Nutrient management and balanced fertilization in Inner Mongolia

Work in 2006 involved investigating the impact of improved nutrient management within a monitored village. Yield and quality responses to K or P were examined within the region’s major crops including potato, forage corn, rapeseed, and forage grasses.

The soil nutrient status for the monitored village in Wuchuan County showed low levels of organic matter, available N, P, zinc (Zn), boron (B), and sulfur (S); medium levels of copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), potassium (K), and boron (B); and high levels of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca). Farmers usually apply organic manures at 15 to 38 t/ha in irrigated lands, and N, P, and K is often applied at 130 kg N/ha, 30 kg P₂O₅/ha and 45 to 75 kg K₂O/ha. Adoption of soil test-based balanced fertilizer recommendations in 10 farmer fields showed that balanced use of NPK increased forage corn by 8.9 t/ha (11%) and potato by 4.4 t/ha (15%). Farm income was increased by US$153/ha and US$208/ha for the forage corn and potato crops, respectively.

The effect of P and/or K fertilizer on potato, forage corn, rapeseed, alfalfa, and forage grass was studied in Wuchuan County and Siziwangqi. In irrigated potato, balanced use of NPK at 250-225-200 kg/ha produced 1.9 t/ha (6.4%) more than the farmers’ practice (FP) which used 141-51 kg N-P₂O₅ ha plus 22.5 t/ha of organic manure. In rainfed potato, 125-125-100 kg/ha produced 6.8% more than FP of 60-18 kg N-P₂O₅/ha plus 7.5 t/ha of organic manure. Irrigated forage corn yield resulting from 250-225-200 kg/ha was 14.3 t/ha (15%), 10.5 t/ha (11%) and 5.4 t/ha (5.2%) higher yields than the plots omitting N, P, and K, respectively. The high yielding treatment produced 7.2 t/ha (7%) more than FP which used 141-51 kg N-P₂O₅/ha. In rainfed rapeseed, balanced use of NPK at 125-125-100 kg/ha produced the highest yield of 1,328 kg/ha, which was 15%, 19%, 10%, and 18% higher than treatments omitting N, P, K, and the FP treatment, respectively. In alfalfa, 135-180-135 kg/ha increased fresh yield by 27%. Inner Mongolia-NMBF