Fertilizer use saves fuels in India

Dung supplies are inadequate to provide enough farmyard manure (FYM) and cheap dung-cakes. Use of FYM necessitates supply of other fuels for cooking. Fertilizers consume only 5% of the thermal energy embodied in FYM. Replacement of the currently used amount of FYM by fertilizers will save fuels and costs. If all of the plant nutrients are to be supplied by FYM to a hectare of wheat crop, 2.9 tonnes of coal are needed to replace the dung-cakes lost; fertilizer use will save Rs. 1444/ha. It is suggested that FYM use be minimized and fertilizer use increased for fuel thrift.