Agriculture and Environment: Rice

Better Management Practices: Increase Efficiency of Fertilizer Usage

Synthetic fertilizers are expensive, and the volume used in rice production is quite high.

Strategies should be pursued to reduce their use while maintaining yields. This will improve producer profits. There are several ways to increase the efficiency of fertilizer usage. Nitrogen utilization rates, for example, can be improved when it is incorporated into the soil rather than sprayed on the field.

This prevents it from volatilizing. Another way to reduce the use of nitrogen by 30% or more is to incorporate the rice straw into the soils (Witte et al. 1993). By recycling rice straw through composting and mulching (e.g., basic organic fertilizer strategies), system "leakage" can be reduced considerably, thus minimizing long-term nutrient depletion.

A strategy based on nutrient management practices such as green manuring, the use of azolla, and recycling or composting crop and household wastes can restore soil fertility. The rapid cycle of building up and breaking down organic mater is what builds soil fertility. Such a strategy can limit problems of waste disposal as well as fertilizer costs (Witte et al. 1993). A more efficient use of fertilizer can reduce overall use and can be coupled with the better management practices described above.