Context: The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Fertilizers, has paved the way for development in the fertilizer sector with the issuance of a notification to the Managing Directors/Chief Managing Directors of all fertilizer manufacturing companies.

• It is a new type of sulfur coated so it is also called sulfur urea. This urea is being manufactured by Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizer Limited (RCF) Company.

Benefits of Sulphur coated Urea

• According to Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the use of Urea Gold leads to reduction in urea consumption by 25%.

• This slow-release mechanism may lead to reduced application frequency, offering potential cost savings for farmers.

• It increases the nitrogen adsorption efficiency by 40% and in turn improves the plant growth, quality, and yield of seeds, especially oilseeds.

• Urea Gold has advantages over existing neem-coated ureas in terms of both economic viability and efficiency.

Why was the price fixed for Urea Gold?

• The government introduced "Urea Gold," a sulphur-coated urea, to combat soil deficiencies.

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) fixed the maximum retail price (MRP) of Urea Gold at Rs266.50 per 40 kg bag, aligning it with 45 kg bags of Neem Coated Urea.

• It was made Rs 30 costlier due to reduced weight, but may impact overall urea sales.

• The government aims to encourage environmentally friendly fertilizers without burdening farmers.

• This prompts manufacturers to align strategies, making a shift towards sustainable agriculture practices and anticipation for positive outcomes.

What is Urea Gold?

• Sulphur-coated urea (SCU) is called Urea gold because of its yellowish-goldish colour.

• SCU is a non-organic slow-release fertilizer in which urea granules are coated with molten sulphur, forming a membrane that regulates the availability of nitrogen for plant growth.

• Urea Gold contains 37% Nitrogen (N) and 17% Sulphur (S), to address India's soil deficiencies, particularly in S, crucial for oilseeds and pulses.

• It aims to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) by ensuring a gradual release of N, keeping plants greener for an extended period.

• NUE can be defined as the ratio of crop nitrogen uptake to the total input of nitrogen fertilizer.

• This is the ratio of crop nitrogen uptake to available soil N and calculated by dividing the grain yield (kg) by the unit (kg) of total available nitrogen.

How Urea Gold Better Than Others

• Sulphur-coated urea facilitates the gradual release of nitrogen, thereby increasing its availability and uptake by crops.

• The addition of humic acid to Urea Gold further extends its shelf life as a fertilizer.

• This product not only replaces conventional urea consumption but also reduces overall fertilizer usage.

• As per reports, 15 kg of Urea Gold provides benefits equivalent to 20 kg of conventional urea, making it a more efficient and cost-effective option for farmers.

Neem Coated Urea

• Urea is a commonly used nitrogen-based fertilizer, which provides plants with essential nutrients to promote healthy growth.

• Neem-coated urea is a special form of urea fertilizer that has been coated with neem oil.

• Neem coating on urea slows down the release of nitrogen in the soil. This controlled release helps reduce nitrogen leaching and volatilization, thereby improving nitrogen use efficiency by plants.

• This will reduce the quantity of urea per acre and consequently reduce the input cost of the farmers.

• Nitrous oxide emissions have also reduced significantly.

• Neem oil obtained from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) has natural insecticidal properties.