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Browsing IFDC Publications by Subject "Deep placement"
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- ItemInnovations in the Mechanization of Fertilizer Deep Placement(2023-04-18) Upendra Singh; Yashpal Singh SaharawatFertilizers are crucial for enhancing crop productivity, significantly contributing to India's agricultural growth amidst limited arable land and irrigation resources. Despite a 14-fold increase in fertilizer consumption, nutrient use efficiency (NUE) in India remains critically low at less than 30%, resulting in substantial economic and environmental losses. To address these challenges, the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), in collaboration with various stakeholders, has developed an innovative seed-and-fertilizer drill as part of the Assessment of State Fertilizer Scenario and Promoting Efficient Nutrient Management (ASPEN) project. This machine facilitates fertilizer deep placement (FDP), optimizing the application of NPK briquettes at an ideal depth of 5-6 cm, which improves rice productivity by 30% while reducing nitrogen losses and labor demands. The initiative not only promotes sustainable agricultural practices but also aims to transition farmers to an incentive-based production system through potential carbon credit opportunities.
- ItemTailoring Soil and Plant Nutrition for Climate-Smart Agriculture(2021-04-20) IFDCUsing fertilizers has been essential to drive agricultural intensification and feed the world's growing population. However, their use also contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution. The International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) promotes specialized solutions that assist farmers in practicing sustainable, nutrition-sensitive, and climate-smart agriculture. IFDC's approaches include balanced fertilizers, urea deep placement, and integrated soil fertility management, proven to increase yields and boost plant tolerance to drought. The organization seeks collaborations with donors, foundations, and other organizations to expand its efforts toward a climate-smart and food-secure world. Through improved fertilizer development and dissemination, the world can achieve a 60% increase in global food production by 2050 while promoting environmental sustainability.
- ItemThe Division of Labor and Agricultural Innovation in Bangladesh: Dimensions of Gender(2010-02) Joaquin Sanabria ; Thompson P. ThomasWithout reliable statistics and a specific gender analysis of socio-economic data, including income and labor force data, it will be difficult to formulate appropriate policies and programs in Bangladesh that address the needs of its economic players, especially those who are disadvantaged, including the income-poor women. Much work remains to document and more fully understand the issues surrounding gender and the division of agricultural labor. Our intention is to make a contribution through an assessment of the division of labor through subnational data from Bangladesh that is based on two methods of rice fertilization — one traditional method and one innovative method. The most prevalent and traditional method of applying nitrogenous fertilizer to rice is a basal application before transplanting followed by one or more topdressings in the floodwater within 3–4 weeks after transplanting up to near flowering. Numerous research reports, however, have shown that such practices are inefficient, because generally only about one-third of the fertilizer nitrogen (N) is used by plants and the remainder is lost through volatilization, denitrification, runoff and leaching or immobilized in the soil. An innovative means to reduce N losses and improve fertilizer efficiency is to deep place fertilizer N as urea supergranules (USG) of compacted prilled urea. The basic method of USG application is to place USG by hand between four alternating hills of rice at a depth of 7–10 cm about 3–7 days after transplanting. This method is called urea deep placement (UDP). It is precisely the form and method of urea application that is of particular interest in this study. Our intention is to evaluate the consequences of agricultural innovation for the division of labor in general and to particularly assess the consequences for women and their distinct labor contributions to all tasks involved in paddy production. We are particularly interested in quantifying the labor contribution of women as unpaid family workers in paddy production.
- ItemThe Social Performance of an Innovative Method of Rice Fertilization in Southern Asia(2007-08) Thompson P. ThomasRice is a crucial staple food crop, particularly in southern and southeastern Asia, providing sustenance and employment to billions of people. However, the increasing demand for rice due to population growth necessitates a substantial increase in production. To address this challenge, a novel method called deep placement of urea supergranules (UDP) has been introduced to improve fertilizer efficiency and reduce nitrogen losses. This paper explores the social performance of UDP as a fertilizer technology in Bangladesh. The study collected baseline data in 2000 and post-intervention impact data in 2002 from farmers in various districts of Bangladesh. A stratified random sample of farmers was divided into UDP users and non-users. The data analysis involved comparing these two groups to evaluate the consequences of UDP use. The findings revealed that UDP users could reduce the amount of urea applied significantly compared to non-users. Furthermore, UDP users reported increased paddy yields, particularly in Chandpur, Kishoreganj, and Jessore districts, where the increase ranged from 27.1% to 66.3%. Non-users also observed some increase in broadcast paddy yields but to a lesser extent. Additionally, the study assessed the impact of UDP on household food security and found that the additional rice production resulting from UDP significantly contributed to poverty alleviation in the sampled districts. Furthermore, UDP users demonstrated higher ownership of radios compared to non-users. These results indicate that UDP has the potential to enhance fertilizer efficiency, increase crop yields, improve household food security, and contribute to poverty alleviation in small-scale farming communities. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural organizations, and farmers in developing countries where rice cultivation is vital in food security and livelihoods.