CHE139: AGROCHEMICALS

L:2 T:0 P:2 Credits:3

Course Outcomes: Through this course students should be able to

• distinguish different agrochemicals: herbicides, fungicides, insecticides used in

agriculture and their fate and effect on environment.
• observe mode of action and management of fertilizers, pesticides and biopesticides.
• evaluate natural/biological insecticides and biopesticides.
• adapt various methods for estimation of cations and anions present in fertilizer.
• employ knowledge about quantitative chemical analysis of herbicides and pesticides.
• develop experimental skill for determination of chemical composition of agrochemicals.
Unit I
Agrochemicals : introduction of agrochemicals, agrochemicals type, role, merits and demerits of use
in agriculture, effect on environment, soil, human and animal health, management of agrochemicals
for sustainable agriculture.
Unit II
Herbicides & Fungicides : classification, properties, mode of action and fate of important herbicides
and fungicides, inorganic fungicides: characteristics, preparation and use of sulfur and copper,
bordeaux mixture and copper oxychloride, organic fungicides: dithiocarbamates-characteristics,
preparation, use of zineb and maneb, systemic fungicides: benomyl carboxin, oxycarboxin, metalaxyl
carbendazim.
Unit III
Insecticides : introduction and classification, inorganic and organic insecticides, organochlorine,
organophosphates, carbamates, synthetic pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, biorationals, insecticide act and
rules, insecticides banned, withdrawn and restricted use, fate of insecticides in soil & plant.
Unit IV
Fertilizers : importance of fertilizers, nitrogenous fertilizers: feed stocks & manufacturing of
ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, urea, slow release N-fertilizers,
phosphatic fertilizers: feed stock & manufacturing of single superphosphate, preparation of bone meal
and basic slag, potassic fertilizers: natural sources of potash, manufacturing of potassium chloride,
potassium sulphate and potassium nitrate.
Unit V
Mixed and complex fertilizers : sources and compatibility, preparation of major, secondary and
micronutrient mixtures, complex fertilizers manufacturing of ammonium phosphates, nitrophosphates
and NPK complexes, fertilizer control order.
Unit VI
IGRs Biopesticides : reduced risk insecticides, botanicals, plant and animal systemic insecticides
their characteristics and uses, plant bio-pesticides for ecological agriculture, bio-insect repellent,
fertilizer logistics and marketing.

Practicals

Volumetric analysis of acid contents in given sample

1.To standardize a solution of sodium hydroxide using standard solution of oxalic acid and to determine the
strength of a given sample of HCl using standard NaOH solution.
2.To estimate the acid content in a given sample of citrus fruit juice.
Determination of chloride contents in a agrochemical sample
3.To determine chloride ion concentration in a given sample by Mohr’s method.
4. To calculate the amount of chloride ions in a given sample by Volhard method.
5. To estimate the concentration of chloride ions in a given sample of 2,4-D herbicide by Mohr’s method.
6. To estimate the amount of chloride ions in a given sample of pesticide-HCH(1,2,3,4,5,6-
hexachlorocyclohexane) by Volhard method.
Estimation of cations and anions in a given sample of fertilizer
7.To determine the concentration of Na and K ions in a given sample by flame photometry.
8.To determine total nitrogen content in a given sample of diammonium phosphate fertilizer (DAP).
9. To estimate the amount of sulfate present in a given sample of fertilizer.
10.To determine the free Phosphoric acid (as Phosphorus pentoxide) content in a given sample of fertilizer.
Analysis of Bordeaux mixture
11.To determine the strength of copper ions iodometrically in a given sample of Bordeaux mixture.
12. To check the compatibility of Bordeaux mixture in the presence of urea.

Text Books

1. THE COMPLETE TECHNOLOGY BOOK ON PESTICIDES, INSECTICIDES, FUNGICIDES AND HERBICIDES WITH
FORMULAE & PROCESSES by H. PANDA, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH

References:
1. PRINCIPLES OF PESTICIDE CHEMISTRY by S. K. HANDA, AGROBIOS INDIA
2. VOGEL’S QUALITATIVE INORGANIC ANALYSIS by G. SVEHLA, B SIVASANKAR, Pearson Education India