Potash Fertilizer (50 kg Bag): MOP vs SOP, Subsidies & Usage

Key facts

From KisanPe's verified data. Confirm prices and doses with the seller, label or official source before acting.

Suitable crops

Paddy, Wheat, Sugarcane, Cotton

Ideal crop stage

Basal sowing and mid-stage earthing-up / flowering

Common brands

IPL (Indian Potash Limited), IFFCO, Coromandel, RCF Trombay

Forms of Potash: MOP vs SOP Comparison

Because India imports 100% of its agricultural potash requirements, understanding the difference between MOP and SOP is vital for efficient on-farm budget allocation.

MOP (00:00:60) is the standard granular potash fertilizer for field crops, whereas SOP (00:00:50) is a premium, chloride-free formulation utilized for chloride-sensitive horticultural crops.

• Muriate of Potash (MOP 00:00:60): Pinkish-red crystalline or white granules delivering 60% water-soluble K2O
• Sulphate of Potash (SOP 00:00:50): Premium grade delivering 50% K2O and 17.5% sulphur, virtually chlorine-free
• Packaging: Distributed standardly in 50 kg HDPE woven sacks with inner poly liners to resist moisture
• Chloride Sensitivity: Avoid MOP in tobacco, potato, grape, and strawberry cultivation; utilize SOP

Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) & Price Determinants

Unlike Urea, which operates under statutory statutory Maximum Retail Price (MRP) control, P&K fertilizers (including MOP) are governed under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) policy.

Under the NBS policy, the Central Government fixes a per-kilogram subsidy rate on Potash (K) based on global import contract prices and foreign exchange rates, while fertilizer companies declare retail bag prices accordingly.

• NBS Scheme: Direct subsidy provided per kg of nutrient 'K' by the Department of Fertilizers to manufacturing/importing companies
• POS Biometric Sale: Farmers purchase 50 kg bags through Point of Sale (POS) machines using Aadhaar authentication at subsidized rates
• Import Dependency: Price dynamics track global contract negotiations with major international potash producers
• Bill of Sale: Always verify the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) printed on the 50 kg bag and demand a printed POS receipt

Agronomic Roles & Application Best Practices

Potassium does not become a permanent structural part of plant tissues; instead, it functions in ionic form within cell sap, regulating stomatal opening and closing to govern plant water loss during drought.

In cereal crops (wheat, rice, maize), apply 50% of the required potash as a basal dressing at sowing and the remaining 50% during panicle initiation or pre-flowering to enhance test weight and grain lustre.

• Lodging Prevention: Strengthens straw and stalk cell walls, preventing crop lodging under heavy monsoon winds
• Split Application: Split potash doses in light sandy soils to prevent leaching beyond shallow root zones
• Drought Defense: Regulates transpiration to conserve internal plant moisture during heat stress
• Placement: Place basal potash granules 5 cm below and to the side of seed furrows

Related on KisanPe

• Crop Nutrition Hub →
• Fertilizer Calculator →
• Potassium Sulphate Guide →
• Related: MOP (Muriate of Potash 0:0:60) →
• Soil Health Card →
• Ipl Fertilizer: Complete Cultivation Guide for Indian Farmers →
• Bio Potash Fertilizer: Complete Cultivation Guide for Indian Farmers →
• 00 00 50 Fertilizer: Potassium Sulphate Guide for Crop Yield →

Common questions

General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.