Application of Information Technology in Soil Nutrient Management and Balanced Fertilization in Xinjiang
IPNI-2002-CHN-XJ3
04 Feb 2006
2005 Annual Interpretive Summary
Application of Information Technology in Soil Nutrient Management and Balanced Fertilization in Xinjiang, 2005
Experiments on drip-irrigated cotton were conducted at the Third Fengshou Farm in Awati County while additional field trials and demonstrations were arranged in the monitored village of Awati County (corn) and at Toutunhe Farm (tomato and grape).
Results from the cotton study indicated that nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) application could individually increase cotton lint yield by 10%, 11%, and 29%. Thus, K is a prominent factor influencing yield in Xinjiang. Potassium chloride (KCl), gypsum + KCl, potassium magnesium sulfate (22% K2O, 8% MgO, and 14% S) by-product from the chemical industry in Qinghai, and potassium sulfate (K2SO4), each applied as 104-138-72 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha, produced variable, but positive effects on cotton lint yield. In the order presented, the K sources increased yield by 29%, 25%, 17%, and 13% over -K check.
Application of N, P, and K fertilizer in a set of omission plot treatments using 195 kg N/ha, 75 kg P2O5/ha, and 30 kg K2O/ha increased corn yield by 60%, 12%, and 14%, respectively, with corresponding profits derived from N, P, and K being US$368/ha, US$108/ha, and US$117/ha. Compared to a - K check. The four K sources listed above increased corn yields by 14%, 8%, 1%, and 13%, respectively. Application of K fertilizer increased protein content of corn by 7.3% to 14.6%, indicating a signicant increase in N use efficiency.
The four K sources applied to tomato at 90 kg K2O/ha, along with 179 kg N/ha and 108 kg P2O5/ha, produced 14%, 9%, 7%, and 7% more yield than a - K check. In grape, the K sources applied at 82 kg K2O/ha, along with 160 kg N/ha and 180 kg P2O5/ha, produced yield increases of 8%, 9%, 8%, and 0.3%. Total sugar content increased by 5% to 10%, the ratio of sugar to acid was improved by 13% to 34%, and vitamin C was improved by 61% to 104%. Acid content of grape also decreased by 7% to 18% due to K application. Xinjiang-NMS02