Patiala: Scientists at Punjab Agricultural University’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) here have said farmers could consider alternative fertilisers to the DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) for wheat cultivation.
Gurpreet Singh Sidhu, assistant professor (agronomy) at KVK Patiala, explained that the DAP was primarily used in wheat farming to supply phosphorus – containing 46% phosphorus and 18% nitrogen. He said while other fertilisers could effectively replace the DAP, their application rates might differ.
One suggested alternative is the NPK (12:32:16), which contains 32% phosphorus, 12% nitrogen, and 16% potassium. Farmers can substitute 1.5 bags of the NPK (12:32:16) for one bag of DAP, he said. Additionally, Sidhu suggested that three bags of single superphosphate or one bag of triple superphosphate could also replace one bag of DAP.
Hardeep Singh Sabhikhi, deputy director (training) at KVK Patiala, emphasised that fertiliser application should be based on soil testing results to ensure nutrient needs were accurately met. He highlighted that the NPK (12:32:16) could be a highly effective substitute for the DAP, as 1.5 bags of NPK provided a similar phosphorus and nitrogen content as the DAP, along with an added 23 kg of potassium.