Nutrient Manager for Rice
Nutrient Manager for Rice is a new, user-friendly computer-based decision support tool enabling extension agents to quickly formulate fertilizer guidelines for specific fields or rice-growing areas. This tool only requires information that can be easily provided by a farmer or a local expert. After answering a few key questions, a farmer can get a fertilizer guideline tailored to his rice variety and growing conditions. The guidelines generated by this tool are consistent with the scientific principles of Site-Specific Nutrient Management (SSNM) for rice developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), and will help a farmer increase his yield and profit by applying the right amount of fertilizer at the right time.
Nutrient Manager for Rice assists users in the selection of a suitable combination of fertilizer sources for meeting the nutrient needs of his rice crop and it allows the integrated use of organic materials with inorganic fertilizers. Fertilizer rates and timing are adjusted to accommodate a farmer’s use of organic sources of nutrients. It can be used for both transplanted and direct-seeded rice, including inbred and hybrid varieties with a range of growth durations.
Information needed
A. Estimating NPK requirements
The following are needed to determine the amount of N, P, and K that will be supplied by inorganic or mineral fertilizers.
• Rice yield typically attained for the target season and previous season
• Soil type (texture, color)
• Indigenous or native P and K (from omission plots, soil test, or application of P and K fertilizer in previous season)
• Crop residue management
• Other useful information (when applicable): use of manure and other organic materials, sediment deposition from flooding
B. Knowing when to apply fertilizer
The following are needed to determine the timing (days) of fertilizer application at critical growth stages of rice.
• Rice variety (growth duration from seed to harvest)
• Crop establishment (transplanted, wet seeded)
• Seedling age (for transplanted rice only)
Example for a Nutrient Manager for Riceo output: Fertilizer recommendations by growth stage including user-selected sources, timing of split applications, and cost estimate of the fertilizer program.
References:
Buresh R. Nutrient management made easy. Rice Today (Oct-Dec 2008): 32-33.
Rice: A Practical Guide to Nutrient Management. 2007. IRRI and IPNI.
For more information, please send an email to Dr. Roland Buresh at IRRI (>r.buresh@cgiar.org<) or Dr. Mirasol Pampolino at IPNI (>mpampolino@ipni.net<).
You may also access the online version of the Nutrient Manager for Rice by clicking here.
For information on SSNM for Rice, please also visit the web site >www.irri.org/irrc/ssnm<.
Go back to Software and Tools page.
|
