Agri varsity VC cautions against urea abuse

A farmer spreads urea fertiliser on a potato crop field, in Lucknow
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Excessive usage of urea will not yield any additional output, but it could lead to health problems, according to Prof. Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University (PTAU) Vice-Chancellor Aldus Janaiah.

“After analysing the recent data that we collected from various districts, we found that some farmers are using 50-100 per cent more urea than required. There is a misconception among farmers that excessive use of urea can yield additional gains. This is unfounded,” he said.

Instead of yielding additional benefits, it can even lead to chemical residues in the produce. “This could cause health problems for consumers, besides polluting the soil and reducing the grain quality,” he said here in a statement on Sunday.

Citing studies, he said that the abuse of urea would adversely affect plant immunity, leading to pest and disease incidence.

Stating that nitrogen was essential for plants, he asked the farmers to use urea judiciously to protect the interests of all.
He felt that the low cost of urea compared to other fertilisers was a reason why farmers used it excessively.

Published on January 4, 2026