effective fertilizer management practices for high yield rice

Effective Fertilizer Management Practices
for High Yield Rice Production of
Granary Areas in Malaysia
Abd Razak H, Suhaimi O, and Theeba M
Strategic Resource Research Centre, MARDI
G. P. O. Box 12301, 50774 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Abstract
High yield targets in modern rice farming should be supported by effective and efficient fertilizer management
practices. Overdependence on blanket subsidy fertilizer recommendation is unable to produce high yield. Sitespecific balanced fertilizer recommendation option by FERTO package is able to enhance crop performance,
subsequently achieving high yield target. The significant yield increment (up to 300 %) using FERTO
package recommendation is accomplished because due consideration is given to four basic principles of
fertilizer management, i.e. nutrient quantity, nutrient access, indigenous soil fertility status, and balanced
crop requirement. Site-specific approach of the FERTO package recommendation is complex. Therefore,
FERTO package recommendation is more applicable to large-scale commercialized rice production. Thus,
for policy formulation, FERTO package recommendation has to be transformed into formulation according
to cropping zones. Development of fertilizer formulation according to cropping zone is more practical and
can easily be managed by fertilizer suppliers and rice estate managers. The formulation can also be adopted
by progressive small-scale farmers. Fourteen fertilizer formulations for specific management zones within
the granary areas were identified in this study. The formulation is able to enrich proportionate vegetative
and reproductive growth for high rice-yield performance. However, the application of FERTO package
recommendation rate can be further enhanced by using straight fertilizers in place of the present subsidy
mixture or compound fertilizers. These straight fertilizers are much cheaper compared to the mixture or
compound fertilizers in the market. Therefore, the adoptions of FERTO package using straight fertilizers will
reduce cost of production and ultimately increase net farm returns.
Keywords: Rice, FERTO package, fertilizer recommendation, high yield, granary areas.
Introduction
Overdependence on fertilizer input to boost yield
performance is a common practice in rice farming.
Subsidy fertilizer was introduced in Peninsular
Malaysia in 1979 (Wong and Jegatheesan, 1990).
The subsidy fertilizer is a blanket recommendation
rate. The recommendation was developed through
fertilizer studies under transplanting cultural
practices using varieties with low to medium
yield performance (3.5-5.0 t/ha). As a result of
rapid industrialization and rising labor costs in
the late 80s, the labor-intensive transplanting
technique was abandon and farmers opted for
direct seeding (Hamzah and Zanil Abidin, 1990).
Since then, production system in rice farming
(post-harvest field management, land preparation,
crop establishment, weed management, pest and
disease control, and new high-yielding variety)
has greatly improved. The amount of nitrogen (N)
in the subsidy fertilizer was also increased from
around 63 kg/ha in early 1980s to 80 kg/ha in late
1980s, and further increased to 110 kg/ha in 1990s
(Aminuddin et al., 2004). The blanket approach
of fertilizer recommendation remains until now.
However, the national and granary average yields
only hover around 3.5 and 3.8 t/ha, respectively
(Abd Razak et al., 2004).
The National Agricultural Policy 3 (NAP3)
placed significant importance on food security,
improving farm return, and eradication of poverty
among farmers (Anon, 1999a). Rice farming,
dominated by poor farmers, is one of a targeted
sector that was given the emphasis. Towards this,
the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) proposed a new
yield target of 10 t/ha (Abd Razak et al., 2002),
which subsequently would increase farmer’s
income. With the introduction of modern high1
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yielding varieties as a result of intensive research
and development program, the targeted yield
will reasonably be achievable. However, the
newly introduced variety is known to be more
responsive to fertilizer (Kundu and Ladha, 1999).
Experiences have shown that the blanket fertilizer
recommendation, which lack consideration for
balanced crop nutrient requirement and in-situ soil
fertility status, is a major factor constraining high
yield achievement of the new varieties. Therefore,
this paper examines a new approach of fertilizer
management technology towards approaching 10.0
t/ha yield target under a set crop for high production.
It involves FERTO package application to calculate
site-specific balanced fertilizer recommendation
for set high-yield target.
Materials and Methods
FERTO package verification
The Fertilizer Recommendation Tool (FERTO)
package was developed by MARDI. It provides
site-specific fertilizer recommendation options.
Before embarking on the exercise, the fitness of
the model needs to be verified. For that purpose,
various production-scale trials during main and
off-seasons were conducted in MADA Kedah and
KADA Kelantan. Soils from the study plots were
sampled before land preparation. The soil was
analyzed in the laboratory to determine its physicochemical characteristics. Data was used to run the
model, after which fertilizer recommendation for
high yield production of the sites were produced
for validation.
Farm
management
activities
started
immediately after previous crop harvesting. The
first activity was post-harvest field management
involving slashing and burning of the above ground
biomass. It was followed by first and second
rotovations with raking under dried field condition.
Final rotovation with land smoothing (nuplo) was
carried out under wet condition. Immediately after
that, broadcast seeding under water using motorized
blower was undertaken. Germinated seed at rate
150 kg/ha of variety MR219 was used in this
study. After seeding, in-field water was drained to
saturation point for even seedling establishment.
Other routine agronomic practices throughout the
cropping cycle were strictly followed, such as
infield water-depth control, weed management,
and pest and disease control to ensure a better crop
growth and to minimize yield loss.
Fertilizer rate with four split applications, as
recommended by FERTO package model, was
followed. Various growth performance indicators
of crop at vegetative and reproductive stages such
as number of tiller per square meter, number of
leaf per tiller, and crop height were monitored to
ensure crop achieve criteria of high production
performance crop set. Finally, overall plot yield was
measured during harvesting. Crop data will be used
to indicate the performance of FERTO package
recommendation in achieving high yield target.
Yield from the study plot will also be compared
with yield from the neighboring plots that were
managed by farmer.
Mapping of fertilizer recommendation for
granary areas
In Peninsular, rice is planted on 44 major soil
series covering eight granary areas (Table 1). The
physico-chemical characteristics of the soils were
extracted from various soil survey reports prepared
by Department of Agriculture. The data was used
as input databases together with pre-set nutrient
status for high-yielding crop and the set yield
target to run the model. Only output from fertilizer
recommendation window of the model that
consists of N, P2O5, K2O, and processed chicken
manure (CM) was used to develop fertilizer
recommendation maps through integration with
geographic information system (GIS). Each
recommendation rate was spatially displayed by
one pixel that represents the actual area sizes of
100 ha.
Development of fertilizer management
zone
Using cluster analysis of GIS, fertilizer
recommendation rates were summarized into
fertilizer management zones. Dominant fertilizer
recommendation rate of a growing area was used to
represent the fertilizer management zones. Range
of maximum and minimum fertilizer rate of each
fertilizer element was also taken consideration.
Results and Discussion
Fertilizer recommendation rate
Table 2 shows the fertilizer recommendation rates
that were generated by FERTO package for plots
in MADA and KADA areas, based on the physicochemical properties of the soils and the set yield
target. The recommendations had fertilizer rates
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Table 1. Major soil series planted with rice in the granary areas
No
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Soil series
Akob
Bakau
Batu Hitam
Bernam
Binjai
Briah
Brown Clay
Chempaka
Chengai
Cherang Hangus
Guar
No Soil series
No
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
Hutan
Idris
Jabil
Jawa
Kangkong
Kecai
Kranji
Kuala Kedah
Kuala Perlis
Kundur
Lating
Soil series
Linau
Lubuk Itik
Lubok Sendong
Lunas
Lundang
Manik
Organic Clay
Pasir Putih
Sabrang
Sedaka
Sedu
No
Soil series
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
Selangor
Sembrin
Serong
Sintok
Sungai Amin
Tebengau
Telemong
Telok
Tepus
Tok Yong
Tualang
Table 2. FERTO package and farmer fertilizer rates used in the study locations
Granary
Location (Season)
MADA
KADA
Kobah (1/2000)
Ketereh (1/2001)
Meranti (1/2002)
Meranti (2/2002)
Meranti (1/2003)
Senor (1/2003)
FERTO Rate
Farmer Rate
N
P2O5
K2O
CM
(kg/ha)
197
137
188
124
124
149
95
49
85
94
94
95
150
129
195
221
221
222
1568
3400
3400
2393
800
2418
ranging between 124 and 197 kg/ha for N, 45 and
95 kg/ha for P2O5, 129 and 222 kg/ha for K2O, and
between 800 and 3400 kg/ha for chicken manure
(CM). Generally, potassium fertilizer and chicken
manure are recommended in higher amounts for
crop in KADA, than in MADA. It is due to low
potassium and cation exchange capacity (CEC)
status of KADA soils, thus inability to enhance high
yield. Soils originating from riverine alluvium with
1:1 parent material clay like KADA are generally
of low inherent fertility status. MADA soil with
marine 2:1 clay are always better in fertility
status as indicated by their high organic matter
content and CEC status. These two parameters are
important to ensure that the fertilizer applied can
be held by the soil before it can be taken up by the
crop. Otherwise, the crop has less opportunity to
absorb the applied fertilizer because most of it will
be lost through leaching process.
Normally, applied fertilizer is recommended
to be split into various applications timing to
N
P2O5
K2O
135
149
192
192
192
150
75
89
110
110
110
90
55
69
124
124
124
70
optimize crop nutrient uptake and minimize loss
through leaching and evaporation processes.
Therefore, FERTO package recommends four split
applications, i.e. basal dressing, first top-dressing,
second top-dressing, and final top-dressing during
specific crop growing stages (Table 3). For basal
application, compound fertilizer (15:15:15) at a
blanket rate of 200 kg/ha was applied at seedling
stage, about 15 days after seeding (DAS). Split
applications of straight fertilizers for top-dressing
were varied according to locality, depending on the
rates recommended by FERTO package (Abd Razak
et al., 2004). Chicken manure, if recommended,
will be applied at early tillering stage, about 25
DAS. Fertilizer rate for each split application
will be calculated by the model as formulated in
the knowledge base. High N and K2O rates were
recommended at vegetative and reproductive
stages, respectively. This will ensure development
of quality tillers and productive panicles to attain
high yield performance.
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Table 3. Split applications of FERTO package fertilizer recommendation rate.
Location: Senor (KADA)
Sampling date : 15/04/03
Season : I
Seeding date : 15/05/03
Recommendation
N
P2O5
rate (kg/ha)
K2O
CM
149
95
222
Split
Crop
NPK
UREA
Application
stage
(15:15:15)
(46)
Basal dressing
Organic fertilizer
1st Top-dressing
2nd Top-dressing
Final top-dressing
2418
MOP
(60)
(kg/ha)
TSP
(46)
CM
Seedling
200
Early tillering
Active tillering
42
72
110
Panicle initiation
132
124
65
Initial heading
84
124
2418
Table 4. Yield performance based on FERTO package and farmer fertilizer rates
Granary
Location (Season)
MADA
KADA
FERTO
Plot size (ha)
FERTO yield
(t/ha)
Farmer yield
(t/ha)
3.1
0.4
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.3
10.1
8.1
7.6
7.9
8.7
7.1
5.5
3.5
2.5
3.5
3.5
1.7
Kobah (1/2000)
Ketereh (1/2001)
Meranti (1/2002)
Meranti (2/2002)
Meranti (1/2003)
Senor (1/2003)
Crop yield performance
The yields obtained from the study plots with
FERTO package recommendation rates and
from the farmer plots are summarized in Table 4.
The yields ranged from 7.1 to 10.1 t/ha with the
FERTO package rate and from 1.7 to 5.5 t/ha with
farmers’ management. The yield was increased
significantly in Senor (KADA) exceeding 300
%, while in Kobah (MADA) yield improvement
exceeded 80 %. In Ketereh and Meranti, yield
increase between 125 and 200% was recorded.
The yields from FERTO package plot were higher
compared to the farmer’s plot, indicating that the
application of FERTO package rate has positive
impact on improving rice yield performance. The
success of the recommendation is attributed to
the incorporation of four principles of effective
fertilizer management to ensure proportionate
vegetative growth and reproductive development
(Suhaimi and Abd Razak, 2004). These principles
are:
i. Nutrient quantity (amount of fertilizer
required for set yield target),
ii. Nutrient access (continuous nutrient
availability throughout a cropping cycle),
iii.Indigenous soil fertility status , and
iv. Balanced crop nutrient requirement
(appropriate nutrient ratio at specific crop
stages).
Based on the achievements, the recommended
FERTO package rates are able to improve rice yield
performance towards achieving the set yield target.
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Spatial fertilizer recommendation
Fertilizer recommendation rates for high rice yield
performance of granary areas are spatially displayed
in different N, P2O5, K2O, and CM maps (Fig. 1-4).
The recommended rate is based on single pixel
that represents 100 ha on the ground. The nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium fertilizer rates range
between 109 and 198, 79 and 97, and 135 and 233
kg/ha, respectively. The chicken manure (media
with capacity to continuously supply available
nutrient in minute quantities throughout the crop
cycle) ranges between 0 (no application) and 3.2 t/
ha. Soils with CEC exceeding 25 meq/100 g soil do
not require chicken manure application due to their
ability to hold applied nutrients and are less prone to
leaching process. Based on FERTO package yield
performance, it can be concluded that the blanket
subsidy fertilizer rate (120N: 60P2O5: 40K2O kg/
ha) is deficient in nutrients to achieve the yield
target. Therefore, to achieve the high yield target
set by MOA, additional fertilizer, as recommended
by FERTO package, should be included in the
recommendation. The additional fertilizer can be
incorporated into the present policy of subsidy
fertilizer to help poor small-scale farmers realize
the high yield target.
MADA I
MADA II
MADA IV
KADA
MADA III
Semerak-Kemasin
Kelantan
KETARA
Terengganu
IADP Penang
Krian Laut Perak
PBLS North
Selangor
Krian Darat Perak
PBLS South
Selangor
FELCRA
Seb. Perak
Sungai Manik
Fig. 1. Nitrogen fertilizer rate (kg/ha) for high yield performance of rice in the granary areas
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MADA I
MADA II
MADA IV
KADA
MADA III
Semerak-Kemasin
Kelantan
KETARA
Terengganu
IADP Penang
Krian Laut Perak
PBLS North
Selangor
Krian Darat Perak
PBLS South
Selangor
FELCRA
Seb. Perak
Sungai Manik
Fig. 2. Phosphorus fertilizer rate (kg/ha) for high yield performance of
rice in the granary areas.
Fertilizer management zone
The use of site-specific FERTO package
recommendation as a new subsidy fertilizer is
complicated. The recommendation rate may
hinder producers or suppliers to formulate
the fertilizer. To overcome the problem, regrouping the recommendation based on dominant
recommendation rate through cluster analysis was
done. Each recommendation rate is specifically
targeted for a cropping zone. A total of 14 cropping
zones were identified. Table 5 shows the fertilizer
recommendation zones of N, P2O5, K2O and CM that
can be utilized to achieve 10 t/ha yield target. The
N, P2O5, K2O and CM range between 140 and 170,
80 and 95, 190 and 230, and 800 and 2500 kg/ha,
respectively. The FERTO package recommendation
zoning essentially is the delineation of the current
eight granary areas into 14 zones with locationspecific fertilizer rate (Table 5).
On top of efficient fertilizer management,
other agronomic practices must come together
towards achieving sufficient crop population for
set high-yield target. Insufficient crop population
per unit area is one of the major constraints that
hinder high yield performance. The problem will
exist due to existence of low and high spots in the
plot due to poor land preparation (Suhaimi and
Abd Razak, 2004). Low spot will cause water
ponding, subsequently resulting in low seedling
establishment. High spot will expose the soil
surface to drying, causing tiller death and heavy
weed infestations. High spot with shallow water
depth will stimulate the crops to produce excess
tiller numbers. This phenomenon will result in
the development of non-uniform tiller quality that
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MADA I
MADA II
MADA IV
KADA
MADA III
Semerak-Kemasin
Kelantan
KETARA
Terengganu
IADP Penang
Krian Laut Perak
PBLS North
Selangor
Krian Darat Perak
PBLS South
Selangor
FELCRA
Seb. Perak
Sungai Manik
Fig. 3. Potassium fertilizer rate (kg/ha) for high yield performance of
rice in the granary areas
MADA I
MADA II
MADA IV
KADA
MADA III
Semerak-Kemasin
Kelantan
KETARA
Terengganu
IADP Penang
Krian Laut Perak
PBLS North
Selangor
Krian Darat Perak
PBLS South
Selangor
FELCRA
Seb. Perak
Sungai Manik
Fig. 4. Chicken manure rate (kg/ha) for high yield performance of
rice in the granary areas
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Table 5. Fertilizer recommendation zones by FERTO package for high rice yield
performance
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Zone name
MADA I
MADA II
MADA III
MADA IV
IADP Penang
Krian Laut
Krian Darat
FELCRA Seberang Perak
Sungai Manik
PBLS North
PBLS South
KETARA
Semerak-Kemasin
KADA
N
P2O5
170
160
160
170
140
140
140
140
140
160
150
160
160
170
80
80
85
85
85
95
85
85
95
85
80
95
95
95
definitely cannot produce high yield performance.
Proper management of infield water depth together
with application of chemicals will prevent weed
infestation effectively.
Other yield reduction factors affecting high
yield performance are pest and disease attack
(Abdul Latif et al., 1990), and harvesting and field
handling losses. Pest and disease attack can be
minimized through calendar sprays as practiced
by many progressive farmers. Harvesting and field
handling losses can be reduced through proper
supervision during operation by respective growers.
Conclusion
From the present study, it can be concluded that
adoption of proposed FERTO package fertilizer
management practices is able to achieve the 10 t/ha
yield target. The practice will enable rice farmers
to achieve high and sustainable rice production at
farm level. Subsequently, national rice production
can be increased, self-sufficiency level can be met,
and import of rice commodity can be reduced for
the purpose of balance of trade. The complexity
to follow FERTO package recommendation as
mentioned earlier can be overcome if growers are
willing to accept a new subsidy fertilizer approach
using straight fertilizers. Under such circumstances,
the FERTO package recommendation can be
adopted by growers with additional benefit of cost
saving because straight fertilizers are cheaper than
(kg/ha)
K2O
CM
200
200
200
200
190
190
190
190
230
230
200
230
230
230
800
500
500
800
1000
500
1000
1500
2500
1000
500
1800
2500
2000
the compound fertilizer currently used. This will
increase crop performance and yield achievement,
reduce cost of production, and increase net farm
return.
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