UAF develops models for prediction of correct fertilizer doses: VC

"University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) has developed models for correct prediction of fertilizer doses for any land as balanced use of Fertilizers can increase production of major crops upto 50 percent." This was stated by UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan during a media briefing about the models developed by UAF held at the Punjab Agriculture House here on Thursday.
Dr Iqrar informed that in Punjab province 80 to 90 percent soils have become phosphorus deficient due to which agriculture production has decreased considerably. These models have been developed as a result of hard work and efforts of Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan with the co-operation of Agriculture department. The USAID and ICARDA are providing financial and technical support to communicate information about these models to the farmers.
Dr Muhammad Rashid, member of team which developed models informed media that balanced use of nitrogen and phosphorus Fertilizers for wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane and maize crops could give additional income up to 260 billion rupees per annum.
Revealing declining trend of use of phosphorus fertilizer, he informed that average use of phosphorus fertilizer had increased from 26 kg per hectare in 2004-05 to 41 kg per hectare in 2006-07, but again came down to 26 kg per hectare in 2011-12 due to price hike of Fertilizers.