 40%, exchangeable Mg in 75% of the samples and B in 59% samples. Relatively excess/ indiscriminate and long term use of N & P straight fertilizers, which are generally free from micronutrients, ignoring potential soil amelioration with liming materials, has raised serious concern about preferential building up of P and imbalance of other nutrients, and created wide spread deficiencies of secondary and micronutrients especially Mg, B and Zn in major spice growing soils. These deficiencies/limitations reduce yield significantly. The main advantages of Black pepper micronutrient mixtures developed at ICAR-IISR are
- Formulations are water soluble and compatible with simple or complex fertilizers
- Easy transportation and long shelf life up to one year
- Environment friendly process and can be adopted in organic farming
- Low cost investment for manufacturing, cost of production is Rs.70/kg with cost benefit ratio of 1:2.5increases yield by 10-25%,
Latest product information
–
Commercialization Status
Technology commercialized to six companies through non-exclusive licensing
- M/s Rainbow Agri Life India Pvt. Ltd (2015)
42-129-9, Jayanagar Colony
Kadapa-516002, Andhra Pradesh
Ph. No: 09848477199
Email: rainbow_agrovet@yahoo.com
- M/s Shrey Agritech (2015)
B-3, 1st Gate, Industrial Estate
Gokul Road, Hubli-580030
Karnataka
Ph. No:09449800913
Email: Shreyagritech@gmail.com
- M/s Hi-7Agro Bio Solutions, (2017)
#832, Sapthagiri Nilaya, Vasanthnagar,
Hessaraghatta,Bengaluru-560088
Karnataka
Ph.No:07799247145,8792123827
E-mail: hi7agri@gmail.com
- M/s Linga Chemicals (2017)
3 B-1 Police Station Lane
East Masi Street
Madurai-625001, Tamil Nadu
Ph.No:9994445313
Email: lingachem@gmail.com
- M/s Natura Nursery and Agro Products (2018)
Meppayur P.O.Kozhikode, Kerala
Ph.No:9495083753
Email:naturanursery1@gmail.com
- M/s RLCO Innovative Agri Private Limited (2018)
27/498, Parayancheri, Kuthiravattom (PO), Kozhikode, 673016, Keralav Ph.No:9496345414
Email: agriblossoms@gmail.com
Commercial packets of black pepper micronutrients from licensees
