IPL Pushes Balanced Fertilisation for Dairy Sustainability
P.S. Gahlaut, Managing Director of Indian Potash Limited (IPL), has emphasized balanced fertilisation as a cornerstone for sustainable dairy farming. The method involves applying both mineral and organic fertilisers in precise proportions tailored to soil and crop needs, aiming to enhance fodder crop production and overall soil health.
According to research cited by IPL, this combined fertiliser use can boost crop yields by 25–40%, increase soil organic carbon by over 110%, and nearly double nitrogen content (≈ 60% increase). These gains are intended to improve fodder quality, livestock health, and milk productivity.
To support these goals, IPL is advocating for innovation: precision agriculture tools (AI-driven sensors, remote sensing, data analytics), digital tracking (including blockchain), and manure recycling. These are intended to reduce fertiliser overuse, manage costs, reduce environmental pollution (runoff, greenhouse gas emissions), and increase transparency.
However, Gahlaut notes practical barriers: fragmented landholdings, high costs, complexity of technology, lack of rural infrastructure, and limited digital literacy among farmers. He argues that multi-stakeholder cooperation, policy incentives, and robust training programs are needed for widespread adoption.
Industry Insights
Balanced fertilisation addresses a critical link in the dairy value chain: soil health → fodder quality → animal health → milk output. Where soils are nutrient-deficient, even well-managed dairy farms struggle on yield and quality. IPL’s emphasis is well timed, as soil organic carbon in India has reportedly fallen from ~1% (70 years ago) to ~0.3% today, indicating long-term fertility loss.
From an economic angle, precise fertiliser use coupled with newer technologies could help farmers reduce input costs just as fertiliser prices are volatile globally. For dairy, which has high feed/fodder input requirements, these savings could improve margins.
On the sustainability front, reduced environmental externalities (less runoff, lower emissions) and better traceability (via digital tools) align project outcomes with consumer demand for “green dairy” products. This could become a differentiator in both domestic premium markets and export markets.
For scale, policy support is key: subsidies or incentives for precision tools, infrastructure (e.g. soil testing labs), and training are likely to influence how fast these practices are adopted. IPL’s advocacy for public-private partnerships and farmer empowerment suggests a pathway to scaling.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Oct 10th 2025 ANI