The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued an order further amending the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, to include specifications for several new biostimulant products.
The Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Fourth Amendment Order, 2025, which came into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette (May 26th, 2025), introduces new entries in Schedule VI, Part A, which outlines the “Specifications of Biostimulants”.
Key Additions to the Biostimulant Specifications
The amendment adds specifications for the following new biostimulant categories and products:
Humic and Fulvic Acid and their derivatives: This includes liquid and granular forms of Humic Acid with varying concentrations (6% Liquid, 1.5% Granules) and a liquid and powder form of Humic and Fulvic acid mixture (25.05% Liquid, 76% Powder). Specific compositions, specifications (including parameters like Humic acid content, Total Organic Carbon, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), recommended crops (Tomato, Chilli), and dosage are provided for each.
Seaweed Extract: New liquid formulations of seaweed extracts derived from Ascophyllum nodosum (7%) and Kappaphycus alvarezii (7.2% and 9.5%) are included, along with a liquid mixture of Kappaphycus alvarezii and Sargassum swartzii (1:1). Composition, specifications (including Total dissolved solids, Alginic acid/Carrageenan content, Total organic carbon, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), target crops (Tomato, Cucumber, Paddy), and dosage are specified.
Botanical Extract: A liquid extract of Spirulina (10%) and a liquid extract of Adhatoda vasica (2%) are added with details on their composition, specifications (including Protein content, Vasicine ppm, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), and recommended crops (Chilli, Tomato) with dosage.
Mixed formulations of Biostimulants: Several new liquid and powder mixtures are now included, such as a mixture of seaweed extract and algal extract, a blend of seaweed extract, humic and fulvic acid, amino acids, and vitamins, a mixture of antioxidants and vitamins (powder), and various combinations of humic acid and seaweed extract in liquid and powder forms, as well as granules. A liquid mixture of botanical extract (Musa acuminata) and seaweed extract (Sargassum tenerrimum) is also specified. Each mixture has defined compositions, specifications (covering parameters like Alginic acid, Amino acid content, Total organic carbon, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), target crops (Brinjal, Cotton, Tomato), and dosage recommendations.
Protein hydrolysates and Amino Acids: A significant number of new liquid and powder-based protein hydrolysate and amino acid products from both animal and plant sources are included. These specifications detail the source of the hydrolysate (e.g., animal hair and skin, soybean, maize, microbial fermentation), amino acid content, other compositional elements, specifications (including Free amino acids, Total organic carbon, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), target crops (Green gram, Soybean, Cucumber, hot pepper, Tomato, Chilli, Paddy), and dosage. A Vinasse residue (Glutamic acid 18%) liquid and a bacterial biomass hydrolysate (Amino acids 2%) liquid are also specified.
Cell free microbial products: Specifications for a liquid Lipo-chitooligosaccharides from Escherichia coli and a powder Lipase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae are added, outlining their composition, specifications (including LCO content, Lipase U/g, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), and target crop (Paddy) with dosage. Importantly, these are noted as containing “No live microbe”.
Live Microorganisms: The order includes specifications for a microbial cell (Methylococcus capsulatus) powder and a microbial consortium (Methylobacterium symbioticum and Methylobacterium extrorquens) powder, detailing their composition, specifications (including cfu/g, Bulk density, pH, and Solubility), and target crops (Paddy, Maize, Onion) with dosage.
Bio-chemicals: A liquid formulation of 2-Bromo-(1H)-Indole-3-Carboxaldehyde (1ppm) is added with its composition, specifications (including content, Organic carbon, Specific gravity, pH, and Solubility), target crop (Tomato), and dosage.
Amendment to Tolerance Limit:
In Part B, “Tolerance limit”, the order also introduces tolerance limits for the total viable count of Methylococcus capsulatus and the consortium of Methylobacterium symbioticum and Methylobacterium extrorquens in biostimulant formulations.
This amendment to the Fertiliser Control Order reflects the government’s ongoing efforts to regulate the quality and standards of biostimulants in the agricultural sector, ensuring that farmers have access to effective and standardized products for enhancing crop yield and soil health.
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