[Introduction · China Pesticide and Fertilizer Network] The fertilizer utilization rate is the main indicator to measure the fertilization effect. In order to comprehensively, accurately and objectively reflect the fertilizer utilization in China's agricultural production, the Ministry of Agriculture organized experts to complete the "Research Report on the Fertilizer Utilization Rate of China's Three Major Grain Crops" and released the relevant research results recently.

The fertilizer utilization rate is the main indicator to measure the fertilization effect. In order to comprehensively, accurately and objectively reflect the fertilizer utilization in China's agricultural production, the Ministry of Agriculture organized experts to complete the Research Report on the Fertilizer Utilization Rate of China's Three Major Grain Crops and released the relevant research results recently.

The Report shows that at present, the average utilization rates of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for rice, corn and wheat in China are 33%, 24% and 42% respectively. Among them, the utilization rates of nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer for wheat were 32%, 19% and 44%, respectively, while the utilization rates of nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer for rice were 35%, 25% and 41%, respectively, and the utilization rates of nitrogen fertilizer, phosphorus fertilizer and potassium fertilizer for corn were 32%, 25% and 43%, respectively. At present, the fertilizer utilization rate of China's main food crops has entered the internationally recognized appropriate range, but it is still at a low level, and there is still a large room for improvement.

Professor Zhang Fushuo of China Agricultural University, the main drafter of the Report, said that in recent years, the issue of fertilizer utilization rate has attracted increasing attention, but due to the lack of relevant information, there has been no scientific research data on fertilizer utilization rate. In order to accurately calculate the fertilizer utilization rate, researchers have carried out a lot of work in data selection, data collation, calculation methods, validation tests, etc. Using the data of soil analysis, field test, field survey and other data obtained in 9 years of soil testing and formula fertilization, as well as the fertilizer utilization rate validation test data carried out by the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, they have consulted a large number of domestic and foreign literature and conducted tens of thousands of farmer surveys, The data of fertilizer utilization rate basically reflects the actual situation of fertilizer use of major grain crops in China.

Professor Zhang Fushuo said that at present, there are misunderstandings about the fertilizer utilization rate. The fertilizer utilization rate is not only a simple number, but also varies greatly among different crops and fertilizer varieties. There are also differences in the fertilizer utilization rate and cumulative utilization rate in the current season. At present, the widely circulated statement that "China's fertilizer utilization rate is about 30%, and 70% is wasted" is not scientific. Professor Zhang Fushuo said that some of the nutrients that were not absorbed and utilized by the crops in the current season after fertilizer application would be stored in the soil for absorption and utilization by the crops in the next season, and some would leave the farmland and enter the atmosphere and water body. Only this part is called fertilizer loss. At present, fertilizer loss is mainly concentrated on nitrogen fertilizer. Most of the nutrients of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer would accumulate in the soil, and the cumulative utilization rate could reach more than 60%.

Li Rong, a participant in the Report and director of the Soil and Fertilizer Technology Division of the National Agricultural Technology Extension Service Center, introduced that the "fertilizer utilization rate" that everyone cares about mainly refers to the nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate of grain crops in the current season. The fertilizer utilization rate of China's main grain crops has experienced a process of "first falling, then rising". Since the 1990s, with the continuous increase of fertilizer input, fertilizer utilization rate has declined. Taking nitrogen fertilizer as an example, the utilization rate dropped from 30-35% in the mid-1990s to 28% at the beginning of this century (2005). In recent years, through the implementation of soil testing formula fertilization, soil organic matter improvement and other projects, we have vigorously promoted scientific fertilization technologies such as deep tillage and deep loosening, deep fertilizer application, straw returning to the field, and integration of water and fertilizer, which has promoted the steady recovery of fertilizer utilization. Especially since the implementation of the subsidy project of soil testing and formula fertilization in 2005, it has promoted the transformation from traditional fertilization to scientific fertilization and curbed the trend of excessive increase in fertilizer use. According to the report, the nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate of the three major grain crops in the current season is 33%, which is 5 percentage points higher than that before the implementation of the soil testing formula fertilization subsidy project (2005). The utilization rate of phosphate fertilizer and potassium fertilizer in the current season increased by 12 and 10 percentage points respectively compared with 2005.

The relevant person in charge of the Department of Crop Management of the Ministry of Agriculture said that China is the largest country in the production and consumption of fertilizer in the world. Improving fertilizer utilization rate is an inevitable requirement for changing agricultural production mode and improving agricultural comprehensive production capacity. In the next step, agricultural departments at all levels will further promote scientific fertilization from five aspects, reduce unreasonable fertilizer input and continuously improve fertilizer utilization rate: first, promote the application of formula fertilizer to the field. We will continue to implement the subsidy project of soil testing and formula fertilization, carry out the action of agro-enterprise cooperation to promote formula fertilizer, increase the application area of formula fertilizer, and solve the problem of "the last kilometer" of scientific fertilization technology. The second is to promote the transformation of fertilization methods. Encourage the application of organic fertilizer and straw returning to the field, vigorously promote scientific fertilization methods such as deep application of chemical fertilizer, integration of water and fertilizer, and simultaneous seeding of seed and fertilizer, and develop new varieties that can save fertilizer, increase efficiency, increase production and increase income. Third, strengthen the promotion of technology integration. Strengthen the comprehensive management of nutrient resources, assemble and match the crop cultivation measures and fertilization measures according to the requirements of high yield, and promote the application in a large area. Fourth, strengthen publicity and training. We will carry out technical training and publicity in various forms, such as television, radio, clear paper, mobile phone text messages, so that farmers can effectively grasp scientific fertilization technology and establish scientific fertilization awareness.

Source: China Pesticide and Fertilizer Network