The use of manure for increasing soil fertility has been known since antviquity and has been practiced in the Pakistan region for centuries. Cow dung, oil cakes and compost are traditional manures but are only available in limited amounts because a large quantity of cow dung is burnt as fuel and oil cake is too costly to be used as fertilizer. As a result, farmers use chemical fertilizers.
In 1951-2, chemical fertilizers were virtually unknown in Pakistan. Since then, there has been a rapid increase in the quantity of chemical fertilizers used by farmers. At least initially, the government had to fight the fear and prejudice of farmers who were reluctant to use them. The government also had to subsidize the purchase of chemical fertilizers in order to popularize them. The subsidy was withdrawn in 1996-7.
The consumption of fertilizer per hectare has substantially increased from 15 kilograms in 1970-1 to 115 kilograms in 1997-8. The consumption has increased largely because of lower crop yields and the heavier requirements of the HYVs of wheat, rice and cotton. Despite this increase, the consumption of fertilizer in Pakistan is less than countries like the Netherlands and Japan. Pakistan's consumption is equal to that of the United States but greater than that of India. It is important to note that western countries are actually cutting down on the use of chemical fertilizers because of their adverse effect on soils. Similar considerations may affect the future expansion of chemical fertilizers in Pakistan.
Pakistani soil is particularly deficient in organic matter. About 80 percent of the fertilizer used in Pakistan consist of nitrogen, 19 percent phosphate and 1 percent potash. Rabi crops constitute about 55 percent and kharif crops 45 percent of the total fertilizer consumption.
Sindh consumes the largest quantity of fertilizer per hectare at 166 kilograms, followed by Punjab at 113 kilograms, the NWFP at 70 kilograms and Balochistan at 53 kilograms. The production of chemical fertilizers in Pakistan has increased from 11500 nutrient tonnes actual nutrient content to 714000 tonnes in 1997-8. However, consumption is still more than production so that 25 percent of the fertilizer consumed has to be imported.
In 1951-2, chemical fertilizers were virtually unknown in Pakistan. Since then, there has been a rapid increase in the quantity of chemical fertilizers used by farmers. At least initially, the government had to fight the fear and prejudice of farmers who were reluctant to use them. The government also had to subsidize the purchase of chemical fertilizers in order to popularize them. The subsidy was withdrawn in 1996-7.
The consumption of fertilizer per hectare has substantially increased from 15 kilograms in 1970-1 to 115 kilograms in 1997-8. The consumption has increased largely because of lower crop yields and the heavier requirements of the HYVs of wheat, rice and cotton. Despite this increase, the consumption of fertilizer in Pakistan is less than countries like the Netherlands and Japan. Pakistan's consumption is equal to that of the United States but greater than that of India. It is important to note that western countries are actually cutting down on the use of chemical fertilizers because of their adverse effect on soils. Similar considerations may affect the future expansion of chemical fertilizers in Pakistan.
Pakistani soil is particularly deficient in organic matter. About 80 percent of the fertilizer used in Pakistan consist of nitrogen, 19 percent phosphate and 1 percent potash. Rabi crops constitute about 55 percent and kharif crops 45 percent of the total fertilizer consumption.
Sindh consumes the largest quantity of fertilizer per hectare at 166 kilograms, followed by Punjab at 113 kilograms, the NWFP at 70 kilograms and Balochistan at 53 kilograms. The production of chemical fertilizers in Pakistan has increased from 11500 nutrient tonnes actual nutrient content to 714000 tonnes in 1997-8. However, consumption is still more than production so that 25 percent of the fertilizer consumed has to be imported.
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