Soil Nutrient Monitored Village in Jianghuai and Huaibei Districts, Anhui

Balanced fertilization (BF) demonstrations held at 10 farmers’ fields clearly showed the inadequacy of common farmer practice (FP). Wheat yields improved from 4.3 t/ha (FP) to 5.0 t/ha (BF) and raised the average net income by US$79/ha. In maize, results from 23 farmers’ fields produced a maximum yield of 3.2 t/ha (FP was 2.8 t/ha), which raised average net income by US$63/ha. Similarly, field demonstrations at 10 farms increased rapeseed yield from 1.1 (FP) to 1.3 t/ha and maize yield from 3.3 (FP) to 3.7 t/ha. Average profit increases were US$45/ha (rapeseed) and US$47/ha (maize). Other demonstrations produced a maximum rice yield of 5.2 t/ha (FP was 4.6 t/ha) and raised the average net income by US$81/ha.

A series of parallel fixed-site field trials examined the yield and profit gaps for important crops/cropping systems.

Wheat yield (and profit) in Huaibei increased from 4.1 t/ha (- potassium [K]) to 4.6 t/ha (US$64/ha), and 4.8 t/ha (US$78/ha) with 90 and 210 kg K₂O/ha, respectively. Omission of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or K from the optimum (OPT) fertilization treatment of 180-90-90 kg N-P₂O₅-K₂O/ha (yield 5.0 t/ha) resulted in yields of 3.5, 4.8, and 4.5 t/ha, respectively. The OPT treatment returned US$189/ha, US$32/ha, and US$64/ha more net profit compared to the - N, - P, and - K treatments, respectively.

Maize yield (and profit) in Jianghuai increased from 1.4 t/ha (- K) to 1.6 t/ha US$35/ha) and 2.0 t/ha (US$54/ha) with 120 and 210 kg K₂O/ha, respectively. Maize yield increased from 2.6 t/ha (- P) to 3.0 t/ha with addition of 90 kg P₂O₅/ha. The OPT treatment of 180-90-90 kg/ha produced 2.8 t/ha, which was 25.3%, 10.8%, and 13.6% higher than yields obtained with the - N, - P, and - K treatments. In terms of profit, the OPT treatment returned US$112/ha, US$48/ha, and US$72/ha more than the - N, - P, and - K treatments.

Rapeseed yield (and profit) in Jianghuai increased from 1.4 t/ha (- K) to 1.46 t/ha (US$29/ha) and 1.5 t/ha (US$44/ha) with 90 and 135 kg K₂O/ha, respectively. Rapeseed yield increased from 1.2 t/ha (zero P) to 1.4 t/ha with addition of 90 kg P₂O₅/ha. Omission of N, P, or K from the OPT treatment of 180-90-90 kg/ha (yield 1.2 t/ha) resulted in yields of 0.8, 1.1, and 1.0 t/ha, respectively. The OPT produced US$107/ha, US$36/ha, and US$41/ha more net profit compared to the - N, - P, and - K treatments.

Soybean yield (and profit) for the OPT treatment at Huaibei was 60-90-90 kg/ha, which produced 1.2 t/ha. Yields with - N, - P, and - K treatments were 1.0, 0.9, and 0.8 t/ha, respectively. The OPT treatment increased profit by US$64/ha, US$127/ha, and US$185/ha compared to the - N, - P, and - K treatments. Anhui-NMS12