INORGANIC FERTILIZER APPLICATION IN

RICE PRODUCTION
N AT I O N A L R I C E P R O G R A M Y E A R - E N D A S S E S S M E N T
AND PLANNING WORKSHOP
SUBIC HOLIDAY VILLAS, SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE,
ZAMBALES
N O V. 2 6 – 2 9 , 2 0 1 2

ELIEZER N. RINEN and EDMUND J. SANA

N AT I O N A L R I C E P R O G R A M S E C R E TA R I AT
OBJECTIVE OF THE REPORT
This report aims to show the following:
1. Extent and levels of inorganic fertilizer usage in
rice production

2. Extent and levels of inorganic nitrogen application

in rice production
RAW DATA SOURCES

Data used are from various surveys done by the Bureau of

Agricultural Statistics from 2003 to 2011.
Some data were accessed from the agency’s webpage. Data
on fertilizers were accessed from the Cereals Division of the
DA statistical agency.
TABLES, GRAPHS, OBSERVATIONS &
COMMENTS
EXTENT AND LEVELS OF INORGANIC
F E RT I L I Z E R A P P L I C AT I O N
IN RICE PRODUCTION
T a b l e 1 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n I n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n ,
N a ti o n a l , 2 0 0 3 T o 2 0 1 1 .

Area Area not

Area Applied Area not Total Area
Year Applied Applied
(%) Applied (%) Harvested (Ha)
(Ha) (Ha)
Y 2003 3,674,300 92% 332,121 8% 4,006,421

Y 2004 3,756,977 91% 369,668 9% 4,126,645

Y 2005 3,700,858 91% 369,563 9% 4,070,421

Y 2006 3,815,585 92% 344,345 8% 4,159,930

Y 2007 3,934,801 92% 338,088 8% 4,272,889

Y 2008 4,225,049 95% 234,928 5% 4,459,977

Y 2009 4,286,830 95% 245,480 5% 4,532,310

Y 2010 3,935,498 90% 418,663 10% 4,354,161

Y 2011 4,264,576 94% 272,066 6% 4,536,642

Average 3,954,942 92% 324,991 8% 4,279,933

F i g u r e 1 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n
a n d A v e r a g e Y i e l d , N a ti o n a l , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
F i g u r e 1 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n
a n d A v e r a g e Y i e l d , N a ti o n a l , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
ANALYSIS, OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS:
Inorganic Fertilizer Application in Rice Production and Average
Yield, National, 2003 to 2011
 Inorganic fertilizer is applied in 90 to 95 % of the
total rice harvest area from 2003 to 2011
 The table shows that 5 to 10 % of the total rice
harvest area was not applied with inorganic
fertilizer. The extent of unfertilized harvest area in
hectares ranged from 418,663 to 234,928
averaging 324,991 for the period 2003 to 2011
 The drastic inorganic fertilizer prices increase in
2008 did not reduce the extent of inorganic
fertilizer application relative to the total harvest
area
T a b l e 1 . 1 . A v e r a g e Q u a n ti t y ( 5 0 k g b a g ) o f I n o r g a n i c
F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i e d p e r H e c t a r e , N a ti o n a l , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1 .

Complete Urea Ammosul Ammophos

Year Others Total
(14-14-14) (46-0-0) (21-0-0) (16-20-0)

2003 1.35 1.90 0.49 0.50 0.10 4.34

2004 1.34 1.87 0.49 0.50 0.09 4.29
2005 1.31 1.87 0.50 0.54 0.09 4.31
2006 1.33 1.83 0.54 0.57 0.10 4.37
2007 1.44 1.88 0.53 0.49 0.10 4.44
2008 1.18 1.72 0.53 0.37 0.14 3.94
2009 1.22 1.88 0.47 0.42 0.00 3.99
2010 1.28 1.97 0.52 0.40 0.00 4.17
2011 1.26 1.86 0.50 0.44 0.00 4.06
Average 1.30 1.86 0.51 0.47 0.07 4.21
Note: There are no data for ARMM in CY 2010
OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS:
Average Quantity (50 kg bag) of Inorganic Fertilizer Applied
per Hectare, National, 2003 to 2011

 Table 2 shows that dominantly used inorganic

fertilizer are complete (14-14-14) and urea (46-0-
0) in terms of the number of bags applied

 The levels of inorganic fertilizer applied did not

vary much within the period 2003 to 2011 but is
lower in 2008 when prices increased drastically

 The rate applied per hectare is low relative to the

requirement of high yield rice crop.
T a b l e 1 . 2 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e
P r o d u c ti o n , R e g i o n a l A v e r a g e s , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
Applied Not Applied Total
Region
Ha Percentage Ha Percentage Ha
CAR 85,096 77% 25,225 23% 110,322
1 ILOCOS 372,832 99% 4,720 1% 377,553
2 CAG. VALLEY 498,383 98% 8,707 2% 507,091
3 CENTRAL LUZON 614,369 99% 4,482 1% 618,852
4 CALABARZON 96,066 86% 15,104 14% 111,170
4 MIMAROPA 230,882 91% 21,755 9% 252,638
5 BICOL 259,812 87% 39,016 13% 298,829
6 WESTERN VIS. 587,104 96% 23,057 4% 610,162
7 CENTRAL VIS. 88,499 92% 8,165 8% 96,664
8 EASTERN VIS. 254,603 79% 65,839 21% 320,442
9 ZAMBOANGA 134,510 94% 8,608 6% 143,118
PEN.
10 NORTHERN MIN. 131,815 97% 4,736 3% 136,551
11 DAVAO 99,133 96% 3,915 4% 103,048
12 SOCCSKSARGEN 319,162 99% 1,797 1% 320,959
13 CARAGA 115,955 90% 12,233 10% 128,188
ARMM 149,123 77% 45,636 23% 194,759
Total 4,037,349 93% 292,994 7% 4,330,343
Note: ARMM has no data in 2010.
F i g u r e 1 . 2 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n
R i c e P r o d u c ti o n , R e g i o n a l A v e r a g e s , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
F i g u r e 1 . 2 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n
R i c e P r o d u c ti o n , R e g i o n a l A v e r a g e s , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS:
Inorganic Fertilizer Application in Rice Production, Regional
Averages, 2003 to 2011

 Application of inorganic fertilizer as percentage of

the region’s harvest area is lowest at 77 % in CAR
and ARMM and slightly better Region 8 (79 %).

 The table shows that in terms of hectares, Region

8 recorded the largest area (65,838) wherein
inorganic fertilizer is not applied

 On the average, inorganic fertilizer is not applied in

292,994 hectares of the area harvested
T a b l e 1 . 3 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e
P r o d u c ti o n f o r I r r i g a t e d a n d R a i n f e d E c o s y s t e m s , N a ti o n a l
and Regional, 2011
Irrigated (ha) Rainfed (ha) Total
Area
Region Harvested
Actual Ha Percentage Actual Ha Percentage Ha (ha)

CAR 69,127 93,043 74% 7,094 25,736 28% 76,221 118,779

1 ILOCOS 238,729 263,633 91% 126,923 128,784 99% 365,652 392,417
2 CAG. VALLEY 474,480 479,036 99% 75,371 83,770 90% 549,851 562,806
3 CENTRAL LUZON 537,281 544,198 99% 72,544 72,689 100% 609,825 616,887
4 CALABARZON 77,868 83,111 94% 17,669 31,075 57% 95,537 114,186
4 MIMAROPA 167,784 174,752 96% 87,466 95,999 91% 255,250 270,751
5 BICOL 199,270 203,609 98% 106,922 114,752 93% 306,192 318,361
6 WESTERN VIS. 312,217 314,768 99% 330,297 339,417 97% 642,514 654,185
7 CENTRAL VIS. 56,706 59,679 95% 42,777 47,145 91% 99,483 106,824
8 EASTERN VIS. 118,424 134,126 88% 112,258 150,807 74% 230,682 284,933
9 ZAMBOANGA PEN. 90,515 93,712 97% 51,462 64,712 80% 141,977 158,424
10 NORTHERN MIN. 127,412 132,270 96% 15,906 20,140 79% 143,317 152,410
11 DAVAO 87,385 88,219 99% 10,818 12,464 87% 98,203 100,683
12 SOCCSKSARGEN 263,187 263,305 100% 72,705 80,315 91% 335,892 343,620
13 CARAGA 89,335 88,264 101% 51,289 53,588 96% 140,624 141,852
ARMM 56,912 56,912 100% 79,151 142,612 56% 136,063 199,524

Average 185,414 192,040 95% 78,791 91,500 82% 264,205 283,540

F i g u r e 1 . 3 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n
R i c e P r o d u c ti o n f o r I r r i g a t e d a n d R a i n f e d E c o s y s t e m s ,
N a ti o n a l a n d R e g i o n a l , 2 0 1 1
F i g u r e 1 . 3 . I n o r g a n i c F e r ti l i z e r A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n
R i c e P r o d u c ti o n f o r I r r i g a t e d a n d R a i n f e d E c o s y s t e m s ,
N a ti o n a l a n d R e g i o n a l , 2 0 1 1
OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS:
Inorganic Fertilizer Application in Rice Production for Irrigated
and Rainfed Ecosystems, National and Regional, 2011

 Extent of inorganic fertilizer application in irrigated

fields averaged 95 % the past 9 years. Among
regions CAR (74 %) and Region 8 ( 88 %) register
relatively lower extent of application.
 For rainfed rice areas only 82 % of the harvest
area are applied some quantities of inorganic
fertilizer. This is lowest in CAR (28 %) and ARMM
(56 %) This is 100 % in Central Luzon
 TABLES, GRAPHS, OBSERVATIONS &
COMMENTS
EXTENT AND LEVELS OF INORGANIC NITROGEN
A P P L I C AT I O N I N R I C E P R O D U C T I O N
T a b l e 2 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n , N a ti o n a l
Average, 2003 to 2011

Year Ave. N Level kg/ha Ave. Yield t/ha

Y 2003 66.31 3.37
Y 2004 66.73 3.51
Y 2005 66.30 3.59
Y 2006 66.87 3.68
Y 2007 67.17 3.80
Y 2008 60.49 3.77
Y 2009 66.22 3.59
Y 2010 68.30 3.62
Y 2011 65.98 3.68
Average 66.04 3.62
F i g u r e 2 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n ,
N a ti o n a l A v e r a g e , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
F i g u r e 2 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n ,
N a ti o n a l A v e r a g e , 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS:
Nitrogen Application in Rice Production, National Average,
2003 to 2011

 Based on the number of bags and grade of inorganic

fertilizer applied the amount of Nitrogen is computed to
average about 60 kilos per hectare. The quantity applied
drop a little in 2008 which coincided with the drastic
increase of fertilizer prices
T a b l e 2 . 1 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n , R e g i o n a l
Averages for 2003 to 2011

Region Ave. Yield t/ha Ave. N Level kg/ha

PH 3.62 65.98
CAR 3.58 77.65
1 ILOCOS 3.95 94.26
2 CAG. VALLEY 3.82 81.57
3 CENTRAL LUZON 4.38 80.32
4 CALABARZON 3.53 66.73
4 MIMAROPA 3.40 64.02
5 BICOL 3.25 52.11
6 WESTERN VIS. 3.25 58.48
7 CENTRAL VIS. 2.66 44.57
8 EASTERN VIS. 3.43 39.63
9 ZAMBOANGA PEN. 3.67 46.61
10 NORTHERN MIN. 3.84 62.72
11 DAVAO 4.29 67.93
12 SOCCSKSARGEN 3.52 53.74
13 CARAGA 3.16 38.66
ARMM 2.83 41.30
F i g u r e 2 . 1 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n R i c e
P r o d u c ti o n , R e g i o n a l A v e r a g e s f o r 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
F i g u r e 2 . 1 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n R i c e
P r o d u c ti o n , R e g i o n a l A v e r a g e s f o r 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1
T a b l e 2 . 2 N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n i n R i c e P r o d u c ti o n f o r
I r r i g a t e d a n d R a i n f e d E c o s y s t e m s , N a ti o n a l a n d R e g i o n a l ,
2011
All Palay Irrigated Rainfed
REGION N Level N Level N Level
Yield (t/ha) Yield (t/ha) Yield (t/ha)
kg/ha kg/ha kg/ha
CAR 3.61 86.04 3.92 87.91 2.50 66.68
ILOCOS 4.08 95.32 4.34 109.15 3.56 69.44
CAG. VALLEY 3.81 95.77 4.02 100.65 2.63 65.42
C. LUZON 4.24 81.33 4.39 82.72 3.16 71.01
CALABARZON 3.50 65.28 3.86 68.30 2.53 52.49
MIMAROPA 3.63 74.67 3.81 75.65 3.29 73.04
BICOL 3.36 46.59 3.61 48.90 2.92 42.58
W. VISAYAS 3.43 60.69 3.78 66.67 3.11 55.39
C. VISAYAS 3.02 51.40 3.45 60.87 2.48 38.69
E. VISAYAS 3.45 31.22 4.24 41.50 2.76 20.85
ZAMBOANGA 3.93 44.47 4.36 44.12 3.30 45.93
PEN.
N. MINDANAO 4.01 75.27 4.17 77.88 2.97 60.02
DAVAO REGION 4.14 67.81 4.29 70.61 3.03 46.32
SOCCSKSARGEN 3.62 50.05 3.86 51.98 2.82 44.38
CARAGA 2.94 36.91 3.19 40.82 2.52 30.57
ARMM 2.89 21.70 3.81 38.95 2.53 17.95
F i g u r e 2 . 2 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n R i c e
P r o d u c ti o n f o r I r r i g a t e d a n d R a i n f e d E c o s y s t e m s , N a ti o n a l
and Regional, 2011
F i g u r e 2 . 2 . N i t r o g e n A p p l i c a ti o n a n d Y i e l d i n R i c e
P r o d u c ti o n f o r I r r i g a t e d a n d R a i n f e d E c o s y s t e m s , N a ti o n a l
and Regional, 2011
 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Significant portion of harvest area are not applied any inorganic fertilizer at all

Levels of inorganic fertilizer and consequently nitrogen application per hectare

on the average is very low. A few regions exhibit levels approximating general
recommendations but the bigger portion are below levels for the attainment of
higher yields
Rainfed rice areas, as expected , have larger proportion not applying any
inorganic fertilizer and where applied the levels are much lower compared to the
irrigated areas.
Currently low application of fertilizers in rice production can be the big
constraint to attaining higher production and enhancing productivity

The situation opens up opportunity to push for more investment for the
utilization of organic fertilizers in rice production. Likewise availability and access
to production credit is the possible strategy to increase fertilizer usage
THANK YOU …