Crop Fertilizer Calculator
Get ICAR-recommended NPK fertilizer doses for 25+ crops — rice, wheat, maize, sugarcane, cotton, potato, tomato, banana, mustard, soybean, and more. Select your crop, soil fertility level, and field area to get exact Urea + DAP + MOP quantities with a complete split application schedule.
Fertilizer Options for Rice (Paddy) — 1.00 ha
DAP + Urea + MOP
Standard recommendation using DAP for phosphorus. Most widely used combination across India.
| Fertilizer | per ha | Total | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAP | 108.7 kg | 108.7 kg | ₹2,935 |
| Urea | 174.9 kg | 174.9 kg | ₹1,137 |
| MOP | 83.3 kg | 83.3 kg | ₹1,417 |
| Total | 366.9 kg | 366.9 kg | ₹5,488 |
SSP + Urea + MOP
SSP also supplies 11% sulphur and 19% calcium. Ideal for oilseeds, pulses, and sulphur-deficient soils.
| Fertilizer | per ha | Total | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSP | 312.5 kg | 312.5 kg | ₹2,188 |
| Urea | 217.4 kg | 217.4 kg | ₹1,413 |
| MOP | 83.3 kg | 83.3 kg | ₹1,417 |
| Total | 613.2 kg | 613.2 kg | ₹5,017 |
10-26-26 Complex + Urea
Single complex fertilizer for basal application; reduces number of bags and labour.
| Fertilizer | per ha | Total | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-26-26 | 192.3 kg | 192.3 kg | ₹5,385 |
| Urea | 175.6 kg | 175.6 kg | ₹1,141 |
| Total | 367.9 kg | 367.9 kg | ₹6,526 |
17-17-17 + Top-dress Urea
Balanced complex fertilizer. Good where N, P, K deficiencies are equal.
| Fertilizer | per ha | Total | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17-17-17 | 294.1 kg | 294.1 kg | ₹7,353 |
| Urea | 108.7 kg | 108.7 kg | ₹707 |
| Total | 402.8 kg | 402.8 kg | ₹8,059 |
Application Schedule — DAP + Urea + MOP
| Application | Timing | Fertilizers (kg/ha → total) |
|---|---|---|
| Basal (at transplanting) | At transplanting | DAP: 108.7 kg/ha(108.7 kg total)Urea: 87.4 kg/ha(87.4 kg total)MOP: 41.7 kg/ha(41.7 kg total) |
| 1st Top-dress | Active tillering (21–25 DAT) | Urea: 43.7 kg/ha(43.7 kg total) |
| 2nd Top-dress | Panicle initiation (45–50 DAT) | Urea: 43.7 kg/ha(43.7 kg total)MOP: 41.7 kg/ha(41.7 kg total) |
ICAR Fertilizer Dose Chart for Major Crops
Standard NPK recommendations (kg/ha) for medium soil fertility — the most common starting point across Indian agro-climatic zones:
| Crop | N (kg/ha) | P₂O₅ (kg/ha) | K₂O (kg/ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Transplanted) | 120 | 60 | 40 |
| Wheat (HYV irrigated) | 120 | 60 | 40 |
| Maize (Hybrid) | 150 | 75 | 50 |
| Sugarcane (plant) | 250 | 100 | 120 |
| Cotton (Hybrid) | 150 | 75 | 75 |
| Soybean | 30 | 60 | 40 |
| Potato | 180 | 100 | 120 |
| Tomato | 150 | 100 | 100 |
| Mustard | 100 | 50 | 40 |
| Groundnut | 25 | 50 | 50 |
| Banana | 200 | 60 | 200 |
| Onion | 120 | 60 | 60 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate fertilizer for a specific crop?
Select your crop from the dropdown in the Crop Recommendation tab. The calculator auto-fills ICAR-recommended N, P₂O₅, and K₂O values for medium soil fertility. Enter your field area in any unit (hectare, acre, bigha, guntha). You get exact Urea, DAP, MOP quantities in kg and bags, plus a split application schedule showing what to apply at each crop growth stage.
What is the fertilizer recommendation for rice per hectare?
ICAR recommendation for paddy rice under medium soil fertility: 120 kg N + 60 kg P₂O₅ + 40 kg K₂O per hectare. Translates to: DAP 130 kg/ha (basal) + Urea 210 kg/ha (3 splits: 50% at transplanting, 25% at tillering, 25% at panicle initiation) + MOP 67 kg/ha (basal). For high-yielding varieties or transplanted irrigated rice, doses may increase to 150-60-40.
What fertilizer is recommended for wheat?
Wheat (HYV varieties, irrigated): 120-60-40 kg/ha N-P-K. Apply at sowing: All DAP (130 kg/ha) + All MOP (67 kg/ha) + 50% Urea (130 kg/ha). At first irrigation (Crown root initiation, 20-25 DAS): 25% Urea (65 kg/ha). At second irrigation (Jointing, 40-45 DAS): 25% Urea (65 kg/ha). Rainfed wheat: 80-40-20 kg/ha N-P-K.
How much fertilizer does sugarcane need?
Sugarcane is a high-nutrient crop needing 250-100-120 kg/ha N-P₂O₅-K₂O for a 12-month crop. Using DAP route: DAP 217 kg/ha (basal) + Urea 456 kg/ha (4-5 splits over the season) + MOP 200 kg/ha (2 splits). Cost per hectare is significantly higher than cereals. Ratoon sugarcane requires 80% of plant crop dose.
What is the fertilizer dose for potato?
Potato: 180-100-120 kg/ha N-P₂O₅-K₂O. Potato has high potassium requirement for tuber quality and starch content. Half the N + full P + full K at planting; remaining N at earthing up (30-35 days). Recommended fertilizers: DAP 217 kg/ha + Urea 310 kg/ha + MOP 200 kg/ha. Total fertilizer cost ~₹25,000-35,000/ha.
Is this calculator based on ICAR recommendations?
Yes — crop NPK values in this calculator are based on ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) recommendations for major Indian crops under medium soil fertility. These are the same recommendations published by state agriculture departments and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Always adjust based on your specific soil test report — soil test-based fertilization can save 20-30% on fertilizer costs.
What is split application of fertilizers?
Split application means dividing the total fertilizer dose into 2-4 smaller doses applied at different crop growth stages instead of applying all at once. Benefits: (1) Reduces N losses via leaching and volatilization by 15-30%. (2) Matches nutrient supply with crop demand. (3) Reduces toxicity risk. (4) Increases nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Phosphorus and Potassium are usually applied fully as basal; Nitrogen is always split.