Nutrient management and balanced fertilization on main crops in Ningxia province

IPNI-2006-CHN-NX4

20 Feb 2010

2009 Annual Interpretive Summary

Nutrient Management and Balanced Fertilization in Ningxia, 2009

Experiments in 2009 were conducted on wheat, rice, vegetables, and sunflower to discover the best nutrient management practices for conditions in Ningxia Province.

Trials testing N rates on spring wheat grown in Wuzhong City found the highest average yield of 5,280 kg/ha with 240 kg N/ha plus 120 kg P2O5/ha and 90 kg K2O/ha. Protein content increased from 6.8% to 7.3% as N rate increased from 120 to 360 kg N/ha. Wheat quality indicators such as wet gluten, sediment value, and water absorption also improved at higher N rates. Nitrogen recovery efficiency decreased and apparent N loss increased under the higher rates of N. In rice grown at Lingwu City, the recommended OPT of 225-90-135 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha produced 11 t/ha yield, which was 21% more than farmer practice (FP) of applying 270-105-0 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha. The agronomic efficiencies of N, P, and K for this OPT were 30 kg grain increase/kg N, 25 kg grain increase/kg P2O5, and 15 kg grain increase/kg K2O. Recovery efficiencies for N, P and K were 26%, 14%, and 34%. The OPT resulted in US$412/ha more income than FP. A similar trial at Lingwu found 225 kg N/ha and 135 kg K2O/ha to be appropriate rates. In Chinese cabbage grown at Lingwu City, N was the first yield-limiting factor followed by P and then K. The recommended NPK rate of 300-180-150 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha produced 7.5 t/ha, or 11% more yield, than FP of applying 120-180-0 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha. A trial on carrot, also at Lingwu City, found the recommended NPK rate of 300-180-150 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha could produce 8.8 t/ha, or 10% more yield, than the FP of applying 120-180-0 kg N-P2O5-K2O/ha. In sunflower, application of 45 kg K2O/ha along with 75 kg N/ha and 45 kg P2O5/ha increased seed yield by 1,565 kg/ha, or 17%, compared with the K omission plot. Ningxia-NMBF