Nutrient management and high efficient fertilization on main crops in Beijing

Nutrient Management and High Efficiency Fertilization on Major Crops in Beijing, 2008

In 2008, field trials and demonstrations of balanced nutrient management in wheat, corn, watermelon, and vegetables were conducted in Daxing, Fangshan, and Yanqing Districts of Beijing.

Balanced application of 300-145-75 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O/ha in cauliflower produced 2.3 t/ha (5.9%), 4.5 t/ha (11.5%), and 9.8 t/ha (24.9%) more yield than the - P, - K, and CK (no fertilizer applied) treatments, respectively. Application of 225 and 450 kg K₂O/ha increased watermelon yield by 19% and 17%, respectively, based on 33.9 t/ha yield with 270-105-0 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O/ha. Moreover, sugar concentration in watermelon was also improved by K application.

The N-timing trial for winter wheat in Fangshan tested a single rate of 225 kg N/ha. Compared to no N application, grain yield increased by 2.4%, 11%, 12%, and 14% in treatments using: (1) basal N only, (2) 1/2 basal and 1/2 topdressed at re-greening stage, (3) equal splits between basal, re-greening, and jointing stage, and (4) equal splits between basal, re-greening, jointing, and booting. For summer maize, 225 kg N/ha was applied on the preceding winter wheat plots. Compared to no N application, grain yield increased by 15%, 18%, 21%, and 14% using (1) a topdressing at V6 stage, (2) 1/2 at V6 and 1/2 at stalk elongation, (3) equal splits between V6, stalk elongation, and tasselling, and (4) the same three-way split N schedule with more P and K. This work demonstrates the benefits to split N applications in both winter wheat and maize.

Balanced fertilization demonstrations showed that, compared to common farm practice, K application increased yields (and profit) of cabbage by 13 to 16% (US$300 to US$350/ha) and cauliflower by 16 to 23% (US$400 to US$500/ha), respectively. Beijing-NMBF