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The Experience of Promoting Smart
Fertilization Technologies in Taiwan
Dr. Dennis Wang Director of Tainan District Agricultural Research and Extension Station
2015. 5. 11
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Outlines
Sustainable agriculture is the global trend.
Smart fertilization is the first step.
7 DARES as the key players to implement.
Achievements of 3 years promotion.
Future works
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Climate-smart Agriculture
Agriculture that sustainably:
• increases productivity
• increases resilience (adaptation)
• reduces/removes GHGs
AND
• enhances achievement of national food
security and development goals
□Source: Peter Holmgren FAO
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Fighting for
resource !!
~ N & K
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5
Fertilizer flow into lakes and oceans via runoff and
wastewater, resulting in eutrophication
The situation in the field - over application of fertilizer
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Principle of smart fertilizer
□ Use appropriate fertilizer by land, by crop, by
time, by amount, by method (5R)
「適地、適作、適時、適量、適法」
□ Suggest adequate application & method by
climate, by crop, by plant period, and by
diagnosis technique
□ Economical and efficient use of fertilizer
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Liebig‘s Law of the Minimum □ Crop production are affected
by various growth factors
□ There is a minimum
dominated supply ratio
□ The yield will not change if
the dominated factor did not
make appropriate
adjustments, although given a
sufficient amount of other
elements
by J.von Liebig (Germany, 19 century)
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Law of diminishing return □ Crop yields increase
with the minimum
nutrient supply
□ Increased rate is not
linear with the amount
of fertilizer
□ When beyond the
proper amount, then the
increase of nutrients will
cause decrease of
production
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Purpose for smart fertilization □ Ensure the quality of Ag. Products
□ Maintain sustainable of Ag. environment
□ Decrease the application of fertilizer
□ Increase production & farmers’ income
□ Adjust fertilizer application by land, by crop, by
season, by plant period, by method (5R)
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Increase of fertilizer cost
□ Price of international material increase
→ price of domestic fertilizer increase
(2008.5.30)
□ 85% of increment was compensated by
government & Taiwan fertilizer company
□ 15% paid by farmers
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Government paid 88% of the increase
□ Fertilizer compensation started from May
2008
□ Total compensation till 2012: US$ 600 million
□ Price of fertilizer maintain stable
□ Cheaper than neighbor country
□4 □4
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Comparisons of price of chemical fertilizer in three countries.
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Type of fertilizer
Fertilizer price (NT$/ bag) Nov. 2011
Taiwan (*1)
Mainland China
Japan (*2)
Urea 365 492 859
Ammonium sulfate 206 --- 628
Superphosphate 112 --- ---
potassium chloride 367 --- ---
compound fertilizer
364 (*3)
387 (*3)
1,287 (*3)
Sources：agricultural association of Japan、journal of China Fertilizer Market、market survey of Taiwan fertilizer company。 *1：farmer purchase fertilizer from the market。 *2：exchange rate of Taiwan NT vs Japan yen¥ is 1：0.35。 *3：based on price of N-P-K 15-15-15。 *4：each bag is 40 kg。
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Environment condition in Taiwan
□ High Temperature, humid
□ Fertilizer wash out by condense rain
□ High intensive cultivation
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Wrong concept cause vicious circle
□ Government compensation → lower price →
farmers use more fertilizer to produce more
□ Wrong fertilizer application: large amount, low
frequency, surface implement
→soil EC increase →low fertilizer efficiency →
apply more fertilizer → ….→…. →…. vicious
circle
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Incidence of chemical fertilizer application in Taiwan
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Changes of chemical fertilizer
application in Taiwan
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Outlines
Sustainable agriculture is the trend. Smart
fertilization is the first step.
7 DARES as the key players to
implement.
Achievements of 3 years promotion.
Future works
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Agricultural R&D Infrastructure in Taiwan
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Effective Extension Systems Lead to Secured Food Production
Agribusiness
Technology Transfer Technology Extension
342 Farmers’ &
Fishermen’s
Associations
6,300
Production
and
Marketing
Groups
Farmers &
Fishermen
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茶業改良場 03-4822059
香蕉研究所 08-7392111
合理化施肥輔導小組自97年6月成立
□This is the first flyer
sheet that reveal the
phone numbers of
governmental
organizations and
four kinds of services.
□The service team of
smart fertilization
started on June 2008.
1、Diagnosis service of soil and plant in 2011 (A total of 44,406 samples)
Governmental
organizations
Soil samples Plant tissue
samples
TARI 6,070 7,740
Taoyuan DARES 4,032 3,686
Miaoli DARES 1,846 803
Taichung DARES 2,859 338
Tainan DARES 5,223 862
Kaohsiung DARES 2,898 1,247
Taitung DARES 1,248 998
Hualien DARES 3,437 420
Tea Improve station 236 74
Banana Res. Inst. 175 219
Subtotal 28,024 16,382
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2、Training courses of smart fertilization held in 2011
Governmental
organizations
Training courses Participants
TARI 133 3,679
Taoyuan DARES 34 2,252
Miaoli DARES 25 2,103
Taichung DARES 46 4,659
Tainan DARES 47 4,084
Kaohsiung DARES 75 3,527
Taitung DARES 24 2,225
Hualien DARES 14 853
Tea Improvement Station 33 1,536
Banana Res. Inst. 57 3,284
Total 488 28,202
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Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan Tainan DARES
Taoyuan DARES
Miaoli DARES
TARI
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3、Promote smart fertilization in relative meeting and training
courses in 2011
Governmental organizations Meetings & courses
TARI 39
Taoyuan DARES 234
Miaoli DARES 86
Taichung DARES 352
Tainan DARES 161
Kaohsiung DARES 215
Taitung DARES 47
Hualien DARES 189
Tea Improvement Station 3
Seed Reseach s 5
Banana Res. Inst. 6
Total 1,330
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4、Field day for smart fertilization held in 2011
Governmental
organizations
Field
demonstrations
Participants
TARI 20 2,005
Taoyuan DARES 36 2,119
Miaoli DARES 0 0
Taichung DARES 19 2,799
Tainan DARES 14 1,252
Kaohsiung DARES 20 1,968
Taitung DARES 10 810
Hualien DARES 21 1,283
Seed Reseach s 1 130
Banana Res. Inst. 16 773
Total 157 13,139
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Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan
Tainan DARES Mango Demo.
Taichung DARES Rice Demo.
Taoyuan DARES Rice Demo.
TARI Pomelo Demo.
Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan
Hualien DARES Rice Demo Banana Field Demo.
Taitung DARES Rice Demo.
Kaohsiung DARES Papaya Demo.
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5、Activities reported by media
and journals in 2011
Governmental
organizations
Media
Reports
Journal
Articles
TARI 3 29
Taoyuan DARES 0 9
Miaoli DARES 1 6
Taichung DARES 56 18
Tainan DARES 21 5
Kaohsiung DARES 94 51
Taitung DARES 9 11
Hualien DARES 12 15
Seed Reseach s 0 1
Banana Res. Inst. 0 3
Total 205 148
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Outlines
Sustainable agriculture is the trend. Smart
fertilization is the first step.
7 DARES as the key players to implement.
Achievements of 3 years promotion.
Future works
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Achievements of smart fertilization
From 2008 to 2011 Nov.
Number of Training course is 1,462，116,769 farmers
participated.
No. of Diagnosis of soil and plant tissue is 122,122.
No. of field demo is 527，49,388 farmers participated.
No. of video taken is 383.
No. of articles/papers published in the journal and
extension bulletin is 199.
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Improve soil condition & fertilizer
efficiency
Soil problems: pH is too acidic or too alkaline,
lack of organic matter, soil compaction,
imbalance of soil nutrients, salt accumulation,
heavy metal pollution, topsoil erosion
Soil improvement and correct fertilization can
enhance soil fertility, increase crop production
and quality
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Application of organic fertilizers Improve soil aggregate structure to promote
its ventilation, drainage and water retention
capacity
Increase soil buffering capacity
Release needed nutrients for crop
Adsorption and exchange of crop needed
nutrients
Enhance beneficial microbial activity
Deep black color helps endothermic
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Use agricultural wastes to improve
fertility
Farmers applying organic fertilizer made by
agricultural wastes and livestock manure to
improve farmland fertility
Rice straw, crop stubble or green manure
directly plowed back into farmland to improve
soil fertility
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How to achieve smart fertilization
management?
Selecting fertilizer according to crop
characteristics, soil properties, climate, land
fertility
Choose right kind of fertilizer, apply in
appropriate ratio & time with appropriate
method
Use organic manure and green manure
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Hillside orchard planting green manure cover crop
to prevent soil erosion
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Fertilizer for vegetables in Tainan District (kg/ha)
Vegetable volume N P2O5 K2O Compose
Stem lettuce 120-180 90-120 120-150 10
Lettuce 100-120 50-100 90-120 5
Chinese Cabbage 200-500 90-150 120-180 10
Kohlrabi Cabbage 100-120 70-90 120-150 10
Mustard 180-240 90-120 150-180 10-20
Convolvulus 120-180 50-90 100-150 10
Radish 140-160 80-100 110-130 10-20
Carrot 180-250 120-180 120-180 20
Burdock 200 130 260 10-15
Potato 150-225 150-200 240-360 15
Green Gralic 200-240 60-90 90-120 10
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Vegetable volume N P2O5 K2O Compose
Bamboo Shoot 2000 500 1500 15-20
Asparagus 700-900 100-150 200-300 30
Luffa 95-115 90-105 130-170 10-20
Cucuber 250-350 120-180 300-400 10
Bitter Melon 250-350 100-150 150-300 10
Watermelon 180-240 120-240 200-140 10
Muskmelon 120-150 180-220 180-220 10
Tomato(fresh market) 120-250 100-150 100-150 20
Tomato(processing) 150-250 120-200 120-180 20
Sweet papper 150-200 120-150 150-180 10-20
Fertilizer for vegetables in Tainan District (kg/ha)
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Fertilizer for vegetables in Tainan District (kg/ha)
Vegetable volume N P2O5 K2O Compose
Cabbage (Winter) 250-350 70-90 120-180 10
Cabbage (Summer) 200-300
Cauliflower(very early) 180-220 70-130 130-190
10-20 Cauliflower(early) 220-260 90-150 150-210
Cauliflower(late) 250-300 110-170 180-230
Vegetable Soybean(Autumn) 60 60-80 60 -
Vegetable Soybean(Spring) 20-40
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Ditching ring around trees, pour fertilizer and
cover with soil to prevent sunshine, rainfall,
evaporation and loss
Replace chemical fertilizer with organic
fertilizer to improve organic matter
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Cover soil to prevent
the loss of fertilizer
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Micro-fertilizer application
Controlled-release
fertilizer for papaya
Vermicompost on chinese cabbages 49
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1,013 demonstration fields comprised of 87 kinds of crops were evaluated during the
first three smart fertilization promotion years (2008-2011)
(A total of 321 kg of NPK per hectare were saved)
Crops (No. of Demo site)
Kinds of crop
Amount of fertilizers reduced(Kg/Ha)
Rice(255) 1 124.1
Upland crops(51) 5 167.0
Fruit crops(408) 29 217.1
Vegetables(222) 36 464.9
Speciality crops(61) 7 160.7
Flower crops(16) 9 526.4
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Smart fertilization improve crop yield
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Location Variety Increased
Yield (%)
Unit fertilizer’s production rate (kg/kg)
Smart Farmers
L-1 TK No. 9 8.2 27.7 20.5
L-2 TK No. 9 14.2 38.9 25.2
L-3 TN No. 71 12.9 15.8 12.7
L-4 Taichung No. 192 23.1 32.7 17.9
L-5 TK No. 14 12.6 18.2 12.3
L-6 Taoyuan No. 3 6.8 25.2 19.7
L-7 Tainan No. 11 1.0 27.6 19.0
L-8 TK No. 14 -7.2 29.4 23.5
L-9 Taoyuan No. 3 -11.1 25.8 21.1
L-10 TK No. 9 -5.9 29.1 18.0
L-11 TK No. 9 -9.9 27.1 13.1
L-12 Kaohsiung No. 139 -4.6 17.8 13.2
Comparison of rice yield by smart and common application of fertilizer
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‹#›
Fertilizer productivity of rice by smart and
common application of fertilizer
Smart
fertilization has
higher yield
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Comparison of rice quality by smart and common application of fertilizer
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Location
Smart Farmers’ Increased
Yield (%)
Unit fertilizer’s production rate (kg/kg)
Total Total Smart Farmers’
L-1 509 682 1.31 21.8 16.0
L-2 720 900 5.27 16.9 12.8
L-3 1,050 1,260 -3.60 4.8 4.2
L-4 1,050 1,260 4.18 5.4 4.3
L-5 1,430 1,710 2.20 4.7 3.8
L-6 1,550 1,670 3.64 4.5 4.0
Fertilizer productivity of bamboo shoot by smart and common application of fertilizer
Fertilizer productivity of bamboo shoot by smart and common application of fertilizer
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Smart
fertilization has
higher yield
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2 years (2009-
2010) smart
fertilization
case
Smart
fertilization has
higher yield
Comparison of fertilizer amount and yield of grape by smart and
common application of fertilizer 57
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Smart fertilization
Increase output
Improve fertilizer efficiency
Improve soil environment
Increase quality ration reduced yield loss
Decrease cost
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Outlines
Sustainable agriculture is the trend. Smart
fertilization is the first step.
7 DARES as the key players to implement.
Achievements of 3 years promotion.
Future works
59
Conclusion ➢ Use appropriate fertilizer by land, by crop, by
time, by amount, by method
➢ Benefit:
➢ Increase production and fertilizer efficiency
➢ Improve quality
➢ Saving materials and labor costs
➢ Carbon reduction
➢ Maintain the production environment, reduce
pollution
➢ Promote development and ensure food security
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Incidence of chemical fertilizer application in Taiwan
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More efforts need to be done
➢ It is a long run.
• Diagnosis of soil and consulting smart fertilization
30,000 cases.
• Field demo 300 times per year.
• More efforts to conducted training courses in
production and marketing group.
• Refine the optimum nitrogen fertilizer for rice at least
22 locations (N levels are 0、90、150、210、270
kg/ha)
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More efforts need to be done
➢ Educate the remote village
➢ Smart fertilization promotions through Web
2.0 tool
YouTube
webpages
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□This is the major website that all activities and information of smart fertilization are revealed
□http://kmweb.coa.gov.tw
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‹#›
Too busy
37%
Too old
to learn
21%
Land is
too small
14%
Old way
is good
11%
Other
reasons
17%
Survey of farmers
who have not adapted
to smart fertilization
➢ Feedback of promotion of smart fertilization to policy
➢ Small package size of chemical fertilizer is preferred by the farmers due to the
regular size (40kg) is too heavy for the elderly farmers.
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➢ Reduce the negative image of fertilizer
products ➢ Farmers complain the quality of chemical fertilizers not
meeting their expectations.
□Negative report
of Taiwan fertilizer
product from
□local newspaper
Liberty Times on
Oct. 5th, 2011
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Thank you Your advices and suggestions are
appreciated
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