Fertilizer

1. FERTILIZERS
Dr. C.P. Dorlikar
Deptt. Of Geology

2. CONTENT :
 I N T R O D U C T I O N
T Y P E S O F F E RT I L I S E R S
P H O S P H AT E S
U S E S
M O D E S O F O C C U R R E N C E A N D
O R I G I N
P O TA S H
D I S T R I B U T I O N A N D
R E S E RV E S
N I T R AT E S

3. INTRODUCTION
F E R T I L L I Z E R , N AT U R A L O R
A R T I F I C I A L S U B S TA N C E
C O N TA I N I N G T H E C H E M I C A L
E L E M E N T S T H AT I M P R O V E G R O W T H
A N D P R O D U C T I V E N E S S O F
P L A N T S .
P L AY A V E R Y I M P O R TA N T R O L E I N
E N H A N C I N G F O O D P R O D U C T I O N .

4. MINERALS USED IN FERTILIZER INDUSTRY
Fertiliser minerals may be used directly in crude
state or may form basic raw materials for the
manufacture of fertilisers.
Different type of fertilisers :
Phosphates
Potash
Nitrates
 sulphur
Lime
gypsum

5. PHOSPHATES
Natural important phosphates – Apatite(phosphate of
Ca with some Cl, and F
Rock Phosphates – Phosphorites, Phosphatic ,
limestone, Guano, basic slag, Bone beds etc.., having
no chemical composition.
India’s contribution to total world production-0.4%
APATITE PHOSPHORITE

6. GUANO
SLAG

7. Uses
 Largest consumers – fertiliser industry(about 95%)
Treatment with H2SO4 produces super phosphate, triple
super phosphate and dicalcium phosphate- more valuable
for plant
Used in manufacture of elemental phosphorous,
chemicals, glass, sugar, iron and steel industries.
Modes Of Occurrence and Origin
Phosphatic rocks may be fragmental, nodular, oolitic,
pisolitic, lenticular, platy, granular, and massive in form.
Marine sedimentary beds- originated by marine chemical
deposition in a large enclosed basins.
Eg: rock phosphate deposit, near Mussorie, Dehradum
district, UP.(associated with chert an black shale)

8. Potash
Important nutrient for protein synthesis.
Helps plant to use water more efficiently.
Protects crop from bacterial and fungal diseases.
It do not occur in native state.
Formerly, it was obtained from vegetable materials which
were being burnt and were dissolved in water.
The soluble yielded potash salts produced after
evaporation.
Potassium minerals of economic importance other than
silicates are its chlorides, polyhalite and nitrates.
Eg:sylvite, carnallite, kainite,(chioride), alunite(polyhalite),
nitre(nitrate)

9. SYLVITE CARNALITE KAINITE
ALUNITE NITRE

10. Uses
Important use: as fertiliser.
Other uses: in the manufacture of glass, explosives,
chemical and metallurgical process.
Potassium carbonate- glass
Nitrate- explosive manufacture
Indian potash limited, Bombay is the main supplier of
imported potash.
Potash muriate (KCL)- principal raw material for potash
bearing fertilisers.

11. Mode of Occurence and Origin
Marine evaporates
Potash-rich brines
Saline lakes playa deposits
Bitterns at salt works
Saline water in evaporation becomes concentrated as
supersaturated in soluble salts which finally precipitated
as solid salt
Represents residual product of saline water.

12. Distribution and Reserves
 known to occur in Tsokar lake, Leh district, Jammu and
Kasmir, and Ran of Kuchch, Gujarat
 Sylvite- Srigangangar district, Rajasthan.
 Gluconite- Banda district, Uttar Pradesh and Satna
district, Madhya Pradesh associated with semri and rewa
groups of Vindhyan Super Group.
 Production is negligible.
 Tata chemicals is recovering minor amounts of crude
potash from bitterns at its salt works in Gujarat.

13. Nitrates
 About 78% of nitrogen gas by volume is present in the
atmosphere.
 obtained mainly from Na and K nitrates, ammonium sulphate and
calcium cynamide.
 Na and K nitrates- occur in nature in the form of soda
nitre(caliche) and saltpetre.
 Ammonium sulphate- produces as by- product in the manufacture
of coke and gas form coal.
 It is chemical produced from ammonia which is a synthetic
product.
 Nitrates- salts of nitric acid.