Use alkaine water and Saline soils for cultivation

Development of VC-10

Pakistan is facing the serious problem of water logging and salinity. Gypsum is used for reclamation of sodic soils: sulphuric acid is used as soil reclament for the calcareous soils and for irrigation water having high bicarbonates but the hazards to personnel have restricted its use. Gypsum is normally recommended as soil reclament, which is slow reactive in nature and also contains carbonates, which is not good for alkaline soil health.

NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research (IE&FR) carried out series of experiments to handle sulphuric acid safely. Results revealed that a new liquid soil reclaiming agent could be developed which is based on sulphuric acid and organic-N.

This liquid fertilizer can greatly reduce the corrosive action on human tissue without neutralizing any of the acidity of sulphuric acid. It is based on sulphuric acid and urea. The chemical bonding of these compounds results in a product with excellent properties, which can offer the grower a tool that can be used as an acidifying amendment, as well as, a nitrogen fertilizer (Anonymous, 2001). Characteristics of product are given below:-
Physical Properties
Matter state = Liquid
Density = 1.6-1.7
pH = Less than 1
- Corrosive nature
- Tolerable to human tissues. A mild skin irritation may occur after prolonged skin contact.
- Harmful if contact with a cut or sore on skin.

Chemical Analysis
pH = Less than 1
organic-Nitrogen = 8-10 %
Sulphur = 28-30 %
Safety
- Use plenty of water to flush the effected area.
- Protect eyes with goggles. Contact to doctor at the earliest.
- Recommended to wear rubber protection equipment i.e., foot wear, gloves etc.
Pleasing Benefits of VC-10
- VC-10 is acidifying amendment, as well as a nitrogen fertilizer.
- VC-10 virtually climate the corrosive action on human tissues with minimal neutralizing of acidity of sulphur based acid (Anonymous, 2001).
- It is recognized as a fast, effective soil reclaiming agent for sodic soils.
- It reacts immediately with no free time in the soil.
- It can be broadcasted on the soil as a pre-plant application, injected as a side dressing application, water run and can be used in drip irrigation systems.
- It can readily mix with phosphoric acid and liquid zinc sulphate etc.
- It can be used to control high bicarbonates/ carbonates in irrigation water (Anonymous, 2001).

Agronomic Interests
VC-10 adjust the high water pH and high bi-carbonates, thereby adjusting the soil pH and eliminating toxic Sodium level and high salts in soil. The regular application of VC-10 will bring the water alkalinity down to a more acceptable average pH of between 6.5 and 6.8. By lowering the water pH, the soil pH falls for a instant accordingly, and the nutrients bound at high pH range in the soil become soluble (Anonymous, 2001).
Demand of VC-10
VC-10 is highly acidic and also provides spoon feeding of nitrogen. Keeping in view the importance of VC-10, it was introduced to progressive farmers. They requested for its supply (5.3 tonnes). VC-10 was prepared at Lab. Scale and supplied to different progressive farmers for field trials. The results so far achieved are very encouraging.

Economics

By using of VC-10 up to 50 % of Urea / CAN saving is confirmed.



For More Information and details contact:


Muhammad Naqushband
92-03006303298