In news- Due to a hike in fertiliser prices by the companies, the government announced an increase in subsidy for di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers from Rs 500 per bag (50-kg) to Rs 1,200 per bag.
About DAP-
- Diammonium phosphate is one of a series of water-soluble ammonium phosphate salts that can be produced when ammonia reacts with phosphoric acid.
- When applied as fertilizer, it temporarily increases the soil pH, but over a long term the treated ground becomes more acidic than before upon nitrification of the ammonium.
- It is incompatible with alkaline chemicals because its ammonium ion is more likely to convert to ammonia in a high-pH environment.
- The average pH in solution is 7.5–8.
- DAP can be used as a fire retardant as it lowers the combustion temperature of the material, thus has important effects in fighting wildfires.
- It is also used as a yeast nutrient in winemaking and bread-making.
- It is an additive in some brands of cigarettes purportedly as a nicotine enhancer.
- It is used in purifying sugar, as a flux for soldering tin, copper, zinc and brass.
- The compound occurs in nature as the exceedingly rare mineral phosphammite, related to guano deposits.
Source: Indian Express
