Context:
Government to explore Potash mining in Punjab.
Potash:
- An impure combination of potassium carbonate and potassium (K) salts.
- Principal Ore – Sylvinite.
- Uses –
- Agriculture – Over 90% of potash is used as fertilizer, making it one of the 3 primary nutrients in agriculture, alongside nitrogen and phosphorus (N-P-K).
- Purification of Water – Potash alum removes hardness of water and has anti-bacterial properties.
- Industrial Uses – Used in manufacturing of glass ceramics, soaps and detergents, explosives, etc.
- Common Types of Potash Fertilizers –
- Sulphate of Potash (SOP) – Free of chloride (a compound considered harmful to plants); used primarily on high-value crops, usually leafy plants, fruits and vegetables.
- Muriate of Potash (MOP) – Contains some chloride; commonly used on carbohydrate-type crops, such as wheat
- Potash Derived from Molasses (PDM) – A 100% indigenous fertilizer under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) scheme.
Potash in India:
- Critical Mineral Status – Potash is classified as a critical mineral under “The Mines & Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment (MMDR) Act, 2023”.
- Deposits – Rajasthan,Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
- Punjab is now the 2nd state after Rajasthan to have significant potash reserves
- Import – India meets 100% of its potash requirement through imports
- Auctioning rights & royalties – Although the central government has the auctioning rights for minerals, states receive royalties upon their extraction.
Source: IE
Previous Year Question
With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:
1. At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
2. Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
3. Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services – 2020 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b)