Ministry of Agriculture Issues 2015 Spring Technical Guidance on Scientific Fertilization for Major Crops

This website reports:  Proper management of fertilizer and water is a key measure in spring agricultural production. To strengthen technical guidance on scientific fertilization for major spring crops, the Ministry of Agriculture recently organized relevant experts to formulate and issue the "2015 Spring Technical Guidance on Scientific Fertilization for Major Crops" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidance").

The "Guidance," taking into account the spring climate characteristics and current agricultural production realities, scientifically analyzed the main problems existing in water and fertilizer management for various crops, and proposed spring fertilization management principles for 8 major categories of crops by region and by variety, including wheat, rice, spring corn, rapeseed, Northeast soybeans, cotton, fruit trees, and vegetables. Based on differences in soil moisture, seedling condition, fertilizer condition, and target yield, it provided recommendations for reasonable fertilization amounts, fertilization ratios, and fertilization methods.

Currently, problems commonly exist in agricultural production such as excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer, imbalanced proportions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients, insufficient input of organic fertilizer, uncoordinated water and fertilizer management, and extensive fertilization methods. In response to these problems, experts pointed out that it is necessary to reasonably regulate water and fertilizer, increase the application of organic fertilizer, appropriately spray foliar fertilizer, and vigorously promote techniques such as simultaneous seeding and fertilizing, deep mechanical application, and integrated water and fertilizer management. At the same time, further advance soil testing and formulated fertilization, guide farmers to select suitable formulated fertilizers, improve fertilizer utilization efficiency, and promote crop yield increases.

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I. Wheat

(1) Irrigated winter wheat region of the North China Plain. Includes all of Shandong Province and Tianjin Municipality, central and southern Hebei Province, central and southern Beijing Municipality, central and northern Henan Province, the Guanzhong Plain of Shaanxi Province, and southern Shanxi Province.

1.Fertilization Management Principles
(1) Based on seedling condition and growth vigor, apply nitrogen fertilizer in split applications, appropriately increasing the proportion applied during the mid-to-late jointing stage; scientifically determine the amount and timing of topdressing based on the amount of basal (base) fertilizer applied, seedling condition, temperature, and soil fertility status; topdress according to local conditions, seedling conditions, and timing.
(2) Based on soil moisture and water-retention and fertilizer-retention capacity, reasonably determine irrigation amount and timing, achieving integrated water and fertilizer management.
(3) Seize the favorable opportunity of wheat greening and jointing, promptly adopt measures to promote and control growth, promote the transformation of weak seedlings, and increase the spike-forming rate; control excessively vigorous fields to prevent late-season delayed senescence and lodging.

2.Fertilization Recommendations
(1) For third-class wheat fields with a total stem number per mu of less than 450,000 before greening, lighter leaf color, and poorer growth vigor, fertilizer and water management should be carried out promptly, and spring topdressing can be done in two applications. The first at the greening stage, applying 5-8 kg of urea per mu with irrigation; the second at the jointing stage, applying 5-10 kg of urea per mu with irrigation.
(2) For second-class wheat fields with a total stem number per mu between 450,000 and 600,000 before greening and a somewhat small population, apply 10-15 kg of urea per mu combined with irrigation at the wheat stem-elongation stage. 
(3) For first-class wheat fields with a total stem number per mu between 600,000 and 800,000 before greening and an appropriate population, apply 12-15 kg of urea per mu combined with irrigation at the jointing stage.
(4) For wheat fields with a total stem number per mu greater than 800,000 before greening, dark green leaf color, and a tendency toward excessive growth, intertillage and compaction should be adopted at the greening stage, delaying the timing of nitrogen fertilizer application and reducing the amount of nitrogen fertilizer, to control excessive population growth and prevent lodging and delayed senescence. Generally, 8-10 kg of urea per mu can be applied at the late jointing stage.
(5) For wheat affected by early spring frost damage, immediately apply 5-10 kg of urea and irrigate, to promote early tillering of wheat, increase the spike-forming rate of tillers, and reduce frost damage losses.
(6) For fields where phosphate fertilizer was not applied as basal fertilizer or that are deficient in phosphorus, topdress with diammonium phosphate. Where potassium fertilizer was not applied or applied in insufficient amounts, it is recommended to topdress with nitrogen-potassium compound fertilizer at the greening or jointing stage; combine with sheath blight control and "one spray, three preventions" measures to carry out foliar topdressing to compensate for phosphorus and potassium; where there are no irrigation conditions or no effective rainfall, foliar spraying of urea and monopotassium phosphate can be adopted in spring, serving the purpose of supplementing water with fertilizer.
(7) During the wheat grain-filling stage, foliar spraying of monopotassium phosphate, boron fertilizer, and zinc fertilizer can be carried out to prevent dry hot winds and lodging, increase grain-filling intensity, and increase grain weight.
(8) For wheat fields in sulfur-deficient areas, if calcium superphosphate, potassium sulfate, sulfur-based compound fertilizer, etc. were not applied as basal fertilizer, ammonium sulfate should be selected for the first topdressing, with a sulfur application amount of about 2 kg per mu.
(9) Many farmers do not harrow after rotary tillage, causing overly deep sowing that results in deep-sown weak seedlings with few tillers and weak seedling vigor. For such fields, it is recommended to topdress with 10-15 kg of urea at the greening stage.

(2) Rainfed winter wheat region of the North China Plain. Includes areas north of the Huai River in Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces, and southeastern Henan Province.

1.Fertilization Management Principles
(1) According to different local soil moisture conditions, combine compaction and intertillage hoeing before wheat greening, to preserve soil moisture, raise soil temperature to promote seedling transformation, and improve wheat drought resistance.
(2) Wheat fertilization should grasp the principle of layered, multiple, and small-amount applications, combining with meteorological conditions, applying small amounts by shallow burial before and after rainfall or snowfall while taking advantage of moisture, and not exposing fertilizer to the air after application.

2.Fertilization Recommendations
(1) Taking advantage of early spring soil greening or rainfall and snowfall, use a fertilizer drill or open furrows for banded application, applying 5-7 kg of urea per mu, and cover with soil after application. If rainfall occurs in the middle and late growth stages, an additional 5-8 kg of urea per mu can be topdressed. For phosphorus-deficient fields, use 7-10 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu; for potassium-deficient plots, topdress with 15-20 kg of nitrogen-potassium compound fertilizer; cover with soil after application.
(2) To prevent later drought, carry out timely compaction before soil thawing and greening, breaking clods, settling the soil, and conserving moisture. Compaction should be combined with intertillage hoeing, first pressing then hoeing. Before wheat canopy closure, cover between rows with 200-300 kg of wheat or corn straw per mu to reduce soil moisture evaporation losses.
(3) If excessive growth occurred before the previous year with a total stem number greater than 800,000, due to the excessive wheat population consuming nutrients severely, and spring wheat seedlings turn yellow or patches turn yellow, topdressing can be done in 2-3 applications from greening to jointing, applying 10 kg of high-nitrogen compound fertilizer per mu per application.
(4) For wheat populations that became too small due to drought during the overwintering period (third-class wheat fields with a total stem number per mu of less than 450,000 before greening, lighter leaf color, and poorer growth vigor), fertilizer and water management should be carried out promptly, with topdressing done in 2-3 applications from greening to jointing, applying 5-8 kg of urea per mu per application following rainfall.
(5) Combine with sheath blight control and "one spray, three preventions" measures to carry out foliar topdressing to compensate for sulfur, zinc, boron, and other medium and trace elements, spraying urea and monopotassium phosphate, etc., serving the purpose of supplementing water with fertilizer.
(3) Winter wheat region of the middle and lower Yangtze River. Includes Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, southern Henan Province, and areas south of the Huai River in Anhui and Jiangsu Provinces.

1.Fertilization Management Principles
(1) Last winter, the middle and lower Yangtze River region was on the warm side, and this spring many places have had more rain and snow. According to local soil moisture and seedling conditions, carry out compaction or hoeing before wheat greening, conserving moisture, preventing cold and frost damage, promoting seedling transformation, and enhancing wheat drought and cold resistance.
(2) Scientifically determine topdressing and irrigation amounts based on soil fertility, basal fertilizer application, seedling condition, and soil moisture, applying fertilizer and irrigation according to local conditions and seedling conditions.
(3) Combine fertilizer and water management with drought resistance, drainage, and disease, insect pest, and weed control.

2.Fertilization Recommendations
(1) Closely monitor weather conditions and seedling conditions before wheat greening, especially rainfall. If drought persists, irrigate early in spring when the weather warms up, soil evaporation increases, and wheat seedlings need soil moisture. Pay attention to temperature changes and manage irrigation amount and timing well.
(2) Make a comprehensive judgment based on winter frost damage and population conditions. If many large tillers have died from frost or the population is severely insufficient, apply greening fertilizer combined with irrigation as early as possible, to promote spring large tillers and ensure spike number.
(3) For yield levels below 300 kg/mu, apply 6-9 kg of urea per mu combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage; for yield levels of 300-400 kg/mu, apply 9-12 kg of urea per mu and 1-3 kg of potassium chloride per mu combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage; for yield levels of 400-550 kg/mu, apply 12-17 kg of urea per mu and 3-5 kg of potassium chloride per mu combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage; for yield levels above 550 kg/mu, apply 17-20 kg of urea per mu and 3-5 kg of potassium chloride per mu combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage.
(4) In some areas deficient in trace elements, it is advocated to combine with “one spray, three preventions” and with the control of diseases, insect pests, and weeds (aphids and fusarium head blight), spraying trace element foliar fertilizer at the wheat jointing stage, booting stage, and grain-filling stage; and at the wheat grain-filling stage, use 150-200 grams of monopotassium phosphate plus 0.5-1 kg of urea dissolved in 50 kg of water for foliar spraying.

(4) Northwest rainfed dryland winter wheat region. Includes northern Hebei Province, northern Beijing Municipality, southern Ulanqab City of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, most of Shanxi Province, northern Shaanxi Province, western Henan Province, northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and eastern Gansu Province.

1.Fertilization Management Principles
(1) Last winter, temperatures in the northwest dryland region were on the high side and precipitation was on the low side. This spring, according to local precipitation conditions and soil moisture, carry out compaction or hoeing before wheat greening, conserving moisture, preventing cold and frost damage, promoting seedling transformation, and enhancing wheat drought and cold resistance.
(2) According to seedling conditions, seize the opportunity to carry out early spring topdressing on frozen soil and chemical regulation, combining promotion and control, to ensure stable and increased yields of dryland wheat.

2.Fertilization Recommendations
(1) To prevent later drought, dryland wheat should promptly adopt effective water conservation measures to prevent and reduce massive soil moisture loss before early spring wheat canopy closure. Carry out timely compaction or hoeing before soil thawing and greening, breaking clods, settling the soil, and conserving moisture. For dryland that has received overwintering irrigation, hoe early before thawing and greening, breaking surface crust and eliminating cracks. Before wheat canopy closure, cover between rows with 200-300 kg of wheat or corn straw per mu to reduce soil moisture evaporation losses.
(2) For fields with insufficient fertilizer input, seize rainfall opportunities to carry out timely early spring topdressing of wheat. For nitrogen-deficient fields, apply 5-7 kg of urea per mu; for phosphorus-deficient fields, apply 7-10 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu, applying into the soil with a fertilizer applicator (drill). For irrigated dryland, combined with spring irrigation, apply 6-8 kg of urea per mu for nitrogen-deficient fields, and 8-10 kg of diammonium phosphate per mu for phosphorus-deficient fields.
(3) For fields with excessive pre-winter growth caused by early sowing and high fertilization amounts, combine promotion and control. For dryland without irrigation conditions, carry out early compaction and hoeing to conserve moisture. For dryland that has received overwintering irrigation, hoe early and delay spring irrigation until the late jointing stage.
(4) For fields sown late with weaker seedling conditions, it is advisable to carry out shallow hoeing early combined with moisture conservation, raising soil temperature and promoting the transformation of weak seedlings into strong ones.

(5) Northwest irrigated wheat region. Mainly spring wheat, including central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, central and western Gansu Province, eastern Qinghai Province, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

1.Fertilization Management Principles
(1) Determine target yield based on soil fertility, reduce nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer input, supplement potassium fertilizer, and appropriately supplement trace fertilizers.
(2) Increase application of organic fertilizer, return all straw to the field to build soil fertility, and advocate combined organic and inorganic application.
(3) “Combine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; apply basal fertilizer early; and apply topdressing skillfully.” Ensure uniform and complete seedlings. Timely topdressing to prevent excessive early growth and lodging of wheat, and nutrient deficiency and yield reduction in later stages.
(4) Fertilization should be effectively combined with irrigation. Emphasize early basal fertilizer application, mechanical seeding and fertilizing, topdressing before irrigation, and foliar spraying of zinc, boron, and other trace fertilizers at the booting stage.

2.Fertilization Recommendations
(1) Recommended formula 17-18-10 (N-P₂O₅-K₂O) or a similar formula.
(2) For yield levels of 300-400 kg/mu, recommended formulated fertilizer application rate of 20-25 kg/mu, with 10-15 kg of urea per mu topdressed combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage.
(3) For yield levels of 400-550 kg/mu, recommended formulated fertilizer application rate of 30-35 kg/mu, with 15-20 kg of urea per mu topdressed combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage.
(4) For yield levels above 550 kg/mu, recommended formulated fertilizer application rate of 35-40 kg/mu, with 15-20 kg of urea per mu topdressed combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage. 
(5) For yield levels below 300 kg/mu, recommended formulated fertilizer application rate of 15-20 kg/mu, with 5-10 kg of urea per mu topdressed combined with irrigation from the stem-elongation stage to the jointing stage.