Trends and Pattern in use of Different Fertilisers in West Bengal

There is no doubt in the fact that consumption of fertilisers in West Bengal has increased manifolds over the years. This has particularly in response to the need to replenish soil deficiencies and nutrient drainage associated with spread of improved varieties of rice, wheat and vegetables cultivation in the state. It is evident that during the period from 1980–81 to 2003–04 proportion of rice area under HYVs has increased consistently from 29.60 per cent in 1980–81 to 91.75 per cent in 2010–11. At the same time, increase in the availability or irrigation, especially groundwater irrigation, has created desired environment for further increase in application of fertilisers to achieve higher yield. The end result is that the yield of paddy positively influenced consumption of fertiliser i.e. yield rise too with the rise in consumption of fertiliser. The total consumption of chemical fertilisers (N, P and K) in the state has increased from 1.62 lakh tones in 1977–78 to 2.8 lakh tones in 1980–81, 6.5 lakh tones in 1988–89, 6.7 lakh tones in 1989–90 and 7.5 lakh tones in 1991–92. Nevertheless, it has been observed that consumption of fertiliser negatively influenced ratio of price of fertiliser nutrient to crop i.e. consumption of fertiliser decreases too with the rise in ratio of price of fertiliser nutrient to crop price.