FERTILIZER RECOMMENDATION – HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE By DR. SHAHID MAHMOOD

SOIL FERTILITY The ability of a soil to support satisfactory plant growth Ensures nutrient and water supplies Provides cosy conditions for root growth, development and harvesting of potential yield

Soil Fertility Reasons of low soil fertility How to access Inherent Leaching Erosion Fixation Removal How to access Soil Testing Tissue Analysis Fertilizer Trials Deficiency Symptoms

Soil Quality Soil quality is the capacity of soils within landscapes to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health. Protecting soil quality like protecting air quality and water quality should be fundamental goal of our Nation’s Environmental Policy Poor Good

Nutrient Composition of a Fertile Soil Organic Matter > 1.3 % Extractable P > 21 ppm Extractable K > 180 ppm DTPA Zn > 1.0 ppm DTPA Cu > 0.2 ppm DTPA Fe > 4.5 ppm DTPA Mn > 1.0 ppm 0.1N HCl > 0.5 ppm

INHERITED LOW SOIL FERTILITY Causes Parent material (Alluvial) Arid / harsh climate Low Organic Matter (OM) High pH Calcareousness

Nutrients removal per tonne of wheat Usage 04 39 10 0.3 Kg / acre

Fertilizer Consumption Pattern % Product Share 08 - 09 % Fertilizer Consumption Others Rice % Area Sugarcane Wheat Cotton 9

Major Cause of Low Production: Nutrient Deficiency Photosynthesis: CO2 + H2O  carbohydrates (CHO) + O2 Besides NPK, other nutrients such as Zinc, Iron, Boron etc. though required in small quantities, but their deficiency significantly impacts plant growth & life. Micronutrient deficiency (Zinc, Boron, Iron & Mangnese) in Pakistani soils is increasing Nutrients are taken up primarily by the roots in the form of an aqueous solution in the soil Innumerable experiments on farmers fields prove that there is significant increase in Yields by application of micronutrients along with NPK

Effect of Urea and P fertilizers on wheat production in Pakistan Sales (DAP+NP+TSP) - Sales (Urea)

Genetically Modified Crops Sources Agri Ext data for Punjab Multinational Companies % of Cropped Area Area under GMO crops is increasing at higher pace GMOs consume 50 – 100% more fertilizers than normal varieties of same crop Higher net return Vs normal verities encourage farmers for higher per acre investment

BALANCED FERTILIZTION----A KEY STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE Use of Balanced Fertilizers, Organic fertilizers and Bio-fertilizers can provide viable leverage to increase crop productivity It enrich the soil with important nutrients Bio-fertilizers has potential to generate additional income to farmers from the same size of land Improving soil fertility through IPNM Improve soil physical conditions by increasing SOM Inclusion of leguminous crops in cropping systems Proper time and method of fertilizer application Narrow down the N:P ratio (1:1 or 3:2)

Response Curve Studies NPK No Fertilizer

METHODOLOGY Variable treatments Different cropping systems Long term experiments Soil property parameters Farmers field

Marginal return (MR) & Marginal rate of return (MRR) The yield increase produced by an additional fertilizer unit is called the marginal return of unit. 2. Marginal rate of return (MRR) It is the ration between return on the investment obtained from each additional fertilizer unit over the investment itself. MRR = Value of add. Crop – value of add. Fertilizer Value of additional fertilizer It can be positive or negative. Thus at MRR = 1, Economic optimum rate MRR = 0, Maximum profit MRR = 1, Maximum yield

Economic of Fertilizer Use Among different yield controlling factors fertilizers contributing is more than 50 %. Factors contribute for decision making. The highest profit is usually the main motivation for fertilizer use. The main factors that impact the fertilizer use by the farmers are: The price relationship between fertilizer and crop commodity. Response of crop to fertilizer application. Economic returns on investment. The question is to how much fertilizer to apply to a specific crop in order to maximize profit. Before answering the question I would like to explain the following indicators that are used in the economic analysis.

FERTILIZER RESPONSE CURVE STUDIES ON WHEAT IN IRRIGATED AREAS Objectives: Formulation of fertilizer recommendations Location: Irrigated area of Punjab province TREATMENTS N P K Kg/ha 114 60 80 160 240 57 171 30 90

Response Curve Studies on Wheat (IRRIGATED) OPTIMUM LEVELS N 140 kg/ha P2O5 77 kg/ha K2O ---- SOIL TEST OM % 0.78 +/- 0.17 P mg/kg 5.8 +/- 3.6 K2O mg/kg 131 +/- 35 …………………………. P K N N P K

From this graph it appears that increasing the fertilizer level gradually led to the following: Diminishing increase in the yield (decreasing marginal per fertilizer unit) Gradually decreases in the MRR and the VCR Maximum net profit per ha will be at the point where MRR = 0

Total 58689 Crops No. of Trials ACHIEVEMENTS No. of Field Trials Conducted up to 2010 – 11 Crops No. of Trials Grain crops 42950 Cash crops 10077 Fodders 1189 Oilseeds 1650 Vegetables, Fruits, Pulses and others 2823 Total 58689

Economic of Fertilizer Use The highest profit is usually the main motivation for fertilizer use. The main factors that impact the fertilizer use by the farmers are: The price relationship between fertilizer and crop commodity. Response of crop to fertilizer application. Economic returns on investment. The question is to how much fertilizer to apply to a crop in order to maximize profit. Before answering the question I would like to explain the following indicators that are used in the economic analysis.

Impact of balanced fertilization on Wheat Particulars Impacts Balanced fertilization (BF) Yield = 3926 kg/ha Farmers’ practices Yield = 2905 kg/ha Increased yield due to BF Yield = 1.021 ton/ha % increase in yield due to BF = 35 % Gross return = 101278 Rs. in million Additional expenditure for BF = 7172 Rs./ha Net return = 55747 Rs. in million

Impact of balanced fertilization on Fine Rice Particulars Impacts Balanced fertilization (BF) Yield = 5472 kg/ha Farmers’ practices Yield = 4583 kg/ha Increased yield due to BF Yield = 0.889 tons/ha % increase in yield due to BF = 19.4 % Gross return = 32594 Rs. in million Additional expenditure for BF = 8463 Rs./ha Net return = 20183 Rs. in million

Impact of balanced fertilization on Maize Particulars Impacts Balanced fertilization (BF) Yield = 4352 kg/ha Farmers’ practices Yield = 3056 kg/ha Increased yield due to BF Yield = 1296 kg/ha % increase in yield due to BF = 42.4% Gross return = 11081 Rs. in million Additional expenditure for BF = 6313 Rs./ha Net return = 8082 Rs. in million

Impact of balanced fertilization on Cotton Particulars Impacts Balanced fertilization (BF) Yield = 3167 kg/ha Farmers’ practices Yield = 2372 kg/ha Increased yield due to BF Yield = 795 kg/ha % increase in yield due to BF = 33.52 % Gross return = 50051.4 Rs. in million Additional expenditure for BF = 7610 Rs./ha Net return = 30887.1 Rs. in million

Impact of balanced fertilization on Sugarcane Particulars Impacts Balanced fertilization (BF) Yield = 89.64 ton /ha Farmers’ practices Yield = 82.97 ton /ha Increased yield due to BF Yield = 6.67 ton /ha % increase in yield due to BF = 8 % Gross return = 5267.7 Rs. in million Additional expenditure for BF = 6125 Rs./ha Net return = 1318.9 Rs. in million

Number of fruits (>35%) were counted in Zn50-B25 compared to control.

Harvested fruits were higher (19%) in Zn50-B25 compared to control.

Fertilizer Use Efficiency: An Old Topic but With Great Importance As food demands to increase per acre yield to feed surging population. Fundamentals of natural systems ….indicate a major and expanding role of fertilizers in food production Issue: to optimize N and P beneficial role in sustainable crop production and minimize N’s negative effects in the environment resulting from crop production. Issue: focus attention on improving fertilizer N and P efficiency Issue: Poor efficiency in plant uptake of nutrients applied. Increasing Nutrient Use Efficiency Synchrony of Nutrient Supply with Crop Nutrient Demand Balanced Fertilization Integrated Crop Management Nutrient Efficient Genotypes Improve farming practices that improve nutrient use efficiency Need extension of collective understanding about nutrient use efficiency for N and P

Areas of opportunity for improvement in fertilizer use efficiency Continued improvement in cropping system management Optimizing production Yield potential protection – pest management and other cultural practices Use of site-specific fertilizer application Understanding of soil N mineralization, P & K fixation Best time of fertilizer application Use of organic sources Improving quality (nutrition) Biotechnology?

Site Specific Nutrients Management:

STRATEGIES Improvement in soil, water , fertilizer testing facilities Nutrient dynamics and indexation in cropping systems for precise diagnosis of the nature, extent and severity of Macro + Micro nutrient disorders Long term micronutrient balance sheet studies in major cropping sequences to permit efficient management and provide negative impact on environment Nutritional requirements of horticultural and high value crops Sustaining agricultural systems through IPNS Development of critical limits for different cropping systems in different agro-eco-zones Plant nutrition management on problem soils Policy makers should devise long term strategy to address fertilizer shortage particularly at the time of sowing

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