SITE SPECIFIC NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT
About Us
The concept of SSNM for rice was developed in the mid-1990s. It was then evaluated and refined from 1997 to 2000 in about 200 irrigated rice farms at eight sites in six Asian countries through the project “Reversing Trends in Declining Productivity (RTDP)”. The achievements before 2001 in the initial conceptualization and development of SSNM for the dynamic field-specific management of N, P, and K to optimize supply and crop demand are documented in a book by Dobermann et al. (2004) (see publication list).
From 2001 to 2004, the initial SSNM concept was systematically transformed to provide farmers and extension workers with simplified plant-need-based management of N, P, and K. This included use of the leaf color chart (LCC) for N management. Activities were implemented through the Reaching Toward Optimal Productivity (RTOP) workgroup of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) in partnership with national agricultural research and extension systems throughout Asia. By 2004, the evaluation and promotion of this simplified SSNM approach had expanded to about 20 locations in Asia representing large areas of intensive rice farming under irrigated or favorable rainfed conditions. The countries involved included Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Since 2005, increased emphasis has been placed on the dissemination of SSNM through expanded partnerships with research and extension organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the private sector. The dissemination of SSNM is facilitated by distribution of information on the principles of the SSNM approach, locally adapted SSNM recommendations arising from past research, and guidelines on how to make a locally adapted recommendation.
1. Principles of the SSNM approach
SSNM as developed through the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium is a plant-based approach with a set of universal principles, which are applicable throughout irrigated or favorable rainfed rice-growing environments. These principles of the SSNM approach involve three steps for developing a field-specific recommendation for optimal management of nutrient inputs. The SSNM approach provides universally applicable principles and guidelines for effective N management and P and K management.
The SSNM approach does not provide one universal nutrient management practice for rice. It instead enables the tailoring of nutrient management to field- and location-specific conditions. Recommendations for managing nutrient inputs are consequently adapted to local conditions and vary among fields and locations.
2. Locally adapted SSNM recommendations
Research was conducted in farmers’ fields throughout Asia from 1997 to 2004 to develop and refine SSNM. Findings from this research at about 20 locations in Asia, representing large areas of intensive rice farming, were used to develop nutrient management recommendations specifically adapted to each location. Locally adapted recommendations were developed for country locations representing large rice-growing areas in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Even though the research locations represent large rice-growing areas, many other rice-growing areas do not have the benefit of past research from which locally adapted nutrient management recommendations have been developed. Techniques are consequently needed for rapidly developing recommendations adapted to a specific rice-growing location based on existing knowledge at that location.
3. Guidelines on how to make a locally adapted recommendation
Experiences from SSNM research throughout Asia are being used to develop a technique for formulating a locally adapted recommendation in any irrigated or favorable rainfed rice-growing area. This technique uses farmers’ knowledge of their crop production, history of rice yields, and soils together with a set of science-based guidelines to formulate a nutrient management recommendation.
The technique will be field tested at selected locations in Asia in 2006 through the Productivity and Sustainability workgroup of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium. Results of the field testing will be used to refine the technique before it can be made widely available for use in the dissemination of SSNM.
For more information, contact:
Roland J. Buresh
Soil Scientist
International Rice Research Institute
DAPO Box 7777
Metro Manila, Philippines
Email: r.buresh@cgiar.org
Phone: +63-2-580-5600 (via Philippines)
1-650-833-6620 (via USA)
ext. 2745 (office), 2296 (secretary), 2337 (house)
Fax: +63-2-580-5699 (via Philippines)
1-650-833-6621 (via USA)
About Us SSNM (www.irri.org/irrc/ssnm)
Site Specific Nutrient Management