Nutrient Management Strategies for Guizhou

IPNI-1999-CHN-GZ12

11 Jan 2004

2003 Annual Interpretive Summary

Nutrient Management Strategies in Guizhou, 2003

The Pinba County monitored village site will define the site-specific nutrient management zones for this region. Soil nutrient limitations were determined through soil testing in 2001 and soil nutrient variability was digitally mapped in 2002. Soil testing determined that upland soils were extremely deficient in potassium (K) and paddy soils were largely phosphorus (P) deficient. Balanced fertilization (BF) experiments and field demonstrations were conducted throughout 2003 to verify soil test results.

The BF treatment of 152-60-100 kg nitrogen (N)-P2O5-K2O/ha increased corn yield by 2.5 t/ha (41%) compared to the treatment without K. Similarily, application of 150-90-225 kg/ha increased rice yield by 1.8 t/ha (24%). Yield increases in the field demonstration plots were 70% for chilli pepper and 36% for sweet potato. Field demonstrations and field days are effective tools for promoting BF technology, now widely accepted by leaders and farmers in Pinba County. Based on knowledge gained through geographic information system (GIS) technology training provided through Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) support, computerized fertilizer recommendation software was developed. This serves as a knowledge database for technicians and policy-makers. Guizhou-NMS05