Chemical Fertiliser (NPK) and Its Importance in Agriculture – A Comprehensive Overview

Agriculture is the foundation of any stable economy. In meeting the domestic requirements of food grains and also generating exportable surpluses, chemical fertilizers played significant role. The excess use of chemical fertilizer has become a serious issue in Kerala since the area of land being cultivated is fixed and very limited. Fertilizers are one of the most important variable factors that can be applied to maximize the production of crops. The consumption of the fertilizer is not alike because of the diverse soil types. The main problem is the higher dependence on chemical fertilizers and this dependence has been increasing day by day. There are specific reasons for the increased uses of chemical fertilizers in Kerala with severe consequences. The present study analyse the problem with the following objectives. • To analyse the importance of fertilizer in agriculture. • To analyse the major factors leading to sharp increase in fertilizer use.