Balanced use of fertilizer can help raise rice yield

The recommendations of Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) for balanced use of fertiliser would help increase average yield of rice by 20-25 per cent and other crops by 10-15 per cent, said a study of soil scientists.
The study, conducted by the SRDI in 20 districts during the Boro season in 2008-09, found that Boro production under block demonstrations through applying proper dose of fertiliser had upped yield on average by 32 per cent.
In Dinajpur district, the study showed that the highest yield through cultivating BR-29 in demonstration plot was 7.5 tonnes per hectare while in farmers field it was only 6 tonnes.
The yield of BR-28 in demonstration plot was 6.5 tonnes in Rajshahi district while in farmers field it was only 4.5 tonnes, the study said adding that the yield gap between the plot and the field in the district is about two tonnes per hectare that means balanced dose of fertiliser ensured 44 per cent more yield than the farmers’ field.
Appropriate use of fertilizer, which is a key input for crop production, can return an optimal yield whereas improper use can result in lower productivity, said SRDI Senior Scientific Officer Md Moqbul Hossain.
The official, however, said the first sign of yield stagnation due to improper fertilizer use in Bangladesh is appearing. He added: “To sustain crop productivity, it is important to ensure the availability and supply of fertilizer to the farmers along with information, related to proper application.”
To keep up the increasing productivity, the SRDI has already introduced digital fertiliser recommendation system under the pilot phase for the farmers of 30 upazilas with the cooperation of the Katalyst, a marketing development project, Grameenphone and Banglalink.
The farmers of these upazilas would get service from Grameenphone Community Information Centres (CICs) and from helpline ‘Jigyasha 7676’ of Banglalink.
The farmers will have to provide five pieces of basic information like name of crop, type of land, name of district, name of upazila and name of union to get the service from the centre and the helpline.
Anybody can call the helpline from any part of the country to get updated agricultural information such as improved farming method and crop diseases, and information on poultry and fisheries and government forms and so on. The service is available round-the-clock.
Regarding the system, Principal Scientific Officer of SRDI Mainul Ahsan told BSS that they have a plan to reach the service to the farmers of 100 upazilas through the CICs from January next year.

Courtesy of BSS, Dhaka