When small bits make a big difference: Fertilizer microdosing in
drylands ICRISAT-HOPE project scientists are promoting the use
of microdosing techniques to farmers in the semi-arid areas
where most soils are deficient in nitrogen and phosphorous. This
soil deficiency results in very low crop productivity and food
insecurity due to the soil infertility and unreliable rains.
Microdosing is a method of fertilizer application that involves
the use of small amounts of fertilizers at planting or after
emergence of the crop to boost nutrient uptake and productivity.
“It involves the use of small doses of fertilizer, normally one
sixth or less of the quantities used in the developed world,”
says Dr Said Silim, Principal Investigator, ICRISAT-HOPE
project. The technique allows resource poor farmers to apply
small, affordable and efficient amounts of fertilizer to their
impoverished land for improved soil health and crop production.
The fertilizer is placed next to the crop resulting in better
utilization. Majority of