Why does the Government of India promote the use of 'Neem-coated Urea'

Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?

[amp_mcq option1=”Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms” option2=”Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil” option3=”Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into atmosphere by crop fields” option4=”It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops” correct=”option2″]

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2016

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The primary reason the Government promotes Neem-coated Urea is that the coating slows down the release of nitrogen from the urea into the soil.

Neem coating acts as a nitrification inhibitor. It slows down the conversion of urea into ammonium nitrate and then into nitrates by soil bacteria. This process makes nitrogen available to plants over a longer period, reduces nitrogen loss through leaching and volatilization, and increases nitrogen use efficiency by crops.

– By slowing down nitrification, Neem-coated Urea also helps reduce the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas produced during the nitrification and denitrification processes in soil. So, while it doesn’t *eliminate* N2O release entirely, it reduces it compared to uncoated urea.
– Increased nitrogen efficiency means farmers need less urea, saving costs and reducing environmental impact.
– Neem has certain pest repellent properties, which might offer minor benefits, but the main purpose of coating urea with neem oil is to control the rate of nitrogen release.

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