Given below are two statements: Statement I: Balanced use of nutrients enhances fertilizer use efficiency. Statement II: Phosphorous use efficiency does not increase with N and K application along with P.

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect

Explanation:
• Statement I is correct: Balanced fertilization refers to the application of essential plant nutrients (N, P, K and micronutrients) in optimum quantities and in the right proportion. This ensures that no single nutrient limits the uptake of others, thereby significantly enhancing Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE).
• Statement II is incorrect: There is a synergistic effect between Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K). Research shows that the efficiency of Phosphorus uptake and utilization by the plant actually increases when applied in conjunction with adequate levels of N and K. Applying P alone in a nutrient-deficient soil often leads to poor recovery rates.
• Balanced nutrition ensures healthy root development (encouraged by P) and vigorous vegetative growth (encouraged by N), leading to a more efficient overall metabolic system in the plant.

Information Booster:
• Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE) for Nitrogen is usually 30-50%, for Phosphorus it is 15-20%, and for Potassium it is 70-80%.
• Liebig’s Law of the Minimum states that growth is controlled not by the total amount of resources available, but by the scarcest resource (limiting factor).
• The ideal N:P:K ratio for cereal crops in India is generally considered to be 4:2:1.

Additional Knowledge:
• Phosphorus is highly immobile in soil, and its efficiency is improved by localized placement (banding) near the root zone.
• Over-application of one nutrient (like N) can lead to 'luxury consumption' or environmental pollution without increasing yield.