NPK 12:61:00 Fertilizer Uses

NPK 12:61:00 is a fully water-soluble, high-phosphorus fertilizer grade (a mono-ammonium-phosphate, MAP-type material) supplying nitrogen and phosphorus (P₂O₅) with no potassium, applied as a foliar spray or through drip fertigation. Fertilizers fall under India's Fertilizer (Control) Order 1985 (FCO), not the Insecticides Act — so unlike the crop-protection technicals on this site, this page is not CIB-registered content. It draws on PAU (Punjab Agricultural University) Package of Practices trial recommendations for MAP fertigation, along with general ICAR guidance for high-phosphorus water-soluble fertilizers. This page lists its role in plant nutrition, key benefits and recommended application.

Which Growth Stage Is This For?

Being high in phosphorus, this grade is generally matched to the early root-establishment/vegetative stage and to flowering initiation, when phosphorus demand for root and flower development is highest. The table below maps common crop groups to the growth stage this grade is typically used at.

Mode of Action / Nutrient Role

NPK 12:61:00 supplies ammonium nitrogen and phosphorus (P₂O₅) in fully water-soluble form. The ammonium form of nitrogen lowers pH slightly in the root zone, which helps make naturally present soil phosphorus more available to the plant alongside the applied phosphorus. Phosphorus itself is central to energy transfer (ATP) within the plant, to root development, and to flower initiation and fertilisation. Because it carries no potassium, this grade is used mainly at the root-establishment/early-vegetative stage and again at flower-initiation, rather than at the fruit-maturation stage where potassium-rich grades are preferred.

Features & Benefits

• Fully water-soluble, high-concentration source of phosphorus with ammonium nitrogen, usable across cereals, field crops, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds and fruit crops.
• PAU Package of Practices-recommended for weekly drip fertigation on Spring Maize.
• Promotes faster and healthier root development and vegetative growth, and supports flowering/fertilisation.
• Improves availability of native soil phosphorus due to the ammonium-driven drop in root-zone pH.
• Suitable for both foliar spray and drip fertigation use.
• Compatible with most insecticides and fungicides for combined tank-mix application in many cases (always confirm compatibility before mixing).

Recommended Usage of NPK 12:61:00 Fertilizer

The table below gives the PAU (Punjab Agricultural University) Package of Practices-recommended fertigation rate for Spring Maize, plus general ICAR-guidance foliar and fertigation ranges for other crops where PAU has not published a separate crop-specific rate for this exact grade.

The Spring Maize fertigation rate above is drawn directly from PAU Package of Practices recommendations for MAP (mono-ammonium phosphate) drip fertigation. The "Other crops" rows are general ICAR-guidance concentration/quantity ranges, since PAU/ICAR do not publish a separate crop-wise fixed-rate table for this exact 12:61:00 grade the way they do for straight fertilizers such as urea or DAP. Always confirm current guidance with your local PAU Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) before finalising a schedule.

How to Use

1. Identify your crop's current growth stage — this grade is best used at root establishment/early vegetative growth and again at flower initiation.
2. For foliar spray, dissolve the required quantity fully in a small amount of water before adding to the spray tank, then top up to the full volume; for fertigation, mix the calculated weekly quantity into the fertigation tank as per your drip system's schedule (e.g. the PAU Spring Maize schedule of 32 kg/acre split across weekly doses from 12 days after sowing through early May).
3. Spray using a knapsack or power sprayer fitted with a fine mist nozzle for uniform leaf coverage, preferably during the early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation and leaf scorch.
4. For fertigation, ensure the drip system is running and delivering water evenly across the field before injecting the fertilizer solution.
5. If tank-mixing with an insecticide or fungicide, do a small jar-compatibility test first to confirm the products mix cleanly.

Precautions & Safety

• Wear basic protective clothing and gloves while mixing and spraying, as a routine precaution for any agricultural input.
• Avoid spraying during peak heat, bright sunshine or on wet foliage, since strong sun after spraying can scorch leaves and reduce nutrient absorption.
• Do not tank-mix with fertilizers or pesticides of incompatible chemical nature (e.g. strongly acidic/alkaline products, or those containing calcium which can precipitate with phosphate) without a jar test first.
• Store in the original, tightly closed container/pack in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, food, feed and out of reach of children and livestock.
• This foliar/fertigation fertilizer is a supplement to, not a replacement for, balanced soil fertilization — follow your local agricultural extension advice on fitting it into your overall soil-nutrition programme.
• Wash hands, face and any exposed skin thoroughly with soap and water after handling or spraying.

Brand names mentioned on this page are registered trademarks of their respective owners and are referenced here for identification purposes only; FarmMate is not affiliated with or endorsed by these brands. This page is for general information only — always consult your local agricultural extension office (PAU Krishi Vigyan Kendra) and confirm current recommendations before use.