Free tool · FCO Schedules I & III
✓ Updated as on October 2026
Every fertiliser in FCO Schedules I & III
176 products from the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985, from urea and DAP to micronutrients, liquid fertilisers and biofertilisers: every notified value and limit, the test method, the tolerance and the Gazette notification, one page per product, each with a lab report checker.
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Straight nitrogenous fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(a) · 11 productsStraight phosphorus fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(b) · 5 productsStraight potassium fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(c) · 7 productsStraight sulphur fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(d) · 3 productsNP complex fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(e) · 14 productsNPK complex fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(f) · 24 productsMicronutrient fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(g) · 29 productsFortified fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(h) · 42 products100% water soluble complex fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(i) · 9 productsBeneficial element fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(j) · 5 productsLiquid fertilisers
Schedule I, Part A, 1(k) · 16 productsBiofertilisers
Schedule III, Part A · 11 productsMore about this list
About this list
India's Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985 sets a specification for every fertiliser that may be made, imported or sold: the nutrients it must contain, its limits and how it is tested. This list brings together every fertiliser specified in Schedule I, Part A (straight and complex fertilisers, micronutrients, fortified, 100% water soluble, beneficial element and liquid fertilisers) and the biofertilisers of Schedule III, Part A.
Each specification was transcribed twice, independently, from the Order as amended up to the Ninth Amendment Order, 2026 (S.O. 4045(E), 22 Jul 2026), and the two readings were compared line by line. Values are shown as notified, including the wording of each line.
Updated as on October 2026; checked for later changes on 20 October 2026. A reference consolidation by NanoKheti, not legal advice; confirm with the Gazette notification before labelling, licensing or buying.
How to read a specification
- Minimum means the product must contain at least this much; maximum means not more than this (moisture, impurities and heavy metals have a maximum).
- Per cent by weight means grams in every 100 g of product: 0.5 per cent zinc is 5 g of zinc in every kg.
- P₂O₅ and K₂O: phosphorus and potassium are declared as their oxides. To get the element, multiply P₂O₅ by 0.436 and K₂O by 0.830.
- ppm (parts per million): 1 ppm is 1 mg in every kg.
- CFU (colony forming units) is the count of live cells in the lab test: 5×107 means 5 crore cells in every gram (or mL, for liquids).
- IP (infective propagules): live spores, fungal threads and colonised root pieces that can start mycorrhiza on a root, counted by the MPN (most probable number) plant test.
- Tolerance: a lab result may fall slightly short of the notified value before the sample is called non-standard; the limits are in Schedule I and Schedule III, Part B.
- S.O. … (E) is the number of the Gazette notification that made a change; “in force” (w.e.f., with effect from) is the date it started to apply.
Recently added
- 16 Jul 2026 · S.O. 3937(E)Potassium Schoenite fortified with Iron and Molybdenum (fortified fertilisers)
- 13 Mar 2026 · S.O. 1335(E)NPK 14-22-14 with Sulphur Zinc and Boron (fortified fertilisers)
- 13 Mar 2026 · S.O. 1335(E)Sulphur with Nitrogen 10-0-0-75 (S) (fortified fertilisers)
- 3 Dec 2025 · S.O. 5575(E)Urea-N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) (straight nitrogenous fertilisers)
- 3 Dec 2025 · S.O. 5575(E)NPK 14:05:21 (npk complex fertilisers)
- 3 Dec 2025 · S.O. 5575(E)NPK 14:14:14 (npk complex fertilisers)
- 3 Dec 2025 · S.O. 5575(E)NPK 20-8-12 (npk complex fertilisers)
- 3 Dec 2025 · S.O. 5575(E)NPK 14:34:14 fortified with Zinc, Boron and Mo (fortified fertilisers)
Tolerance limits (Part B)
Schedule I, Part B (fertilisers): how far a sample may fall short of a declared value.
| No. | Fertiliser | Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Straight Nitrogenous Fertilisers, Straight Phosphatic Fertilisers, Straight Potassic Fertilisers, Straight Sulphur Fertilisers, NP Complex Fertilisers, NPK Complex Fertilisers, Micro Nutrients, 100 percent Water Soluble Complex Fertilisers, Mixture of fertilisers | 0.5 units for each nutrient |
| 2. | For mixture of micro nutrients fertilisers | 10 percent of each nutrient or 0.5 unit whichever is less subject to maximum of 7.5 percent of all the combined nutrients |
| 3. | For Customised fertilisers, fortified fertiliser, 100 per cent. Water Soluble Mixture of fertiliser, liquid fertiliser and beneficial fertiliser: | ||
| (i) Nutrient level percentage for primary nutrient (NPK)-0.5 units for each nutrient | ||
| (ii) For secondary nutrient (Ca, Mg, S) and beneficial element - 10% of each nutrient or 0.5 unit whichever is less | ||
| (iii) For micro nutrients - 10% of each nutrient or 0.5 unit whichever is less subject to maximum of 7.5 per cent. of all combined nutrients. | ||
| 4. | Particle size | 7 units |
| 5. | Moisture | 0.3 units |
| Note : The tolerance limit besides total nutrient shall also be applicable on the forms of nutrient subject to the condition that it shall not exceed the value of tolerance limit applicable on the total nutrient. | ||
Schedule III, Part B (biofertilisers)
| 1. In case of Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria, Potash Mobilising Bacteria, Zinc Solubilising Bacteria, the total viable count shall not be less than 1×107CFU/gm of carrier material in the form of powder or granules or 5×107CFU/ml in case of liquid formulations. |
| 2. In case of Consortia, the total viable count shall not be less than 1×107 in case of carrier based and 1×108 in case of liquid formulations. |
| 3. In case of Mycorrhizal biofertilizers, total viable spores shall not be less than 8/gm of finished product. |
Test methods (Schedule II, Part B)
| No. | Method |
|---|---|
| 1 | Preparation of samples for analysis |
| 2 | Moisture (oven dry method) |
| 3 | Nitrogen (total, ammoniacal, nitrate, urea nitrogen, biuret and others) |
| 4 | Phosphates (total, water soluble, citrate soluble, free phosphoric acid, polyphosphate) |
| 5 | Potassium (sodium tetraphenylboron method) |
| 6 | Anhydrous ammonia |
| 7 | Zinc sulphate (heptahydrate and monohydrate) |
| 8 | Zinc sulphate, alternate method |
| 9 | Manganese sulphate |
| 10 | Manganese sulphate, alternative method |
| 11 | Borax and boric acid |
| 12 | Copper sulphate |
| 13 | Ferrous sulphate (heptahydrate) |
| 14 | Ammonium molybdate |
| 15 | Chelated zinc (Zn-EDTA) |
| 16 | Chelated iron (Fe-EDTA) |
| 17 | Sodium in potassium chloride and potassium sulphate (AAS) |
| 18 | Total chloride in potassium sulphate |
| 19 | Magnesium sulphate |
| 20 | Particle size |
| 21A | Calcium nitrate |
| 22A | Micronutrient fertiliser mixtures (AAS) |
| 23 | Boron in micronutrient fertiliser mixtures |
| 24 | Total sulphur |
| 25 | Zincated phosphate (suspension) |
| 26 | Zinc oxide (suspension) |
| 27 | Boron in colemanite |
| 28 | Customised and fortified fertilisers |
| 29 | Plant-available silicon, Si(OH)₄ (CaCl₂ extraction, UV) |
| 30 | Sodium silicate |
| 31 | Nano nitrogen |
| 32 | Zinc polyphosphate |
| 33 | Potassium thiosulphate and calcium thiosulphate (liquid fertilisers) |
| 34 | Phosphogypsum |
| 35 | Potash fortified silicon, by spectrophotometer |
| 36 | Chelated manganese (Mn-EDTA) |
| 37 | Chelated calcium (Ca-EDTA) |
| 38 | Chelated magnesium (Mg-EDTA) |
| 39 | Chelated copper (Cu-EDTA) |
| 40 | Zinc in chelated zinc as zinc glycine, by AAS |
| 41 | Calcium in chelated calcium as calcium glycine, by AAS |
Each product page names the methods that apply to it. Fortified fertilisers: method 28 for each declared nutrient. Biofertilisers: Schedule III, Part D.
Omitted entries (3)
Taken out of the Order: they may no longer be made, imported or sold as fertilisers under these specifications.
| Fertiliser | Was | Omitted by |
|---|---|---|
| Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (25% N) | Schedule I, Part A, 1(a), item 4 | S.O. 1814(E), 9 Apr 2026 |
| Urea Ammonium Nitrate (32%N) (liquid) | Schedule I, Part A, 1(a), item 7 | S.O. 1814(E), 9 Apr 2026 |
| Ammonium Nitrate Phosphate (23-23-0) | Schedule I, Part A, 1(e), item 10 | S.O. 1814(E), 9 Apr 2026 |
Questions
What is the FCO specification of urea?
Urea (46% N), Schedule I, Part A, 1(a), item 2: total nitrogen at least 46.0 per cent (dry basis), biuret not more than 1.5 per cent and moisture not more than 1.0 per cent; at least 80 per cent of the granules must stay between the 1 mm and 2.8 mm IS sieves. Neem coated urea also needs at least 0.035 per cent neem oil.
What is the FCO specification of DAP?
Diammonium phosphate (18-46-0), Schedule I, Part A, 1(e), item 1: total nitrogen at least 18.0 per cent (ammoniacal nitrogen at least 15.5), available phosphorus (as P2O5) at least 46.0 per cent, of which water soluble at least 39.5, and moisture not more than 2.5 per cent.
Which fertilisers were taken out of the FCO in 2026?
S.O. 1814(E) of 9 Apr 2026 omitted Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (25% N), Urea Ammonium Nitrate (32%N) (liquid) and Ammonium Nitrate Phosphate (23-23-0) from Schedule I. They are listed under Omitted entries below.
Which micronutrient fertilisers are specified in the FCO?
Schedule I, Part A, 1(g) lists 29: zinc, manganese, copper and ferrous sulphates, borax, boric acid and other borates, ammonium molybdate, the EDTA chelates of zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese and copper, the HEDP chelates of zinc and iron, and suspensions such as zinc oxide. Most also have limits for lead, cadmium and arsenic.
What are 100% water soluble complex fertilisers?
Fertilisers that dissolve completely, used through drip (fertigation) and as foliar sprays. Schedule I, Part A, 1(i) lists 9, such as potassium nitrate (13-0-45), mono potassium phosphate (0-52-34), calcium nitrate, mono ammonium phosphate (12-61-0) and urea phosphate (17-44-0).
What is a fortified fertiliser under the FCO?
A fertiliser to which a secondary or micronutrient (such as zinc, boron or sulphur) has been added, specified in Schedule I, Part A, item 1(h) of the Fertiliser Control Order, 1985. This list has 42 of them, each with its notified minimum and maximum values.
Which liquid fertilisers are specified in the FCO?
Schedule I, Part A, item 1(k) lists 16 liquid fertilisers, including NPK 8:8:8, the glycine chelates of zinc, calcium and boron, potassium and calcium thiosulphate and fortified suspensions. Each has its own page here.
What are beneficial element fertilisers?
Fertilisers that supply an element that helps plants without being an essential nutrient, mainly silicon (ortho silicic acid, diatomite, sodium silicate) and iodine. Schedule I, Part A, item 1(j) lists 5.
What does the FCO require for biofertilisers?
Schedule III sets a minimum viable count (for example 5 × 10⁷ cells per gram of carrier for Rhizobium, Azotobacter or PSB), a pH range, freedom from contamination and an efficiency test. Mycorrhizal biofertilisers need at least 10 viable spores and 1,200 infective propagules per gram. This list has all 11.
How do I check a lab report against the FCO specification?
Open the product's page and go to "Check a lab report". Enter each result from the report: every line shows whether it meets the notified value, falls short but stays within the tolerance of Part B (for example 0.5 units for a nutrient in urea or DAP, 0.3 units for moisture, 7 units for particle size), or is outside the limit. It is a guide: the report of a notified laboratory decides whether a sample is standard.
Is this the official text?
No. NanoKheti consolidated it from the Order and its amendments so that each specification is easy to find. The Gazette text is authoritative: check the notification before you label, license or buy a product.
