India to become Aatmanirbhar in Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)

Context

As part of the Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative to promote self-sufficiency in Fertilisers, Government of India has been advising and supporting the Indian fertiliser companies to strengthen their backend supply chain.

About

Diammonium phosphate (DAP):

Diammonium phosphate (DAP) is the world’s most widely used phosphorus fertilizer.
It is a preferred fertilizer in India because it contains both Nitrogen and Phosphorus which are primary macro-nutrients and part of 18 essential plant nutrients.
Fertilizer grade DAP Contains 18% Nitrogen and 46% Phosphorus (P2O5).
DAP is manufactured by reacting Ammonia with Phosphoric acid under controlled conditions in fertilizer plants.

Properties:

It is a very popular fertilizer because of its excellent physical properties and nutrient content.
It is free flowing, dust-free and does not normally give any storage problem.
DAP is almost water-soluble and ultimately leaves acid effect on soils because of ammonia (NH4) it contains.
DAP on incorporation into soil, reacts with water and gets converted into HPO4 and NH4.
Ammonium (NH4) follows the same routes as in case of urea.
Phosphorus in DAP is present in best available from (HPO4).
Depending upon the soil reaction (pH), phosphorus exists in 3 forms which can be absorbed by plant roots.
These are HPO4, H2PO4 and PO4. Phosphorus, which is immobile in soil, is not subjected to leaching losses.

Non-Agricultural Use:

DAP also acts as a fire retardant.
For example, a mixture of DAP and other ingredients can be spread in advance of a fire to prevent a forest from burning. It then becomes a nutrient source after the danger of fire has passed.
DAP is used in various industrial processes, too, such as metal finishing.
It is commonly added to wine to sustain yeast fermentation and to milk to produce cheese cultures.