How high is the utilization rate of chemical fertilizers and pesticides? The Ministry of Agriculture releases data for the first time
On December 2, the Ministry of Agriculture released data on the utilization rates of chemical fertilizers and pesticides for the first time: in 2015, the fertilizer utilization rate for China's three major grain crops - rice, corn and wheat - was 35.2%, 2.2 percentage points higher than in 2013; the pesticide utilization rate was 36.6%, 1.6 percentage points higher than in 2013. This was the first time the Ministry of Agriculture released such data since the implementation of the “Zero Growth Action for Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticide Use.”
A 2.2% increase in fertilizer utilization rate = 1.8 billion yuan saved
The increase in the utilization rates of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has produced significant effects in many aspects. According to estimates, a 2.2 percentage point increase in the fertilizer utilization rate can reduce urea use by 1 million tons, reduce nitrogen emissions by 478,000 tons, save 1 million tons of coal for burning, and reduce farmers' production input by about 1.8 billion yuan; a 1.6 percentage point increase in the pesticide utilization rate reduces farmers' production input by about 800 million yuan, and also helps reduce pesticide residues, ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products, and protect soil and water environments. In recent years, the benefits of reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use have produced a mature set of technical models and an effective working mechanism, which is the basis for continuously improving the utilization rates of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
⟦NL> There is still a gap between China's fertilizer and pesticide utilization rates and those of developed countries
At present, China's chemical fertilizer and pesticide utilization rates remain relatively low, and there is still a large gap compared with developed countries in Europe and America. At present, the nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate for grain crops in the United States is generally about 50%. The utilization rate for grain crops in major European countries is generally about 65%, 15 to 30 percentage points higher than in China. The pesticide utilization rate for grain crops such as wheat and corn in developed countries in Europe and America is 50% to 60%, 15 to 25 percentage points higher than in China.
In addition, the utilization intensity of land and other resources in China is very high. Some areas in the south have multiple crops a year, the Huang-Huai-Hai region has two crops a year, and only areas north of the Great Wall have one crop a year. In contrast, countries in Europe and the Americas mostly have one crop a year, and some countries also practice fallowing and crop rotation. Countries such as those in Europe and America generally have a plough layer of more than 35 cm through deep ploughing and deep loosening and straw return, while the plough layer in most parts of China is only 15 to 20 cm, with poor water and fertilizer retention capacity.
Improving the utilization rates of chemical fertilizers and pesticides requires a multi-pronged approach. In order to carry out the “Zero Growth Action for Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticide Use by 2020” and guide the green development of agriculture, it is necessary to accelerate the transformation of fertilization and pesticide application methods. Promote technologies such as mechanical deep application, mechanical topdressing, simultaneous seeding and fertilizing, and integrated water and fertilizer management according to local conditions. According to different crops and pests and diseases, promote green prevention and control technologies such as agricultural control, biological control and physical control, and advance the integration of unified prevention and control with green prevention and control. Accelerate the promotion of new efficient fertilizers and pesticides.
At present, the product structure of China's chemical fertilizers and pesticides is still not very reasonable, the technical content is not high, and the promotion of advanced and suitable fertilization and pesticide application machinery is relatively lagging. In the next step, the focus should be on developing new products such as efficient slow-release fertilizers, efficient low-toxicity and low-residue pesticides, and biological fertilizers and pesticides, and actively promoting advanced fertilization and pesticide application machinery. It is even more necessary to accelerate the development of socialized service organizations and encourage socialized service organizations to participate in the “Zero Growth Action for Chemical Fertilizer and Pesticide Use.”