Fertilizers & Agriculture, May 2013 by International Fertilizer Industry Association

May 2013

fertilizers www.fertilizer.org

agriculture Qafco IFA Green Leaf Award winner

Sustainable phosphate production

Making the best out of foliar fertilization

Building a sustainable future for the fertilizer industry by Bill Doyle, IFA President ver the past several decades, the fertilizer industry has shown its ability to serve the evolving needs of people around the world. By building markets and investing in capacity, we have helped farmers to keep pace with the needs of a growing global population. The nitrogen, phosphate and potash we produce as an industry, are responsible for about half the world’s food production, making these crop nutrients essential to human and global development. While we should celebrate this success, it is important that we continue to look ahead and prepare for the role our industry will play in meeting the need for further increases in global food demand. Specifically, we can build a better future for our industry – and for people around the world – by sharpening our focus on sustainable approaches to fertilizer and food production. The ongoing need to feed more people is not expected to subside. It is neither realistic nor responsible to move forward with a belief that we can meet growing demand by following the same path that brought us to where we stand today. We need to consider new ideas and approaches that recognize the economic and environmental realities of the people affected by our business. Our goal should be to support farmers, fertilizer dealers, and other stakeholders in ways that enable everyone’s growth and success. That means finding ways to improve the economic viability

of farmers – whether they run large operations in major agricultural regions or are individuals striving to feed their families. It means developing infrastructure that improves the access and affordability of our products. It means examining government policies and trade decisions that affect food production. Most importantly, we can work to help people understand that the fertilizer industry exists to improve the quality of life for people around the world. By searching for ways to improve employee safety and reduce environmental impacts, we can build support for our industry and demand for our products. cont’d on page 3

2013 IFA Norman Borlaug Award laureate For excellence in crop nutrition research Dr. Abdul Rashid of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, is the 2013 laureate of the IFA Norman Borlaug Award. He is the 21st recipient of the award. Dr. Rashid was nominated by Mr. Muhammad Asif Ali of Engro Fertilizers Limited of Pakistan. cont’d on page 10

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THE FERTILIZER INSTITUTE

Advocating for the industry through science and stewardship by Kathy Mathers

he Fertilizer Institute (TFI) represents the fertilizer industry in the United States with lobbying, economic services, science, communications and stewardship programmes. In addition to fertilizer producers, TFI members include fertilizer retailers, wholesalers, trading firms, and other organizations with a financial interest in the industry. While TFI was primarily established as a lobbying organization more than 40 years ago, the association has grown and evolved with the industry. Representing stakeholders in the business of fertilizer before the United States Congress remains a vital function, but today these efforts are complemented by the work TFI does in the scientific and stewardship arenas. In recent years the safety of fertilizer products has been called into question by environmental NGOs, the media and government officials. A few years ago it became clear that the industry, through its trade association, needed to generate science-based safety information to

be used in the defence of fertilizers. The rigorous product toxicity testing programme resulting from that recognition evaluated 23 fertilizer materials for their potential negative impacts on human health and the environment. The results of this programme were data verifying that all major fertilizer products are safe when used as intended and pose no harm to industry workers, community members or the environment. As a means of gaining wider acceptance of its data, TFI shepherded these testing data through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and successfully advocated for their further inclusion in an international database of chemical information. Acceptance of the data by the OECD provided further credibility for TFI’s efforts to demonstrate with scientific data that fertilizer products are safe. This information provides a science-based defence against allegations that fertilizers are toxic with respect to human health and the environment. The data are cur-

rently being used by many companies in the industry as they work to comply with REACH, the European Community regulation on chemicals and their safe use which deals with the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances. Following completion of the product testing programme, TFI determined that adopting a comprehensive stewardship programme would be of great benefit to the industry. With an eye towards emerging challenges related to fieldlevel nutrient use, TFI launched its 4R nutrient stewardship initiative (use of the right fertilizer source at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place). Similar to the product testing initiative, this ongoing programme is based on science and was undertaken with the goal of positioning the industry as forward-looking and operating in a sustainable manner. Because the 4R principles are science-based, they are scalable and applicable to all farming systems – from large farming operations in North America to smaller farms elsewhere in the world. TFI has several partners that are promoting 4R nutrient stewardship in the United States in a number of ways. Working with the staff of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) (www.ipni.net), TFI is developing 4R-based educational materials on best management practices and housing them on www.nutrientstewardship.org, the online portal for nutrient stewardship. Soon those cont’d on page 3

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materials will be supplemented with an online learning module being developed by TFI in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, Iowa State University and IPNI. The module, which will be online later in the spring of 2013, is aimed at helping fertilizer retailers, crop advisors, farmers and extension service employees better understand the 4R framework and foster its utilization in farm fields. The fertilizer industry recognizes that promoting and adopting 4R principles is

not enough. We must show through agronomic research that implementing the 4Rs reduces the environmental impact of farming practices. To do this, TFI and its partners at IPNI and the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) recently formed a US$ 7-10 million 4R research fund.

Contact Kathy Mathers Vice President Public Affairs TFI, Whashington, DC, USA KMathers@tfi.org

THE 4R RESEARCH FUND The research conducted under the auspices of the fund will help expand the 4Rs beyond a sole industry effort and turn the framework into a viable strategy that can be used by stakeholders as a way to improve cropping system productivity and address concerns about nutrient losses to the environment. It is the sponsoring organizations’ joint hope that the fund will demonstrate the effectiveness of the 4Rs to government agencies that are developing strategies to reduce nutrient loss; to food companies that are choosing to showcase sustainable growing methods used in the foods they sell; to environmental groups concerned about nutrients in rivers, lakes and streams; and to the fertilizer industry’s farmer customers. cont’d from page 1

Building a sustainable future for the fertilizer industry The key is to invest in research that can advance our industry. We operate in a science-based business – one that has dramatically increased food production by expanding our understanding of plant physiology and crop nutrition. We can make further gains by taking the same approach, keeping science in the forefront, to help educate farmers as to the real value of our products. A number of industry organizations are putting their support behind the 4R research fund – an initiative designed to bring greater scientific support to nutrient stewardship. The International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) and the Canadian Fertilizer Institute (CFI) are all committed to seeking financial assistance from their members. Additional agricultural stakeholders will be asked for their support. The 4R research fund will put a priority on research that measures the efficacy of application practices in different environments. It will explore ways to lessen environmental impacts and optimize production in high-yield agriculture. Significantly, the 4R research fund will publish and disseminate research that can improve the performance of our industry and increase understanding of the value of our efforts. It is not enough to promote the benefits of the 4R principles; it is essential that we share this understanding with stakeholders and others who are interested in our performance. I steadfastly believe that we are privileged to operate in one of the most important industries in the world, and one that will continue to deliver tremendous benefits to future generations. We must responsibly lay the groundwork for a sustainable future. By addressing it today, we will build a better future for us all. Bill Doyle is President and Chief Executive Officer of PotashCorp and President of the International Fertilizer Industry Association.

IFA news IFA participates in the consultations on post-2015 IFA has been following closely the evolving process of the post-2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. The association is paying particular attention to the cycle of consultations on Hunger, Food Security and Nutrition that are co-organized by the World Food Programme and the FAO. A first consultation took place on 11 February and a second on 4 April in Madrid. Charlotte Hebebrand attended it on behalf of the International Agri-Food Network and spoke about the role of the private sector in delivering innovative and inclusive solutions to agricultural development, as well as the importance of investing in the sector and working among all stakeholders to develop new partnerships. It was a good venue for IFA to share its newly developed position paper on the subject. Participation included numerous ministers and UN leaders, such as UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the Deputy Minister of Colombia Patti Londoño, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark, and Ministers of Agriculture of The Netherlands, Rwanda and Spain.

“Green Growth in the AgroFood Chain: What Role for the Private Sector?” IFA participated on 24 April 2013 in this workshop co-organized by the OECD and the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC). Yara made a presentation on nutrient use efficiency (NUE). IFA and BIAC also hosted a side-event on that day on “Fertilizing Crops to Improve Human Health”, with the participation of Ismail Cakmak of Sabanci University in Turkey and Andrew Green of the International Zinc Association. The side-event presented the key results of the IFA/ IPNI publication, highlighting in particular the cases of zinc and selenium fertilization.

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THE SAHARA FOREST PROJECT

Producing food, freshwater and energy in desert areas A

he Sahara Forest Project pilot plant ert revegetation in Doha, Qatar, officially opened in technologies December 2012. It is the result of colmakes each of laboration between The Sahara Forest these more efProject AS, Yara International and the fective and costQatar Fertiliser Company (QAFCO). “This efficient: facility contains 10,000 square metres of 1 – An innovative environmental technologies that have cooling system never been put together before,” exenables low-cost plains Joakim Hauge, the project’s CEO. use of saltwater “The pilot facility will provide us with to achieve wetthe unique opportunity to optimize our cooling efficientechnological system, but we are not in cies without conthis to produce pilots. We want to go suming precious large scale.” freshwater reHe points out that the plant is “designed sources. Heat from the CSP mirrors drives to utilize what we have a multi-stage evapoenough of to produce rative desalination This facility contains what we need more of, system that produces 10,000 square metres of that is using desert, sundistilled water for environmental technololight, saltwater and CO2 plants in the greento produce food, water gies that have never been house and outside. and clean energy.” It put together before. Waste heat warms uses existing and proven the greenhouses in technologies in a system that removes winter. Plants and humidifying hedges CO2 from the atmosphere. Combining reduce dust levels, which can affect the saltwater-cooled greenhouses, conperformance of solar energy systems, centrated solar power (CSP) electricity and help protect the CSP mirrors from generation, algae cultivation, and desharsh desert winds.

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2 – Saltwater-cooled greenhouses provide suit able growing conditions for year-round cultivation of high-value vegetable crops in the desert. By using saltwater to provide evaporative cool ing and humidification, the crops’ water requirements are minimized and yields maximized with a minimal carbon footprint. 3 – Water coming from the greenhouse is at a concentration of about 15 percent salinity. To reduce water content further, the brine is passed over external vertical evaporators set out in an array to crecont’d on page 5

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ate sheltered and humid environments. These areas are planted to take advantage of the beneficial growing condi tions for food and fodder crops as well as a wide range of desert species. 4 – The pilot plant is supported by stateof-the-art photovoltaic (PV) technology. 5 – As water is evaporated from the saltwater, salinity increases until the salts are precipitated from the brine. The last stage of this process takes place in conventional evaporation ponds. 6 – Beyond traditional horticulture and agriculture, halophytes (salt-loving plant species) are being cultivated in saltwater. These hardy plants, often already well adapted to desert conditions, are highly promising sources of fodder and bioenergy feedstocks that can thrive

in highly saline environments. The facility will implement and test a variety of novel techniques for low-cost halophyte cultivation, while ensuring that no saltwater enters the sur rounding soil or groundwater aquifers. 7 – A state-of-the-art 50 m3 algae test facility (the only one of its kind in Qa-

tar and the sub-region) will enable commercial-scale research on the cultivation of marine algae species native to the Gulf and Red Sea for use as nutriceuticals, biofuels, and animal and fish fodder. The Sahara Forest Project concept is optimizing synergies to make restorative growth in the world’s desert areas economically and environmentally beneficial. The staff, working with a team of international collaborators, will provide the first demonstration of those synergies at scale.

Contact info@saharaforestproject.com www.saharaforestproject.com

Safe sustainable phosphate production and the challenge of NORM by Brian Birky and Julian Hilton

he workshop on Safe and Sustainable Phosphate Production, cohosted in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, by IFA, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute (FIPR) and the Aleff Group, focused on two questions:

• How can the phosphate industry play its part in meeting the challenge set by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to produce 60 percent more food by 2050 in a safe and sustainable way?1 • And how can these same principles be applied to the industry’s handling of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) during fertilizer manufacture? NORM are present in trace quantities in all mined phosphates. The origins of sedimentary phosphates are in living organisms in the oceans, which decompose on the sea floor and accumulate over millions of years. To put the relative radioactivity of the phosphate rock in context, the amount of radioactive

matter it typically contains is more than that in average sedimentary rock and soil, but is less than that in average volcanic rocks and black shale. At present the inconsistency of the regulatory framework for NORM industries around the world is causing increasing difficulties for globally traded products such as phosphate fertilizers.

Practicalities Two practical NORM issues were in the spotlight. First, what to do with the mountains of phosphogypsum stored around the world? And second, how to respond to concerns about the presence of uranium in phosphate rocks and in fertilizers?

Phosphogypsum Phosphogypsum is legally defined in some jurisdictions as a “waste”, but in other countries it is seen as a resource. Nowhere is the latter approach more evident than in China. Adhering to China’s national “Green Mine” policy, during the past four years the Kailin Group and the Wengfu Group, for example, have gone from using a very small fraction of

Phosphate mining and processing, Kailin Group3 the phosphogypsum they produce to 60 percent and 40 percent, respectively. The phosphogypsum is mainly used in agriculture and construction. As the balance at the Kailin Group is returned to the mine, there is no stack. In the longer term, both companies are targeting 100 percent use or “comprehensive extraction”. In respect of NORM safety associated with phosphogypsum, and the future liability it represents, a recent IAEA publication is clear. cont’d on page 6

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IFA news

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NORM

2 IFA workshop on Safe, Sustainable Phosphate Production, September 2013 nd

International Women’s Day Farming First celebrated International Women’s Day for the second consecutive year with great success featuring the Female Face of Farming. This infographic, developed jointly by Farming First and the FAO, highlights the stark statistics that reveal the gender gap in agriculture, in terms of women’s contribution to global economic output and the disparity in their ownership of and access to land, credit and inputs. Anette Friis of World Farmers Organization and Farming First spokesperson authored a piece in the Huffington Post. Because of this media exposure and Twitter outreach (we reached over 800,000 people on Twitter with over 250 tweets and re-tweets), visits to the Women section of the Farming First website more than doubled and half of the visitors to the site were led through searches relating to women. www.farmingfirst.org/women/ www.huffingtonpost.com/ anette-engelund-friis/time-forrecognition_b_2926266.html

It concludes that there are “compelling reasons for creating a regulatory environment that is conducive Wengfu Group phosphogypsum stack4 to […] using phosphogypsum as a co-product of phosphoric acid 1 production” rather than managing it as World Agriculture Towards 2030/2050: 2 a waste. The 2012 revision. Summary. 2012. Food and Agriculture Organization of the Uranium in phosphate rocks United Nations (FAO), Rome, 4 p. www. and fertilizers fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/esag/ In the wet process manufacture of phosdocs/AT2050_revision_summary.pdf 2 phate fertilizer, small quantities of uraRadiation Protection and Management nium stay in the phosphoric acid (and of NORM Residues in the Phosphate Inhence migrate on into fertilizers) while dustry. 2013. International Atomic Enerradium goes to the phosphogypsum. gy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, 288 p. wwwThe quantities of both are very small – pub.iaea.org/books/iaeabooks/8947/ measurable in parts per million. Uranium Radiation-Protection-and-Managementwas commercially recovered from phosof-NORM-Residues-in-the-Phosphatephoric acid from the mid-1970s to the Industry 3 mid-1990s for use in nuclear power genGuizhou Kailin Group Green mine eration. If the practice started again, it construction and industrial developing would make good environmental sense practice. Wang, G.W. 2011. Presented at to extract uranium from acid rather than Beneficiation of Phosphates VI, the 6th losing it to the soil, while economically International Conference on Phosphate the nuclear industry could benefit from Processing, 6-11 March, Kunming, China. 4 a “green” source of uranium. Management plans for safe stacking and utilization of phosphogypsum. He, IFA’s NORM Expert Working H.M. 2010. 5 Group Development and commercialization of Phosphogypsum use and uranium excomprehensive phosphogypsum utilizatraction are now being taken up, togethtion by Kailin Group. Wang, G.W. 2010. er with other NORM issues, by the IFA Two papers presented at the 2010 China NORM Expert Working Group. Members International Symposium on Phosphomay raise questions for the attention of gypsum Comprehensive Utilization Techthis group through Volker Andresen, IFA nology Development and Promotion, Technical Director. June 9-10, 2010, Beijing, China. © Photos: G.W. Wang

The 2nd IFA workshop on Safe, Sustainable Phosphate Production will be hosted in Istanbul by TOROS Agri and convened by Brian Birky and Julian Hilton. The focus will be on NORM in fertilizers and agriculture. Topics to be covered include: 1. handling, storage and transport; 2. Fertilizer products in use/good practices; 3. co-product options, including phosphogypsum, uranium and rare earths; 4. safety (HSE), including competencybased training, lead and lag indicators; 5. regulations; 6. stakeholder communications; 7. sustainability. The event will be held over two days in the week of 23 September 2013. Further information including a detailed workshop programme will be made available on the IFA website. Suggestions as to further topics to add to the workshop agenda, enquiries and expressions of interest may be made to Volker Andresen, vandresen@fertilizer.org.

Contact Brian Birky Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute (FIPR) bbirky@admin.usf.edu Julian Hilton Aleff Group jhilton@aleffgroup.com Volker Andresen, IFA vandresen@fertilizer.org Production of construction blocks using by-product phosphogypsum5

May 2013

The role of product stewardship management systems in enhancing SHE performance by Nico Roels

ccording to the latest data, IFA members and the rest of the fertilizer industry are making significant progress on Safety, Health and Environment (SHE). IFA surveys are designed to assess and monitor members’ progress in targeted SHE performance areas on a regular basis. This allows participating companies to: • compare or benchmark each other’s plant SHE performance, • identify areas for improvement related to SHE, • establish action plans.

What can IFA members do in addition?

LOSS

Every member can investigate how it performs in three potential improvement areas: • structured safety management system(s), • formal risk assessment(s), • proactive safety culture programmes. The figure below shows that while activities in each area can deliver significant improvements, a limit is ultimately reached and more initiatives are then needed to achieve ongoing reductions. Structured safety management systems have existed since the late 1970s. Formal risk assessment technologies/methodologies for the process industries were

developed in the 1980s and widely deployed starting in the 1990s. The safety guidance in the EU Seveso Directive and the Process Safety Management (PSM) standards in the United States were the main drivers for safety management systems and structured risk assessment for higher hazard facilities in those parts of the world. The final element at the bottom of the figure (behavior management) relates to safety culture. Avoiding accidents (or achieving zero accidents) through safety management systems, risk assessments and the creation of a long-term safety culture helps to reach both production and SHE targets. This approach is not particularly expensive, especially compared to the cost of accidents. This is where product stewardship comes in:

Safety Management Demonstrated factor of 5x improvement

Risk Management Additional 2x improvement

Behaviour Management Additional 2x improvement 1980

1990

2000

• Product stewardship is the next step in SHE management. • It continues throughout a product’s lifecycle. • It extends beyond the factory gate. In adapting their safety management systems to product stewardship, companies analyze the complete lifecycle of their fertilizer products. At each stage of a product’s lifecycle there is a need to manage for safety, security and sustainability. It is also necessary that all stakeholders (including the workforce, communities and business partners) focus on efficiency and effectiveness. Through assessing product stewardship performance and going for product stewardship certification – which is provided for IFA by independent auditors like DNV Business Assurance – fertilizer companies can show their commitment to good safety, security and sustainability performance. The purpose of product stewardship activities is not to criticize the current safety expertise in fertilizer companies, but to analyze and improve safety, security and sustainability related interactions in and around companies (a lifecyle approach). Improvements in communication, interactions and behavior are key to a successful and sustainable fertilizer industry.

Case study: Europe Fertilizers Europe is the driver of product stewardship in the fertilizer industry in Europe. It has developed a product stewardship standard and audit manual, and specific guidance is in place. All of the fourteen members of Fertilizers Europe are currently certified by the Fertilizers Europe Product Stewardship Programme. This mandatory assessment is valid for three years. For IFA, DNV has certified four fertilizer companies. It also has a framework agreement with Yara to certify all of its sites for product stewardship in the next years. cont’d on page 8

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The role of product stewardship management A comparison of the IFA assessment tool and Fertilizers Europe audit manual shows: IFA Number of elements 6 Number of 88 questions Scoring system N.A. – 0 – 1–2 Maximum score 176 Required scoring >60% final audit score Product stewardship >80% final excellence audit score N.A. = not applicable

Fertilizers Europe 10 191 N.A. – 0 – 1 –2–3-4 764 >60% in every element N.A.

Fertilizers Europe certification is a possible next step for companies after product stewardship excellence has been reached in the IFA programme.

Moreover, in Europe the Seveso III Directive will come into effect. The need for this recent adaptation of the Seveso Directive was triggered by the Regulation on the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) of substances and mixtures (EU-1272/2008), which adapts the EU system to the United Nations Globally Harmonised System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. (EU Member States have to transpose and implement the Seveso III Directive by 1 June 2015, which is also the date when the new chemicals classification legislation becomes fully applicable in Europe.) Producers around the world could be influenced by the new safety guidance in Seveso III, which includes: • criteria for assessing dangerous substances which do not present a major accident hazard,

• better access for citizens to information about risks resulting from activities of nearby companies, and about behaviour in case of an accident, • stricter standards for inspections of establishments to ensure more effective enforcement of safety rules. IFA and Fertilizers Europe therefore have an important role to play in communicating with, helping and motivating their members to implement or adapt the Product Stewardship Programme.

Contact Nico Roels, Product Stewardship auditor Nico.Roels@dnv.com Stephane de Coninck, Project Manager Stephane.de.coninck@dnv.com DNV Business Assurance See also: IFA Protect and Sustain www.protectandsustain.org

This year’s IFA Green Leaf Award recognizes Qatar Fertiliser Company’s (Qafco) SHE and product stewardship excellence Green Leaf Award winner

Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) first runner-up

Tata Chemicals Ltd. (India) second runner-up

Profertil S.A. (Argentina)

The 2013 Green Leaf trophy was awarded to the Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) during the IFA Global Safety Summit & Technical Symposium on 9 April in Santiago, Chile. The Association launched this global award in 2009 to recognize excellence and achievement in safety, health and environmental (SHE) performance in fertilizer production within its membership. Qafco is the third award laureate, following Yara Sluiskil in 2009 and IFFCO Aonla in 2011. Qafco is one of the world’s leading producers of urea fertilizers. This award recognizes the company’s strong SHE performance, product stewardship policies that meet and surpass its environmental and social responsibilities, and a strong record of ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for its workers. Qafco’s SHE and product stewardship policies involve a practical, forward-

looking approach to risk management and environmental stewardship. Above and beyond the company’s strong safety record in terms of lost-time injuries over the past decade, key corporate initiatives to enhance SHE activities include developing a strong product stewardship management system that has been recognized at the excellence level by the IFA Protect & Sustain programme. Qafco is also implementing social projects for the surrounding community, as well as environmental projects to preserve the biodiversity of marine and wildlife in the Gulf region. With strong applications from production sites located around the world, this year’s award selection was highly competitive – a testimony to the achievements of the award finalists. The first and second runners-up, Tata Chemicals Ltd. (India) and Profertil S.A. (Argentina), in particular, demonstrated strong SHE records and a commitment to product stewardship.

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Making the best out of foliar fertilization by Victoria Fernández

here has been an increasing trend in recent years to use foliar fertilizers to improve crop yields and quality. Foliar nutrient sprays can be a useful complementary or alternative fertilization strategy, for example when plant nutrient demand may exceed the roots’ absorptive capacity or under conditions limiting soil nutrient availability. While there is abundant empirical and scientific evidence of the beneficial effects of applying foliar nutrient sprays to several fruit, vegetable, field and flower crop species, complete reliance on foliar nutrient sprays is impossible due to several constraints, such as meeting the demand of macro-nutrients or expecting�� a systemic response after applying mineral elements with limited plant mobility (e.g., calcium or iron).1 Plant response to foliar sprays varies depending on multiple factors. These can generally be grouped as factors related to the plant (for example, plant surface properties or plant physiological factors), those related to the envi-

Severe K and N deficiency in leaves immediately adjacent to a large nut cluster in pistachio (Pistacia vera). Deficiencies can occur even in heavily fertilized orchards and targeted foliar applications of KNO3 effectively corrects these foliar symptoms.

onment at the time of treatment (for example, prevailing relative humidity, temperature, light or wind speed), and the physico-chemical properties of the spray solution. A detailed account of major factors affecting the effectiveness of foliar sprays is provided by Fernández et al. (2013) in "Foliar Fertilization".1 In view of existing knowledge gaps concerning the rate of uptake, translocation and bioactivity of foliar applied nutrient sprays, it is currently not fully possible to design formulations with optimal properties – for all types of plant surfaces – that could lead to reproducible responses when applied to crop plants in different climatic areas. However, the whole nutrient spraying process may be affected by human decisions. Awareness to improve the performance of foliar nutrient sprays can help increase their effectiveness. For example, higher foliar uptake rates may be expected if the fertilizers are sprayed in the morning when stomata are open and relative humidity and temperature are lower than at other times of the day. Additional factors, such as the design of an appropriate foliar fertilization programme that considers the timing of spraying in relation to organ phenology and plant nutrient demand, can also maximize the benefits of foliar fertilization in terms of improved yields, quality and disease control.1 Although nutrient sprays are generally applied to foliage when nutrient deficiency symptoms have been observed, recent research points to the reduced permeability of nutrient-deficient compared with healthy leaves. Thus, applying several lower concentration nutrient sprays that avoid the occurrence of nutrient deficiencies during the growing season could be a good strategy to preserve crop yields. It could also be beneficial for pest and disease control. A combination of root and foliar fertilizer applications, tailored according to plant phenology and nutrient demand during the growing season, can help

improve fertilizer effectiveness and limit environmental impacts, with subsequent economic benefits for growers. In addition, the application of nutrient sprays as complementary treatments may help reduce costs associated with the supply of expensive root-applied fertilizers such as iron chelates, and may be an alternative for improving the physiological status of plants under extreme soil conditions (for example, high pH, calcareous soils). When applied post-harvest to tree species, late season nutrient sprays can improve plant nutrient status during the following spring and so help to meet nutrient demand early in the growing season. Positive responses have been reported when nutrient sprays are applied to improve vegetative growth in annuals and fruit set and development in fruit crops. Improved quality and yield of field crops such as wheat may result from nutrient spray application during early growth stages (for flowering and fruit set).1 Foliar fertilization (for example, with zinc) can also be used on staple crops like wheat, in association with biofortification programmes, to increase their nutritional quality.2 In summary, although many factors related to the uptake, translocation and bioactivity of foliar nutrient sprays remain unclear,1 a number of technical reports provide evidence of the beneficial effects of foliar fertilization of crop plants. cont’d on page 10

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Foliar fertilization

2013 IFA Norman Borlaug Award laureate

For excellence in crop nutrition research

Multi-element deficiencies in leaves immediately adjacent to two-fruited spurs of almond. Note the lack of apparent deficiencies in green leaves on non-fruiting neighbouring spur of the same tree. It is likely that foliar nutrient spray use will increase in coming years, and that new niche applications (where applying foliar fertilizers represents a convenient tool to improve crop yield and quality while lowering production costs) will be identified and addressed in the near futureat the same time that scientific progress is made.

Foliar Fertilization: Scientific Principles and Practices. Fernández, V., Sotiropoulos, T. and Brown, P.H. IFA. 2013. 140 p. www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/ LIBRARY/Our-selection2/Fertilizer-use. html 2 Fertilizing Crops to Improve Human Health: A Scientific Review. Bruulsema, T.W., Heffer, P., Welch, M.R., Cakmak, I. and Moran, K. International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) and IFA, 2012. 290 p. www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/ LIBRARY/Our-selection2/Fertilizer-use. html 1

Dr. Abdul Rashid is a highly accomplished crop nutritionist and a distinguished soil fertility expert. His 40year career has been devoted to well-conceived research programmes for optimizing crop nutrition through balanced and efficient fertilizer use, applicable to the world’s calcareous soils. While Dr. Rashid has worked extensively in the broad area of cost-effective fertilizer use, his career has largely been defined by his work on micronutrients, soil testing and plant analysis. His many outstanding contributions include the identification, establishment and correction of field-scale boron deficiency in 2 million hectares of flooded rice fields and 3 million hectares of cotton grown on calcareous soils in Pakistan. His work on soil testing and plant analysis has been the basis for rational use of fertilizers in Pakistan and many other developing countries. Dr. Rashid’s research outcomes have been published – nationally and internationally – in peer-reviewed journals and books, at conferences, and in other advisory materials. His research-based technologies have been promoted effectively through field demonstrations in collaboration with the fertilizer industry, as well as through local-language brochures and magazine articles. His monograph, Soil Science, which consolidates contemporary knowledge on soil properties and processes, has proved a superb textbook in Pakistan. Dr. Rashid’s persistent research and development activities and convincing advocacy have

Victoria Fernández Forest Genetics and Ecophysiology Research Group School of Forest Engineering Technical University of Madrid Madrid, Spain v.fernandez@upm.es

Contact

created a “pull force” for the use of micronutrient fertilizers in that country. Through the HarvestZinc Fertilizer Project, he is contributing to combating micronutrient malnutrition through staple cereal biofortification. Dr. Rashid’s farmer-friendly fertilizer use technologies, which have been recommended and adapted in Pakistan, include: (i) boron use in rice; (ii) boron and zinc use in cotton; (iii) zinc-enriched rice nurseries; and (iv) 50 percent fertilizer-saving phosphate band placement in wheat. Dr. Rashid is editor-in-chief of the Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and is on the editorial board of the European Journal of Agronomy and Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis.�� He has been the Chief Scientist and Director General of Pakistan’s National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) and Member (Bio-Sciences) of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. He is a Fellow of the Indian Society of Soil Science and the Soil Science Society of Pakistan, of which he was elected President. Dr. Rashid has received numerous national honours and international awards. He was a Crawford Fund Fellow at Australia’s CSIRO (�� Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)�� Land and Water, and visiting scientist to International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in Syria. Dr. Rashid obtained his PhD in soil science from the University of Hawaii in the United States in 1986, after winning an East-West Center scholarship. His undergraduate and master’s degrees in soil science (1970 and 1972) were obtained from the University of Agriculture in Faisalabad, Pakistan. More information on the IFA NB Award: w w w. f e r t i l i z e r. o r g / i f a / HomePage/INITIATIVES/IFANorman-Borlaug-Award

May 2013

IFA publications Direct application of phosphate rock

Global fertilizer trade map ICIS in cooperation with IFA, February 2013

In 2013, IFA cooperated with ICIS to publish a global fertilizer trade-flow, production, consumption and price trend map. It provides the following information, based on data provided by IFA : 2010 fertilizer trade flows above the threshold of 400,000 product tonnes; information on major fertilizer producing and consuming countries; historical trends in prices; historical prices for sulphur, potash (MOP), ammonia, urea and DAP; the main countries producing fertilizer products and raw materials in 2011; the fertilizer consumption in main counsumption countries in fertilizer years: 2010/11 to 2015/16 www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/FERTILIZERS-THE-INDUSTRY/Global-fertilizertrade-flow-map

IFA, March 2013. 4 p. Phosphate rock is the primary raw material for producing soluble P fertilizers. It can be applied directly and can solubilize in the soil, making the P available to crops depending on the type of rock, soil properties, climatic conditions, crops/cropping systems, and nutrient management practices. It is an alternative fertilization option that can contribute to sustainable intensification of agriculture, particularly in developing countries with suitable phosphate rock resources and agro-ecological conditions. www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/ LIBRARY/Our-selection2/Issue-briefs

IFA events 81st IFA Annual Conference* 20 – 22 May 2013 Chicago, USA Held on the occasion of the IFA Annual General Meeting during which the Association’s officers convene, IFA’s main event attracts on average 1400 participants representing 400 members companies from 75 countries. It has become a major meeting platform for the global fertilizer industry and is on the agenda of its chief executives and senior management representatives.

2013 IFA

IFA Production and International Trade Conference*

7 – 9 October 2013 Kiev, Ukraine This event offers an excellent opportunity to interact with senior executives from major international fertilizer producers and trading companies. A special emphasis will be placed on supply-related issues. This conference is designed by the IFA Production and International Trade Committee for all IFA members.

Production & International Trade Conference

IFA Crossroads Asia - Pacific Conference 6 – 8 November 2013 Bali, Indonesia Focusing on the pivotal Asian region and Pacific basin, IFA’s Crossroads Asia-Pacific is an extremely popular event, with some 300 participants in attendance. This event is organized under the guidance of the Regional Vice Presidents for all members with an interest in Asia and the Pacific as well as newcomers acquainting themselves with the Association in view of potential membership. In cooperation:

IFA/IFDC Nitrogen Fertilizer Production Technology Workshop 24 – 28 June 2013 Sanya, China

IFA/IFDC Phosphate Fertilizer Production Technology Workshop 7 – 11 October 2013 Bangkok, Thailand

More information on upcoming events: *

Restricted to IFA member companies

To access general and registration information about these events click on “Events” at: www.fertilizer.org/ifa/Home-Page/EVENT

12 fertilizers & agriculture

People and the soil need a balanced diet to thrive by V. Ravichandran

verybody should eat a balanced diet, consuming the right types and amounts of food to ensure proper nutrition. Agricultural soil needs a balanced diet as well, so that it can produce healthy crops. That’s why fertilizer is so important. It’s the food that feeds the soil. Farmers everywhere must have easy access to it, especially in the developing world, where it’s often in short supply. Without fertilizer, soil starves. Crops don’t grow as well as they should. The yields of farmers drop. People suffer. So healthy people depend on healthy soil, fed by fertilizer. As a farmer in India, I see malnutrition everyday. It’s a huge problem in my country, and it has many sources—but one of the main causes of human malnutrition in India is soil malnutrition. We don’t feed our soil the balanced diet it needs. As a result, our people don’t eat well enough. A new report from the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management estimates that nitrogen and other mineral fertilizers nourish about half the people in the world. Without these inputs, in other words, about half of humanity would go hungry. So more than 3.5 billion people owe their health to fertilizers. As successful farmers know, however, you can’t just “dump” fertilizer on cropland. That’s like eating a meal full of empty calories—they may fill your belly, but they’re harmful to your long-term health. For crops, a balanced diet generally consists of three main ingredients: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (in addition to other micronutrients). Nitrogen encourages robust plant growth. Phosphorous promotes root development. Potassium assists with the absorption of moisture and helps resist drought. Together, they feed the soil—and the soil feeds the crops that feed us. Sometimes, however, farmers try to get away with feeding the soil only one nutrient—and in India, present government policy encourages this tendency.

Not understanding the basics of soil nutrition some Indian farmers wrongly believe that nitrogen is all they need. Some even think that the more nitrogen they use, the better off they are. In an attempt to address its fiscal constraints, the government has reduced subsidies under Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme on Phosphate & Potash, but continues to heavily subsidize urea (Nitrogen). As a result, many farmers are only purchasing nitrogen. The truth is, that balanced soil nutrition using nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium is necessary for growing healthy crops. Without that balance, crops may grow quickly, taking on a deep green that makes them look healthy on first glance, but often they don’t mature properly, as plants spend their energy on foliage rather than on grain. These plants also have a tendency to attract more pests. This creates an additional challenge for farmers, and it may lead to an overreliance on pesticides. Poor fertilization practices make it harder for others to eat because these miscalculations add up, affecting the food supply. The systematic misapplication of fertilizer causes India to grow less food than it should. One estimate claims that our corn yield lags behind rates in other countries by as much as 45 percent, all because the government provides an incentive for farmers to rely too much on nitrogen.

Just as a poor diet will have long-term health consequences, fertilizer mistakes have a way of lingering long past the moment of the error. It takes time, energy, and resources to restore damaged soil to an original condition. Inexpensive soil tests can help many smallholder farmers from making bad mistakes in the first place. The results of those tests each season will help these farmers know what fertilizer must be applied to nourish the soil and maximize their yield. Better soil leads to better living—and it all starts with a balanced diet, both for people as well as for the earth. V. Ravichandran owns a 60 acre farm at Poongulam Village in Tamil Nadu, India where he grows rice, sugar cane, cotton and pulses (small grains). Mr. Ravichandran is a member of the Truth About Trade & Technology Global Farmer Network. www.truthabouttrade.org

International Fertilizer Industry Association 28, rue Marbeuf, 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 1 53 93 05 00 Fax: +33 1 53 93 05 45/47 ifa@fertilizer.org www.fertilizer.org Fertilizers & Agriculture is a quarterly newsletter published by IFA covering issues in relation to fertilizers and sustainable agriculture. Mailing list Subscription to Fertilizers & Agriculture is free of charge. To receive a hard copy, send full address details to be added to the mailing list. Additional copies may be supplied to organizations to circulate on behalf of IFA. To consult current and past issues of Fertilizers & Agriculture: www.fertilizer.org/ifa/HomePage/ LIBRARY/Our-selection2/Fertilizers-Agriculture Contributions We invite your contributions of letters, documents, articles, photographs, etc. Director General of IFA: Charlotte Hebebrand Editor-in-Chief: Claudine Aholou Material in F&A may be reproduced only after prior consent by IFA. Reference to individuals, publications, research, products, companies or organizations does not indicate endorsement by IFA. For information on IFA’s activities:www.fertilizer.org © International Fertilizer Industry Association 2013 Printed with vegetable-based ink by Point44 on paper from sustainably managed forests.