New urea plant to be built in Assam

Why in the NEWS?

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced setting up of a new urea plant with an annual production capacity of 12.7 lakh tonnes at Namrup in Assam.

What will you read next in this topic?

1. About Urea Plants in India.
2. Urea: Important Fertilizer in Agriculture
3. Structure and manufacturing of urea:
4. Uses of Urea in Agriculture:
5. Benefits of Urea in Agriculture:
6. Liquid Urea and Nano Urea
7. Neem Coated Urea
8. Effect of urea on the environment:

About Urea Plants in India.

• A new urea plant has been proposed to be set up in the Union Budget 2025, which will be the eighth new urea plant to come up in India since 2019.
• Six urea plants have been commissioned between January 2019 and November 2022:
  • Gapepan (Rajasthan)
  • Ramagundam (Telangana)
  • Panagarh (West Bengal)
  • Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh)
  • Barauni (Bihar)
  • Sindhri (Jharkhand)
• The total capacity of these plants is 12.7 lakh metric tonnes.
• The seventh plant at Talcher (Odisha) is under construction, which is about 65% complete.
• This plant will use coal as feedstock, while the other plants will be based on natural gas.
• Most of the plants will use natural gas, which is imported.
• There are seven liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals set up in India:
  • Mundra, Dahej and Hazira (Gujarat)
  • Kochi (Kerala)
  • Ennore (Tamil Nadu)
  • Dhamra (Odisha)
• The gas will be transported to the interior of the country through these terminals and pipelines.
• India's domestic urea production is projected to increase from 22 million tonnes in 2011-12 to 31.4 million tonnes in 2023-24.
• Urea imports have declined by 28.9% in the current financial year (April-December).
• Urea imports have declined from 6.1 million tonnes to 4.3 million tonnes in the same period of 2023-24.
• The government aims to achieve self-sufficiency in urea as it is the most consumed fertilizer in India.

Urea: Important Fertilizer in Agriculture

• Urea is an extremely important chemical fertilizer, which is especially used in agriculture as a nitrogen-based fertilizer.
• It is the most common and major source of nitrogen, which is extremely essential for plant growth.
• It is the most widely used substance as a fertilizer all over the world.

Structure and manufacturing of urea:

Chemical structure:

• The chemical formula of urea is (NH₂)₂CO. 
• This means that urea consists of two ammonia (NH₃) molecules and one carbon dioxide (CO₂) molecule.

Manufacturing process:

• Urea is mainly manufactured by combining ammonia and carbon dioxide. 
• This process usually takes place under high temperature and pressure, which is required for the manufacture of urea. 
• Urea is obtained as a colourless and crystalline substance.

Uses of Urea in Agriculture:

• Urea is used as a fertilizer in the agricultural sector.
• It contains high nitrogen content (46%), which is highly important for the growth and development of plants.
• Using urea effectively increases the production of crops and also improves their quality.

Benefits of Urea in Agriculture:

Major Source of Nitrogen:

• Urea contains high amount of nitrogen, which is one of the most important nutrients for plants.
• Nitrogen is the life-giving element for plants, which helps in the growth of their green leaves, stems and flowers.

Helpful in plant growth:

• The presence of nitrogen increases the size of plant leaves and improves their green colour. 
• It promotes the growth of leaves and stems, which leads to higher crop production.

Formation of flowers and fruits:

• The use of urea also promotes the production of flowers and fruits of crops. 
• Using urea in the right amount improves the quality and size of fruits, which also improves the sale of agricultural products.

Liquid Urea and Nano Urea

Liquid Urea: 

• Liquid urea is the liquid form of urea which is a major source of nitrogen. 
• It is commonly used in agriculture, especially in places where the use of solid urea is difficult or not favourable. 
• It is a soluble form of urea, so that it can be easily mixed in water and delivered directly to the roots of the plants.

Main benefits of liquid urea:

• Easily dissolved in water: 
  • Liquid urea dissolves easily in water, so that it can be mixed with the soil quickly and effectively.
• Uniform distribution: 
  • Urea is sprayed in liquid form, which ensures uniform distribution of fertilizer and delivers nitrogen to every part of the crop.
• Water saving: 
  • Due to its liquid form, urea is used by mixing it with water, which helps in maintaining moisture in the soil and saves water.
• Biodegradable: 
  • Liquid urea has a natural low impact on the soil and the environment.

Nano Urea:

• Nano Urea is a new and innovative form of urea, developed through nanotechnology. 
• In this, the urea molecules are shaped into Nano size, so that it can be absorbed by plants in a more effective way. 
• This not only increases the effectiveness of urea, but also has less negative impact on the environment.

Key Benefits of Nano Urea:

• High absorption rate: 
  • Nano-sized molecules of Nano urea are easily absorbed by plants, which leads to better use of nitrogen and can reduce its quantity.
• Less environmental impact: 
  • The use of Nano urea has less negative impact on the environment than conventional urea, as it reduces leakage and evaporation of nitrogen.
• Effective in less quantity: 
  • An important advantage of Nano urea is that it can be used in smaller quantities, which reduces the cost of fertilizer and also reduces environmental pressure.
• Better water management: 
  • It helps in maintaining water availability in the soil, as Nano Urea is absorbed slowly by the plants.
• Better Nitrogen Utilization: 
  • Use of Nano Urea ensures maximum availability of nitrogen, leading to improved plant growth and production.

Neem Coated Urea

• It is a type of fertilizer prepared by coating neem oil or neem skin in urea.
• It is an organic and eco-friendly fertilizer that aims to make the use of urea more effective and sustainable. 
• This fertilizer is not only beneficial for farmers, but it also reduces environmental side effects.

Benefits of Neem Coated Urea:

• Slow supply of nitrogen:
  • Neem coated urea releases nitrogen from urea slowly.
  • This provides a constant and controlled flow of nitrogen to the plants, improving their growth and preventing excessive consumption of urea.
• Climate and environment friendly:
  • Neem coated urea has less volatilization and leaching of nitrogen as compared to normal urea. 
  • It causes less harm to the environment as it improves the absorption of nitrogen in water and soil.
• Increased Nitrogen Absorption Capacity:
  • Neem oil has anti-bacterial properties, which control the growth of bacteria present in the soil, leading to better nitrogen absorption capacity.
• Better Crop Growth:
  • Neem coated urea enhances the growth of crops and strengthens their roots. 
  • It gives good results especially in crops like sugarcane, rice, wheat, maize, and pulses.
• Insecticidal Properties:
  • Neem has naturally occurring insecticidal properties, which helps in controlling pests and diseases. 
  • It provides natural protection to the crops.
• Improves Soil Quality:
  • Neem coated urea helps in improving the soil structure and quality, ensuring long-term agricultural production.
• Uses of Neem Coated Urea:
  • Neem coated urea is used in the same way as normal urea, but at a slower rate. 
  • Hence, it can be effectively used for a longer period of time as per the specific requirement of the crops.
  • It is mixed directly into the soil or spread over the field.

Effect of urea on the environment:

• Although urea is extremely beneficial for plants, its excessive and incorrect use can have a negative impact on the environment. 
• Excessive application of urea leads to over-emission of nitrogen, which may cause climate change, soil pollution and water pollution.

Nitrogen imbalance in soil:

• Excessive use of urea may cause nitrogen imbalance in the soil, which leads to deterioration in soil quality and also affects crop production.

Water pollution:

• Excessive use of urea may leach into water sources, causing water pollution and increase in nitrate levels, which may pose a threat to human health.

Greenhouse gas emission:

• Excessive use of urea may increase the emission of greenhouse gases (mainly nitrous oxide), which causes global warming.