The research team led by Zhou Wei at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of CAAS aimed to reduce chemical fertilizer application and increase fertilizer use efficiency for the main food crops such as corn, wheat, and rice. The research team has established a new fertilizer recommendation approach based on yield response and agronomic efficiency by analyzing the nutrient demand characteristics. They have innovated key technologies for efficiently using organic fertilizer, straw, and other nutrient resources, created new fertilizer products, and integrated technical models for reducing fertilizer and increasing efficiency for main food crops. These innovations have constructed a comprehensive theoretical and technical system for efficiently using main food crops’ nutrient resources, significantly improving the efficiency of nutrient resources, crop yield, and overall benefits. The research results have been applied to 5.327 million ha of corn, wheat, and rice in the past three years. The application has increased grain yield by 5.332 billion kg, reduced the application of chemical fertilizer nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients by 413,200 tons, increased income and saving by 12.286 billion RMB, and increased net income by 10.803 billion RMB. The research has provided necessary scientific and technological support for the National Zero Growth Action of Chemical Fertilizer Use.

Field trials and demonstration of efficient fertilization of rice