Every farmer utilizes fertilisers on their farm with the hope of good and profitable yields. It's therefore essential for one to be able to spot fake fertilizers within the market and avoid poor yields.
In agriculture, farmers have to invest the most on chemical fertilizers or manure. The cost of fertilizer is the highest compared to tillage, seed and irrigation. Even though efforts are being made to promote organic farming in the country, but the fact cannot be denied that there is not enough availability of organic fertilizers in the country so that farmers can do full farming due to this only.
That is why farmers have to apply chemical fertilizers like DAP, Zinc Sulphate, Urea and MOP to the fields every year to get good yield. For this reason the demand for chemical fertilizers is always there. The adulterers take advantage of this aspect and make a big deal to the farmers by selling spurious or substandard manure. There are two main avenues for the farmers to avoid such fraud and forgery.
Understanding Authentic Fertilizers
Authentic fertilizers are formulated based on scientific research and contain specific nutrients in balanced proportions to meet the needs of different crops at various growth stages. These fertilizers undergo rigorous quality control measures and are typically produced by reputable manufacturers who adhere to industry standards and regulations.
Types of Fake Fertilizers
- Adulterated packages:
Fake fertilizers often contain cheap fillers or inferior ingredients that dilute the nutrient content, reducing their efficiency.
- Counterfeit Packaging:
Some counterfeiters replicate the packaging of popular fertilizer brands to make buyers believe they are purchasing genuine products.
- Poor labelling:
Fake fertilizers may have misleading labels that claim higher nutrient concentrations or additional benefits than the actual truth.
- Expired or Spoiled:
Inauthentic fertilizers may be expired or contaminated, rendering them ineffective or harmful to plants.
Methods for Spotting Fake Fertilizers
- Check for Brand Authenticity:
Purchase fertilizers from reputable suppliers or authorized dealers to minimize the risk of buying counterfeit products. Verify the authenticity of the brand by checking for official seals, holograms, or unique identifiers on the packaging.
- Inspect Packaging Quality:
Authentic fertilizers are packaged using high-quality materials with clear printing and labeling. Look for signs of poor printing quality, spelling errors, or inconsistencies in the packaging design, which may indicate counterfeit products.
- Urea analysis:
First check whether its grains are white, shiny and uniformly round? The second test should be done for its solubility. If urea is real, it will dissolve easily in water and there will be a slight coolness on touching the solution. For the third type of test, urea granules should be put on a hot pan. If it starts melting as soon as it falls on the pan and when the flame is high, there is no residue left on the pan, then understand that urea is real. But if the grains swell after heating on a low flame, then it should be assumed that urea is fake or adulterated.
- Check DAP correctness:
After urea in chemical fertilizers, the fertilizer that farmers use the most is DAP i.e. Di-ammonium phosphate. After urea, the most chemical fertilizer used in crops is DAP. The grains of DAP are hard, brown, black and almond in colour. Rubbing some of its grains on the palm like a khaini gives out a very pungent odour, which is helpless to smell. Under the second test method, if the granules of DAP are put on a slow-heating pan, then the granules of the original DAP swell.
- Monitor Plant Responsiveness:
Observe the growth and health of crops after applying fertilizers. Authentic products should promote healthy plant growth, improved yield, and enhanced resistance to diseases and pests. Any adverse effects or lack of response may indicate the use of fake fertilizers.
- Test for genuine super phosphate:
The use of super phosphate is also very high in fields and crops. Its grains are hard, grainy, brownish-black and almond in colour. It does not break when you break it with nails. Superphosphate is a powder or a powder-like form. If it is real that by heating it on the pan, its grains do not swell. This means that if the grains of super phosphate swell on heating, then understand that you have been cheated by the shopkeeper.
- Check Expiry Date:
Always check the expiry date on fertilizer packaging and avoid using expired products, as they may have degraded in quality or potency over time.
Distinguishing between fake and authentic fertilizers requires diligence, attention to detail, and awareness of common counterfeiting practices. Remember, genuine fertilizer when applied to your farm will lead to improvement of the soil health, your crops will grow vigorously and you will get the best harvest for higher profits.
Distinguishing between fake and authentic fertilizers requires diligence, attention to detail, and awareness of common counterfeiting practices. Remember, genuine fertilizer when applied to your farm will lead to improvement of the soil health, your crops will grow vigorously and you will get the best harvest for higher profits.
