Imbalanced fertiliser use has become a structural problem in Indian agriculture. Examine the role of soil-test-based and Integrated Nutrient Management approaches in addressing it.

India applies nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (N, P, K) in a ratio of about 9.8 : 3.7 : 1. The recommended ratio is 4 : 2 : 1 [1]. The imbalance is structural because price policy drives it, not just a lack of awareness among farmers. Soil-test-based advice and Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) can correct it, but only if price and delivery reforms back them up.

Why the imbalance is structural

• Price signal: urea is fixed at ₹242 per 45 kg bag [2]. P&K prices under the Nutrient Based Subsidy move with world prices, so nitrogen stays the cheapest nutrient.
• Official recognition: the Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers asked for a roadmap to rationalise the relative pricing of urea and other fertilisers [3].

Role of soil-test-based approaches

• Soil Health Card: tests 12 parameters, including N, P, K, S, micronutrients, pH, EC and organic carbon. It has been an RKVY component since 2022-23 [4]. It replaces blanket doses with advice for each plot.
• 4R principle (right source, rate, time and place): Khet Bachaao Abhiyaan–Rabi 2026 promotes it in 100 high fertiliser-consuming districts [5].
• Limits: a CAG audit (Madhya Pradesh) found that only 48% of cardholders applied the recommended dose. It also found that grid sampling made the card data unreliable [6].

Role of INM

• Combines farmyard manure, compost, biofertilisers and crop residues with lower chemical doses [5].
• Green manuring with dhaincha fixes nitrogen biologically and cuts the need for urea in rice systems [5].
• Composting residue instead of burning it builds soil carbon and reduces air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plain [5].
• Limits: organic inputs are bulky and slower to show results, so farmers need incentives to adopt them.

Way forward

• Rationalise urea's relative price gradually [3].
• Link PM-PRANAM, which gives States 50% of the subsidy they save, to the high-consumption districts [7].
• Move to plot-level sampling and track fertiliser sales, not attendance at campaign events.
• Learn from Tamil Nadu and Kerala, which are already close to 4 : 2 : 1 [1].

Soil testing shows what a field needs, and INM supplies it sustainably, but both work against a distorted price signal. Combined with price rationalisation and incentives for States, they can restore nutrient balance and help meet SDG 2 and SDG 15.