Chennai scientist develops drought resistant plant nutrients

A city-based agriculture scientist has come out with two patented plant nutrients which he says can help farmers save their crops at times of drought and increase yields.

The two plant growth nutrients  — Allwin Wonder and Allwin Top, have been developed by Dr S Sundaresan. "We can show an increase in the yield of up to 20 per cent in crops like rice, wheat, vegetables, cotton and pulses with the use of the nutrients," Sundaresan said.

He said the nutrients would stimulate root growth and overall vigour of the plant and help it absorb all available nutrients in the soil which could save the crop during drought.

After obtaining the patent, Sundaresan has tied up with city-based agro solutions company Sree Ramcides Pvt Ltd for commercial production.

The company has approached Union Agriculture Ministry for inclusion of the two products under the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO) to distribute them through the network of distributors. "For this we have to get the nod of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research," company Managing Director R Padmanabhan said.

At present, the company has obtained a temporary registration from the government on the basis of direct orders for the nutrients from the farmers, Sundaresan said.

The products are under trial at over 12 agricultural universities and other institutions, including four in Punjab, three in Tamil Nadu, and two in Andhra Pradesh.

Sundaresan, who has two more patented products related to agriculture field to his credit, claimed while foliar spray nutrients had been developed by some multinationals, this was the first time a heterocyclic nitrogen had been used.

Allwin Wonder, a soil application variant, is used in the initial stages of a crop along with other fertilisers while Allwin Top, a foliar application, is mixed in water and sprayed 25 days after sowing.

Both the variants are priced around Rs 300 per kg, Padmanabhan said, claiming the minimum cost benefit to the farmers would be in 1:10 ratio.