Module 8:

Overview of SSNM and RCM

 CONTENTS
Overview of Site-specific nutrient
integrated nutrient management or SSNM
management for rice

SSNM in Rice Cro Sample fertilizer c

p Manager or RC alculation
M
 OVERVIEW OF INTEGRATED
NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT FOR
RICE
Application of nutrients, especially nitrogen, from
external sources increases the yield of rice
 Fertilizers are typically the second largest input
cost in rice production

Fertilizer cost in the

Irrigation Philippines as a
Pesticide water fraction of total input
4% costs for rice farmers
Seed 6%
7% (2002–2003)

Fertilizer
20% Labor
63%

Fertilizers increase the yield and

profitability for rice farming
Source: Pampolino et al. (2007)
 Essential nutrients

• Carbon From air

• Hydrogen
• and water
Oxygen Fertilizers
•
macro

Nitrogen (N) (N, P, K, S, Zn)

• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Sulfur (S) From soil
• Silicon
Soil organic matter
• Iron (N, P, S)
• Manganese
micro

• Soil minerals
Boron
• Molybdenum (P, K)
• Copper
• Zinc (Zn)
• Chlorine
• Nickel
Sources of nutrients taken up by rice

• Soil
• Crop residues and manures
• Irrigation water
• Biological N2 fixation
• Fertilizers
Sources of nutrients taken up by rice: N and K
as examples

Nitrogen Potassium
Nutrient needed for
yield target

Crop residues &

organic materials

Soil
 Crop residues are low in N but rich in K

30% of P taken up by a mature crop remains in the straw

85% of K taken up by a mature crop remains in the straw
 What are organic materials?
Materials derived from plants or animals
• Crop residues
– Stubble and straw

• Locally available materials

– Farmyard manure
– Plant biomass
– Green manures
– Compost

• Commercially available fertilizers

– Produced from plant and/or animal
by products
– Microbial amendments
 Roles and importance of added organic
materials depend on crop
Benefit of organic Upland crop Lowland rice
materials
1. Improve soil physical *** Important Limited importance
properties Requires slow Normally not serious
decomposing material constraint for rice
Rice soils in Asia are typically puddled
 Roles and importance of added organic
materials depend on crop
Benefit of organic Upland crop Lowland rice
materials
1. Improve soil physical *** Important Limited importance
properties Requires slow Normally not serious
decomposing material constraint for rice

2. Provide a source of plant- **Potentially important **Potentially important

available nutrients Requires fast Requires fast decomposing
decomposing nutrient- nutrient-rich material
rich material
 Organic materials must decompose in order to
supply nutrients to crops

Mineral fertilizers
Organic
materials urea NPK

NH4+
NO3- Mg2+
K+
mineralization HPO4 2-
SO42-
(microbial activity) H2PO4- Ca2+
 Roles and importance of added organic
materials depend on crop
Benefit of organic Upland crop Lowland rice
materials
1. Improve soil physical *** Important Limited importance
properties Requires slow Normally not serious
decomposing material constraint for rice

2. Provide a source of plant- **Potentially important **Potentially important

available nutrients Requires fast Requires fast decomposing
decomposing nutrient- nutrient-rich material
rich material

3. Enhance biological **Potentially important *Lesser importance

processes Must overcome a limit to Normally less serious
crop growth constraint for rice
Requires anaerobes
 Sources of nutrients taken up by rice

Nitrogen Potassium
Nutrient needed for
yield target

Biological N2 fixation

Irrigation water

Crop residues &

organic materials

Soil
Nitrogen (N2) in the atmosphere is converted to plant-
available nitrogen by organisms in soil and water
 Sources of nutrients taken up by rice

Nitrogen Potassium
Nutrient needed for
yield target
Fertilizer
Biological N2 fixation

Irrigation water

Crop residues &

organic materials

Soil
 Fertilizer
Substance added to the soil to supply nutrients
essential to plant growth

Urea (46-0-0) is main N fertilizer for rice

0
II
H2N C NH2
 Commonly available fertilizers and
nutrient contents (%)
Source N P2O5 K 2O S Ca
Urea 46 0 0 0 0
Ammonium 21 0 0 24 0
sulfate
DAP 18 46 0 <2 0
TSP 0 46 0 <2 12-14
SSP 0 16-20 0 12 20
Muriate of 0 0 60 0 0
potash or KCl
Complete 14 14 14 8 0
SITE-SPECIFIC NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT OR SSNM
 Crop needs for fertilizer vary among fields,
seasons, and years

Factors affecting crop needs for fertilizer include

• Yield of the crop
• Amount of crop residue
retained in the field
• Nutrients in irrigation water
• Past crop
• Past fertilizer use
• Nutrients supplied by soil
 The application of fertilizers to match crop
needs can be complex

• Multiple fertilizer products are available in the

market
• Contrasting approaches are used to determine
fertilizer needs
• Different technical experts and organizations often
give different information

Optimal fertilizer application is needed to match

crop needs.
 What is site-specific nutrient management
(SSNM)?

A set of scientific principles

for determining the best
nutrient management
for specific fields based
on crop needs
An approach for supplying
a rice crop with added
nutrients as and when
needed
 Simple key messages on nutrient management
most helpful to a rice farmer based on SSNM
principles
1. Adjust fertilizer rates to match a field-specific
attainable (target) yield

2. Adjust timing and distribution of fertilizer to match

critical growth stages of a crop

3. Adjust fertilizer P and K based on crop need

(considering nutrient inputs from other sources like
irrigation water and crop residues)
 Points for review
• Why add fertilizer to rice? What happens if we don’t?
• What are organic fertilizers?
• How do lowland rice soils differ from soils for upland
crops?
• What is the benefit of added organic materials in
lowland rice soils?
• What is SSNM?
• What are the key messages of SSNM helpful to a rice
farmer?
SSNM in Rice Crop Manager
or RCM
 Basic assumption

Characteristics and farming practices for a

field, obtained through an interview of a
farmer, can help indicate the need of a field
for added N, P, K, Zn ( or S)
 SSNM in RCM
one-page RCM recommendation

Nutrient management:

1 3
Right Timing Right Amount
2
Right Source
 Information in RCM related to fertilizer
calculation
Step 1: Set yield target
RCM determines fertilizer requirements based on set
target yield. Target yield is the expression of crop needs.
It is a function of:
- field location and size
- sowing date
- variety (duration and type)
- normal yield of the farmer in past years

and adjusted to
- water source and status, and
- seed quality
Target yield for the field size is expressed in fresh weight basis
and dry weight basis or at 14% moisture content.
 Information in RCM related to fertilizer
calculation
Step 2: Calculate for fertilizer rates
RCM determines fertilizer requirements based on crop
needs (target yield) and adjusted with inputs from other
sources of nutrients such as:
- irrigation
- crop residues (rice and other crops)
- other organic inputs

Fertilizer N is calculated based on crop response or yield gain to

applied nitrogen.

Fertilizer P and K are calculated based on nutrient balance

(Output - Input).
 Calculation of fertilizer N requirement

Fertilizer N is calculated based on crop response or yield gain to

applied nitrogen.
Fertilizer N (FN) = Yield gain (kg)/ Target fertilizer use efficiency (kg/kg)

FN = (GY – GY0N) x 1000/AEN

Yield gain = Target yield (GY) – Yield if fertilizer N is not
applied (GY0N)

Target fertilizer use efficiency = Agronomic efficiency of

fertilizer N, AEN (Grain yield increase per unit of
fertilizer N applied (kg grain yield increase/kg N
 Nutrient omission plot technique (NOPT) is
used to estimate yield if N is not applied

The yield with full fertilization can be

used to reflect a target yield (GY).

The yield in each plot with a missing

nutrient can be used to estimate
nutrient supply from sources other
than fertilizer
–N yield (GY0N) provides an estimate of
yield when N is not applied
 Relationship of GY0N with GY
obtained from NOPT trials conducted across
locations in the Philippines

GY0N

GY or Target yield
 N fertilizer requirement depends on yield gain from N
and efficiency of N use

YTarget Yield gain from N

1 Estimate N rate based on yield
Y0N t/ha 2 gain and target efficiency for
4 fertilizer N (AEN)
t/ha
t/ha
Grain
yield
Yield Approximate
gain from target AEN (kg/kg)
N (t/ha)
Rice Corn

2 18 20
3 20 25
Set attainable Estimate yield 4 22 29
target yield without N 6 33
8 36 IPNI
Source: IRRI and
 Calculation of fertilizer P requirement

• P rates can be estimated based on input-

output balances where P is added to
replace the P removed by the crop

• An input-output balance approach

generally works well to calculate a P
fertilizer recommendation through RCM
 Calculation of fertilizer K requirement

• K rates can be estimated based on input-

output balances where K is added to replace
the K removed by the crop
• The inputs of K from crop residues (straw) and
irrigation water should be considered in the
determination of fertilizer K2O requirement.
• Combine harvesting with retention of crop
residues across the field could reduce the need
for K fertilizer.
 Calculate P and K fertilizer requirements to
achieve a target grain yield
Estimate crop need for a nutrient based on
nutrient taken up by a mature crop

Example for
rice

Nutrient uptake is directly related to grain yield

Nutrient uptake by crop = GYTarget x RIE

GYTarget = Attainable target grain yield (tons/ha)

RIE = Reciprocal Internal Efficiency (kg nutrient in
mature plant per ton grain)
Source: Buresh et al. 2010
P and K requirements for cereals as predicted by QUEFTS

Crop Reciprocal internal efficiency (kg

nutrient/t grain)
P K
Rice1 2.7 15.9
Maize2 2.6 17.4
Wheat3 4.0 20.0

QUEFTS = QUantitative Evaluation of the Fertility of Tropical

Soils model developed by Janssen et al. (1990).
Nutrient uptake of a mature rice crop
to produce 1 ton of grain yield:
2.7 x 2.3 = 6kg of P2O5 1
Buresh et al. 2010
2
Setiyono et al. 2010
15.9 x 1.2 = 19kg of K2O 3
IPNI data (unpublished)
Calculation of fertilizer P and K requirement

Fertilizer P or K requirement = Output – Input

Fertilizer P = GY x RIEP – PCR – POM – PS

GY = Targeted grain yield (t/ha)

RIE = Reciprocal internal efficiency (kg nutrient per t grain)
PCR = P inputs with retained crop residues (kg/ha)
POM = P inputs from added organic materials (kg/ha)
PS = threshold limits for draw down of soil P reserve (kg/ha)
Calculation of fertilizer P and K requirement
Fertilizer P or K requirement = Output – Input

Fertilizer K = GY x RIEK – KCR – KW – KOM – KS

GY = Targeted grain yield (t/ha)

RIE = Reciprocal internal efficiency (kg nutrient per t grain)
KCR = K and P inputs with retained crop residues (kg/ha)
KOM = K inputs from added organic materials (kg/ha)
KW = K input with irrigation water (kg/ha)
KS = threshold limits for draw down of soil P and K reserves
(kg/ha)
 KCR and PCR = K and P inputs with retained crop
residues (kg/ha)

30% of P taken up by a mature crop remains in the straw

85% of K taken up by a mature crop remains in the straw
Estimated amount of straw retention based on method of harvesting:
Manual harvest or using reaper – 50%
Combine harvest – 100%

Example: Previous yield is 4 t/ha; method of harvest is manual harvesting

PCR = 4 t/ha X 6 kg P2O5/ton X 0.3 X 0.5 = 3.6 kg P2O5/ha

KCR = 4 t/ha X 19 kg K2O/ton X 0.85 X 0.5 = 32.3 kg K2O/ha
KOM and POM = K and P inputs from added organic
materials (kg/ha)

Nutrient analysis of commercial organic

fertilizer greatly vary.

Nutrient analysis of commercial organics used in

RCM, %
N 0.8%
P2O5 0.47%
K2O 1.2%
 KW = K input with irrigation water, IW (kg/ha)

Ecosystem Season Irrigation K K input K input with K2O input

water concentrati with IW (kg IW in RCM (kg K2O/ha)
input (mm) on of IW K/ha) (kg K/ha)
(mg/L)

Irrigated Dry 1000 2 20 21 25

Irrigated Wet 350 2 7 8.3 10
Rainfed 0 0 0 0

Data based on IW sampling in 9 regions

conducted in 2010
PS and KS = threshold limits for draw down of soil
P and K reserves (kg/ha)

If target yield is <5t/ha

PS = 1.5 kg P/ha or 3.4 kg P2O5/ha

KS = 15 kg K/ha or 18 kg K2O/ha

To reduce P and K rate without risking

too much mining

Need a more robust estimation through

research
 Step 3. Distribute application of fertilizers
• Fertilizer N is split applied during the critical growth
stage:
- Early application (EA) is 0-14 days after crop
establishment
- Active tillering (AT) is midway between early application
and panicle initiation
- Panicle initiation (PI) is 55 to 60 days before harvest

Example: Seed-to-seed growth duration of a variety is 120 days

Seedling age is 15 days
Growth duration in the field is 105 days (120 days minus 15 days)

EA = 0-10 days after transplanting (DAT)

AT = 20-25 DAT
PI = 45-50 DAT
 Manage fertilizer N by crop growth stage

Active Panicle
Early growth tillering initiation Heading Harvest
Transplanting

-20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Direct seeding DAT

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 days

Early Active tillering and Heading

• Apply only moderate
amount of N
• Increase amount in
proportion to crop
yield
panicle initiation • Small amount of N can
• Apply at critical growth be optional in high
stages yielding conditions
• PI application is 55 to 60
days before harvest
• Vary N based on crop
needs
 Step 3. Distribute application of fertilizers

• P is important for early growth and root

development
• P fertilizer is normally applied at the time
of crop establishment or soon afterwards
• P is usually applied using compound
fertilizer such as Complete (14-14-14) or
Ammonium phosphate (16-20-0)
 Step 3. Distribute application of fertilizers

• K can be important for grain filling &

increased resistance to diseases and insect
pests
• At high yields, K fertilizer can be split applied
with about 50% early and 50% at panicle
initiation
• K is usually applied early with P using
Complete (14-14-14). K application at panicle
initiation use Muriate of potash or MOP (0-0-
60)
Questions?
Sample fertilizer calculation
 Problem 1

What is the fertilizer N kg/ha requirement for

this field with the following conditions?
1. Target yield for the dry season crop is 6.5
t/ha at 14% moisture content
2. Estimated yield without applied N is 4 t/ha
3. Use AEN = 18 kg/kg
 Problem 2
With the target yield in Problem #1 and the following additional
conditions:
1. Previous yield is 5 t/ha at 14% moisture content
2. Method of harvest is manual harvest
3. Irrigated field
4. No organic fertilizer used
Calculate the:
5. amount of P and K uptake, expressed as P2O5 kg/ha and K2O
kg/ha
6. amount of P and K inputs from rice straw, expressed as P2O5
kg/ha and K2O kg/ha
7. amount of P and K requirement, expressed as P2O5 kg/ha and
K2O kg/ha
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