Single super phosphate has a phosphatic content to the extent of 16 per cent as against 46 per cent in DAP.

But in terms of cost, SSP is selling at around Rs 2500 per tonne as against Rs 8300 per tonne in case of DAP. And most of the SSP manufacturing units are located in Rajasthan, thus reducing the transport cost.

If SSP is used in place of DAP the quantity has got to be three-times. If used in the proper quantities, the yield will not fall, says PM Agarwal, Director of Agriculture. However, the farmers continue to have a fancy for DAP only, admits Agarwal.

The use of SSP in place of DAP is advantageous as the sulphur content is useful in case of acidic soils. The sowings of oilseeds and the yield have improved if SSP is put to use, confirms Agarwal.

Agarwal says that hisdepartment has taken up a number of measures to propagate the use of SSP and the response has been positive. Field demonstrations have been organised at number of places to tell the farmers about the advantages.

The DAP shortage is put at around 80,000 tonnes in Rajasthan if both kharif and rabi crops are taken into account. The rabi crop needs about 2 lakh tonnes of DAP whereas during the kharif season the demand is put at around 2.10 lakh tonnes. In the kharif this year the shortage of DAP was put at around 30,000 tonnes.

At the end of December this year the DAP will be available to the tune of 1.35 lakh tonnes as against the demand of 1.85 lakh tonnes.

The use of DAP is needed at the time of sowings if its full advantages are to be taken. Its availability after December will not be of much use, says the Director.

In fact the kharif shortfall (of DAP) is also used in the mustard crop during the rabi season. The mustard sowings are done from October onwards.The main rabi crops in Rajasthan are ofwheat, gram and mustard.

Last year 67 lakh tonnes of wheat was produced in Rajasthan from a total area of 26.90 lakh hectares. And gram was sown in 22.14 lakh hectares with the production put at 19.25 lakh tonnes.

Though mustard has covered a total area of 28.12 lakh hectares, the production was low at 20.41 lakh tonnes.

According to Agarwal, the low yield was due to the crop having been damaged due to some diseases.