Significant improvement achieved in fertilizer and pesticide utilization rates for the three major staple grains
On December 2, the Ministry of Agriculture held a press briefing, at which Zeng Yande, Director of the Department of Crop Production Management, revealed that according to scientific measurement, in 2015 the fertilizer utilization rate for China's three major grain crops - rice, corn and wheat - was 35.2%, an increase of 2.2 percentage points over 2013; the pesticide utilization rate was 36.6%, an increase of 1.6 percentage points over 2013.
The measurements show that a 2.2 percentage point increase in the fertilizer utilization rate reduced urea use by 1 million tons, cut farmers' production input by about 1.8 billion yuan, and the reduced fertilizer input was equivalent to reducing nitrogen emissions by 478,000 tons and saving 1 million tons of coal for burning. A 1.6 percentage point increase in the pesticide utilization rate reduced pesticide use by 15,200 tons and cut farmers' production input by about 800 million yuan, protecting the soil and water environment. The reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is a comprehensive set of measures; in particular, pesticide reduction mostly adopts green control technologies such as ecological control, biological control and physical control, which help reduce pesticide residues and ensure the quality and safety of agricultural products.
Since the beginning of this year, while solidly advancing the “Action to Achieve Zero Growth in Chemical Fertilizer Use by 2020” and the “Action to Achieve Zero Growth in Pesticide Use by 2020”, the Ministry of Agriculture has organized experts to carry out the measurement of fertilizer and pesticide utilization rates, separately formulated work plans for measuring fertilizer and pesticide utilization rates, defined the measurement methods and content, and organized national soil and fertilizer and plant protection technology extension departments to conduct extensive field tests and collect relevant data. At the same time, it established mathematical models, carried out scientific measurement, compared and analyzed the measurement results with monitoring data, and then organized experts to conduct full verification. The experts unanimously agreed that the measurement methods are relatively scientific and the measurement results are relatively consistent with reality.
In recent years, the reduction of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and the increase of their efficiency have produced a set of mature technical models and an effective working mechanism, which is the basis for continuously improving fertilizer and pesticide utilization rates. Next, the Ministry of Agriculture will step up efforts and strengthen measures, accelerate the transformation of fertilization and pesticide application methods, and promote technologies such as mechanical deep application of chemical fertilizer, mechanical topdressing, simultaneous sowing of seed and fertilizer, and integrated water and fertilizer application according to local conditions; promote and apply green control technologies such as agricultural control, biological control and physical control according to different crops and pests and diseases, and advance the integration of unified pest and disease control with green control. It will accelerate the promotion of new and highly efficient fertilizers and pesticides, focusing on the research and development of new products such as highly efficient slow-release fertilizers, highly efficient low-toxicity and low-residue pesticides, and biological fertilizers and pesticides; actively promote advanced fertilization and pesticide application machinery and accelerate the replacement of outdated machinery. It will accelerate the development of socialized service organizations and improve equipment conditions and service capabilities. It will actively explore effective ways for the government to purchase public welfare services, encourage socialized service organizations to participate in the action to achieve zero growth in chemical fertilizer and pesticide use, and provide scientific fertilization and pesticide application services on a larger scale.