PETROCHEMICALS ASSIGNMENT ON AGROCHEMICALS

By, V.KAILASH (2011307013) B.KALANITHI (2011307014) R.KARTHICK (2011307015) M.KARTHIKEYAN (2011307016)

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION: WHY WE NEED CHEMICALS IN AGRICULTURE? TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS: HISTORY OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS: THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS: HOW WILL A NEW AGROCHEMICAL DO TO THE PEOPLE? COUNTRIES AND THEIR AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT: LIMITATIONS OF USING AGROCHEMICALS: CONCLUSION:

Introduction:
Agrochemicals contraction of agricultural chemical, is a generic term for the various chemical products used in agriculture. In most cases, agrichemical refers to the broad range of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. It may also include synthetic fertilizers, hormones and other chemical growth agents, and concentrated stores of raw animal manure. Many agrichemicals are

toxic, and agrichemicals in bulk storage may pose significant environmental and/or health risks, particularly in the event of accidental spills. In many countries, use of agrichemicals is highly regulated. Government-issued permits for purchase and use of approved agrichemicals may be required. Significant penalties can result from misuse, including improper storage resulting in spillage. On farms, proper storage facilities and labeling, emergency clean-up equipment and procedures, and safety equipment and procedures for handling, application and disposal are often subject to mandatory standards and regulations. Usually, the regulations are carried out through the registration process.

Why we need chemicals in agriculture?

Many farmers choose to use chemicals to keep weeds and pests from destroying their crops and to add more nutrients to the soil. There are three different kinds of pesticides; herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. All three of these pesticides are used to kill different kinds of pests that can be found on a farm. Farmers that make the decision not to use any chemicals are called organic farmers.

Plants need nutrients in order to grow on a farm. Nutrients such as carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are always available to the plants. Unfortunately, nutrients that the plants also need such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium can run out. To put more of these nutrients back into the soil many farmers will add fertilizers. Replacing these nutrients back into the soil with fertilizers can help the growth of the plant, which then increases the crop yield on the farm. Because insects make up 3/4 of all species on earth, they can be a big problem on a farm. Insects such as worms and beetles can infest a crop and destroy it. To keep this from happening many farmers will spray their crops with insecticides. Insectisides are strong chemicals that will kill the insects that will harm the crop without killing the actual crop. One of the biggest concerns for farmers is weed control . When weeds grow in farmland they can damage the crops and decrease the crop yeild of the farm. To get rid of the weeds without killing the crop many farmers spray their fields with herbicides. Herbicides are also made up of strong chemicals.

Types of Agricultural chemicals:

Agricultural chemicals are classified as follows:

Insecticides Fungicides Insect-fungicides Herbicides Rodenticides Plant growth regulators Attractants Repellents

Agents for controlling harmful insect pests that damage field crops. Agents for controlling diseases that damage field crops. Agents that simultaneously control harmful insect pests and diseases that damage field crops. Agents for controlling weeds Agents for controlling rats and other rodents Agents to promote or inhibit the growth of field crops. Agents that attract mainly harmful insect pests by odor or other means. Agents for having repellent action on harmful mammals and birds that damage field crops. Agents that are mixed with other agricultural chemicals to enhance the adherence of these chemicals.

Spreaders

History of Agricultural Chemicals:

In Japan, farmers used to walk around the rice paddies in procession yelling, with drums, alarm bells, torches to drive away rice bugs. This is called "mushi-oi" or "mushi-okuri" (meaning driving away noxious insects). In the Edo Era, a new method was invented, in which whale oil was sprayed on rice paddies to destroy harmful insect pests on rice, which was used until the early Showa Era. In the days before World War II, naturally-derived pesticides such as pyrethrums (the same ingredient as that in mosquito coils) and nicotine sulfate (from tobacco), or naturally derived fungicides such as copper and lime sulphur were used. However, weed control depended solely on hand weeding, and this continued until herbicides were developed after the

war. Hand weeding under the scorching sun is very hard labor.Postwar advances in technology saw the advent of chemically synthesized agricultural chemicals, which brought about an increase in crop yield and efficiency in farm work. A weeding time of 50 hours per 10 are in 1949 dropped to approximately 2 hours per 10 are in 1999, showing that herbicides had made the weeding work more efficient.

Process of producing Agrochemicals:

Raw Materials Chlorine, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen, and bromine are most common. Inert ingredients can be many substances, dependent on the type of pesticide. Liquid pesticides have traditionally used kerosene or some other petroleum distillate as a carrier, though water has recently begun to replace kerosene. Emulsifiers (such as soap) are also added to distribute the active ingredient evenly throughout the solvent.

The Manufacturing Process

o Synthesizing the pesticide o Formulating the pesticide o Diluting the pesticide o Applying the pesticide Quality Control Pesticides are by their very nature toxic substances; hence, a great deal of concern has centered on safety.

Steps to Implement a new Chemical In the Agriculture industry:

Manufacturers and importers of agricultural chemicals must apply for registration via the Incorporated Administrative Agency Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, accompanied by the materials to confirm the quality and safety of the relevant agricultural chemicals. This includes various test results concerning the efficacy against diseases and pests, negative effect on crops, toxicity to humans, and residue in crops, etc. It takes approximately 10 years and several billion yen to develop a new agricultural chemical (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Procedures for development & research of a new agricultural chemical

How will a new agrochemical do to the people?

Agricultural chemicals are used in crops for food, and consideration must also be given to their effect on the environment. Sufficient tests should be conducted to ensure the safety of these chemicals and organisms.

Countries and their agricultural Output:

Rank Countries Countries by agricultural output at market exchange rates in 2014 (billions in USD) 986 324 301 104 113 98 90

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

China India U.s Indonesia Brazil Nigeria Russia

Limitations of Using Agrochemicals:

These agricultural chemicals were highly toxic to humans; some caused frequent accidents during use, some were highly residual in crops (crop residue), and some were highly residual in soils. Conclusion:

Thus agrochemicals plays a major role in agriculture industry. Though it has limitations it has enormous advantages so use of agrochemicals makes people work easier.