The zero-growth target for chemical fertilizers will definitely be achieved by 2020

On May 28, the China Slow/Controlled-Release Fertilizer Ten-Year Development Summit was held at the Xijiao Hotel in Beijing. He Caiwen, deputy director of the Department of Crop Production of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the reduction of chemical fertilizers will certainly be substantially reduced, and it can ensure that China's comprehensive agricultural production capacity does not decline, and the zero growth of chemical fertilizers by 2020 will definitely be achieved.

He Caiwen said that the Ministry of Agriculture's proposal of the goal of zero growth of chemical fertilizers by 2020 is mainly based on the current goal put forward by the central government to strengthen ecological civilization construction, reduce environmental pollution, and control non-point source pollution. Since the Ministry of Agriculture proposed the zero-growth action last year, it has received strong support from all sectors of society. The business community, scientific research institutions and large-scale growers have all expressed welcome and appreciation, and have taken active actions to promote the implementation of the zero-growth target.

From the perspective of the Ministry of Agriculture, there are mainly four aspects to reduce chemical fertilizer use and achieve the zero-growth target.

First, optimize the structure and reduce fertilizer use. Optimizing the structure mainly means optimizing the crop planting structure, that is, reducing the area of crops that use relatively large amounts of chemical fertilizers. Optimizing the planting structure includes corn, apples, vegetables, and so on. In addition, the internal structure of fertilizers must be optimized, that is, the ratio structure of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium must be optimized, and the product structure must also be optimized, with multiple varieties and multiple fertilizer structures working together.

Second, reduce fertilizer use through precision fertilization. So-called precision fertilization means that we need to achieve precision fertilization through mechanical deep fertilization, simultaneous sowing of seed and fertilizer, and so on, in order to reduce our use of chemical fertilizers.

Third, replace "reduction" with organic fertilizers. Through vigorous promotion of organic fertilizers and subsidies from the central finance, the use of organic fertilizers will gradually increase, replacing part of chemical fertilizers.

Fourth, demonstrate and promote fertilizer reduction through new types of business entities. At present, the use of chemical fertilizers by new types of business entities across the country accounts for about 40%. Identifying new types of business entities means identifying the main channel for fertilizer sales. Whoever grasps the new types of business entities will gain the future market.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture achieved obvious results in the one year since implementing zero growth of chemical fertilizers, and also selected the three major crops of corn, vegetables and apples, and set up 60 pilot counties to promote fertilizer reduction models. According to statistics, last year the increase in chemical fertilizer use was 0.4%. Previously, the annual increase was about more than 1%, and the increase has already been reduced by nearly 1 percentage point. To achieve zero growth of chemical fertilizers by 2020, the annual increase needs to be reduced by 0.2 points, and it has already been reduced by nearly 1 point. Chemical fertilizers not only need to grow, but also need negative growth, which is entirely possible.

Since slow/controlled-release fertilizers were written into the No. 1 Central Document, the Ministry of Agriculture has treated slow/controlled-release fertilizers as a new fertilizer and new technology for key promotion, and it should be said that very good results have been achieved. As part of the action for zero growth of chemical fertilizers, slow/controlled-release fertilizers are also promoted as a key technology.

Overall, fertilizer production capacity is excessive, and fertilizer production has indeed greatly exceeded our actual use. It should be said that previously, whatever fertilizer enterprises produced, farmers used. Now this concept should be changed, that is, whatever fertilizer farmers want to use, enterprises should adapt to the needs of agricultural production and produce that kind of fertilizer. This should be a major conceptual shift. From the perspective of the use of slow/controlled-release fertilizers, they can extend fertilizer efficiency, reduce labor, save costs, and indeed have a very good effect on the environment.

From the current situation, in terms of slow/controlled-release fertilizers, scientific research institutions and enterprises should strengthen cooperation. According to crop fertilizer demand patterns, different soil types, dryland farming areas, paddy field areas, and different regions, different varieties of slow/controlled-release fertilizers should be researched to adapt to the needs of crops at different stages and different growth periods. At present, some enterprises and some scientific research units have achievements in this area, but scientific research efforts in this area still need to be increased, so that China's slow/controlled-release fertilizers can develop more healthily and steadily, and so that ordinary people can benefit more.