IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL

CHEMICALS AND THEIR ROLE IN

FARMING COMMUNITY
DEFINITION:
An agrochemical is any substance that humans use to help
in the management an agricultural ecosystem.
A chemical which can safely be applied to a crop in order to
give the farmer:
• Higher yields
• Better quality produce
• Reliability
• Ease of harvest
• Agrochemicals include
1. fertilizers,
2. liming and acidifying agents (which are designed to
change the pH),
3. soil conditioners, 
4. Pesticides and herbicides
5. chemicalsused in the raising of livestock such as antibiotics and
hormones.
FERTILIZER :
• A fertilizer is any material of natural or synthetic
origin that is applied to soils or to plant tissues to
supply one more plant nutrients essential to the
growth of plants.
• Many sources of fertilizer exist, both natural and
industrially produced.
CLASSIFICATION OF FERTILIZERS:
• They are classified according to whether they provide a single nutrient
(e.g., K, P, or N), in which case they are classified as "straight fertilizers."
"Multinutrient fertilizers“/ "complex fertilizers" provide two or more
nutrients, for example N and P.

• Fertilizers are also sometimes classified as inorganic and organic.

Inorganic fertilizers exclude carbon-containing materials except ureas.
Inorganic are sometimes called synthetic fertilizers since various chemical
treatments are required for their manufacture. Organic fertilizers are
usually (recycled) plant- or animal-derived matter.
Straight fertilizer: Eg : Complex fertilizer: Eg:
Urea DAP
INORGANIC/ SYNTHETIC FERTILIZERS

ORGANIC MANURES
Liming And Acidifying Agents

• Agricultural soils are commonly too

acidic or too alkaline for the optimal
growth of many crop species. When
this is the case, chemicals may be
added to the soil to adjust its pH to a
more appropriate range.
• Acidic soils are commonly
neutralized by adding calcium-
containing minerals.
• Alkaline soils can be acidified by
adding sulfur compounds, which
generate acidity 
 Soil Conditioners

• Soil conditioners are organic-rich materials that are sometimes added to soils to
improve aeration and water-holding capacity, both of which are very important
aspects of soil quality.
• Various materials can be utilized as soil conditioners, including peat, crop
residues, livestock manure etc.
• Some examples include biochar, bone meal, blood meal, coffee grounds,
compost, compost tea, coir, manure, straw, peat, sphagnum moss, vermiculite,
sulfur, lime, hydroabsorbant polymers, and biosolids.
PESTICIDES/ INSECTICIDES:
• Insecticides protect crops before and after harvest from potentially devastating
pests that threaten yield and quality.
• Some insects are chewing pests (e.g. caterpillars & beetles) which feed on
plant material itself (leaves, fruits, roots, etc.). This leads to a reduction of the
photosynthetic area and yield. The damage caused can seriously weaken the
plant. They can also cause serious loss during material storage.
• Others are sucking pests which feed on sap (e.g. Aphids). This method of
feeding can lead to serious viral transmission that can destroy a crop
 Herbicides:

• ‘Weed’ is a term which describes any undesired vegetation and it consequently

covers a very large spectrum of plants
• Weeds are generally categorised as grasses or broad leaf weeds
• The presence of weeds in a field plot can dramatically reduce yield
• Herbicides control weeds that compete with crops for light and nutrients
• Herbicides can also prevent soil erosion and water loss by replacing or reducing
the need for cultivation
Plant growth hormones:
• Plant hormones are signal molecules produced within plants,
that occur in extremely low concentrations.
• Plant hormones control all aspects of growth and
development.
• These hormones are naturally synthesized in the plant
itself and also are artificially synthesized in the
laboratory.
• Eg: Auxins, gibberillins, cytokinins,abscissic acid, ethylene.
FUNGICIDES :

• Fungicides play a key role in keeping a crop healthy

from fungal disease which can have severe adverse effects
on crop yield and quality.
• Eg: During the Irish potato famine in the 1840s, 1 million
people died and another1 million people left Ireland.
The famine was caused by Phytophthora infestans (late
potato blight)
• Fungicides are described as broad spectrum(e.g.
effective on a wide range on fungi across the
taxonomical groups) or specific (e.g. mildew-specific or
oomycete-specific fungicides)
Based on the type of attack of the organism, fungicide can be:
• Preventative: Prevents the establishment of infection

• Curative: Inhibits the development of an established infectiowhich is not

showing visible symptoms of disease

• An eradicant: Inhibits the development of an established infection which is

showing visible symptoms

• An antisporulant: Prevents or reduces sporulation without necessarily

stopping vegetative growth
ROLE OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS IN INDIA:

• India is the fourth largest producer of agrochemicals globally, after

United States, Japan and China.
• The Indian agrochemicals market grew at a rate of 11% from USD 1.22
billion in FY08 to an estimated USD 1.36 billion in FY09.
• India’s agrochemicals
• consumption is one of the lowest in the world with per hectare
consumption of just 0.58 Kg compared to US (4.5 Kg/ha) and Japan
(11 Kg/ha).
• In India, paddy accounts for the maximum share of pesticide
consumption, around 28%, followed by cotton (20%).
GLOBAL SCENARIO IN USE OF AGROCHEMICALS:
CROP WISE PESTS IN INDIA:
YIELD COMPARISON (t/ha):
EFFECT OF AGROCHEMICALS IN INCREASING CROP YIELDS:
CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF AGROCHEMICALS IN
INDIA AND IN THE WORLD:
CONSUMPTION PATTERN OF PESTICIDES IN INDIA
AND IN THE WORLD:
STATEWISE AGROCHEMICAL CONSUMPTION
IN INDIA:
The first green revolution was fairly successful in putting the country on a
path to self-sufficiency of food grains. However it had certain limitations
in that it could not help achieve absolute sustainability in agriculture:
• Direct impact on humans.
• Impact through food commodities.
• Impact on environment.
• Surface water contamination.
• Ground water contamination.
• Soil contamination.
• Effect on soil fertility (beneficial soil microorganisms).
• Contamination of air, soil, and non-target vegetation.
• Non-target organisms.
EFFECTS INDISCRIMINATE USE OF AGROCHEMICALS ON
ENVIRONMENT:
BENEFITS OF AGROCHEMICALS:
CONCLUSION:
• The global population currently stands at 7.2 billion, and is expected to rise
to 9.3 billion by 2050.
• This will lead to an increased demand for food. The dietary needs in
emerging countries will change as economy grows.
• To meet the food & nutrition needs of a growing population requires a
sustainable approach that puts thrust on increasing productivity against the
background of lower yields & decreasing farm sizes.
• It requires a push from all stakeholders – the farmer, the government and
the agrochemical/agro industry collectively so that the changing needs of the
society are met.
• Around 25% of the global crop output is lost due to attacks by pests, weeds
and diseases which doesn't augur well for farming given the critical
challenges ahead and thus agrochemicals have an increasing role to play.