Fertilizers are food for plants. Fertilizer helps farmers feed our growing population. Plants require 17 essential nutrients in the soil to survive and to grow. Fertilizers help replenish these nutrients after each harvest.

A fertilizer is a natural or synthetic, chemical-based substance that is used to enhance plant growth and fertility. Fertilizers may also enhance water retention and filter any excess liquid, hence enhancing soil effectiveness. Fertilizers typically offer the three major macronutrients potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. Fertilizers may also add secondary nutrients such as sulfur, magnesium, and calcium to the soil or growing media. Fertilizer is any substance, from plant food pellets to worm compost that makes the soil more fertile. After all, soil provides nutrients to plants, so fortifying it with the right minerals and microbes helps grow hardy, healthy plants.

Both organic and inorganic fertilizers provide plants with the nutrients needed to grow healthy and strong. However, each contains different ingredients and supplies these nutrients in different ways. Organic fertilizers work over time to create a healthy growing environment, while inorganic fertilizers provide rapid nutrition. Determining which is better for your plants depends largely on the needs of your plants and your preferences in terms of cost and environmental impact.

A benefit of inorganic fertilizers is that they work more quickly than do organic fertilizers because they contain a higher percentage of nutrients; however, long-term use of inorganic fertilizers may contribute to soil depletion.

The Indian Fertilizer Industry has shown tremendous growth in the last five decades and at present ranks third in the world. India is the second largest consumer of fertilizers after China. India also ranks second in the production of nitrogenous fertilizers and third in phosphatic fertilizers whereas the requirement of potash is met through imports since there are limited reserves of potash in the country. India is another major market for NPK (nitrogen, phosphate, and potash) fertilizers.

Fertilizers play an important role in increasing efficiency of agricultural output. With the strengthening of pricing control policies and reforms, the fertilizers market is expected to be regulated soon in India. Fertilizer products are based on chemicals such as Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus, where nitrogen based fertilizers have the largest usage in India. The major factors which are driving the growth of the agricultural fertilizers market in India are government subsidy and increased demand of food grains.

 

Nitrogenous Fertilizer

Demand : Past and Future
Year	(In Million Metric Tonne)
1990-91	8.00
2000-01	11.11
2001-02	11.04
2002-03	10.63
2003-04	10.77
2004-05	11.75
2005-06	12.75
2006-07	13.80
2007-08	14.50
2008-09	15.40
2009-10	14.90
2010-11	15.35
2011-12	16.10
2012-13	16.90
2013-14	17.60
2014-15	18.10
2015-16	19.50
2016-17	19.95
2017-18	20.35
2018-19	20.85
2019-20	21.00
2024-25	23.50