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Application Gap of Fertilizers in Boro Rice Cultivation: a Field Level Study

M.E. Islam
BAU, Mymensingh

M.A.M. Miah
BAU, Mymensingh

M.G. Farouque
BAU, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The objectives of this study were to determine the application gap of fertilizers in boro rice cultivation and to explore the relationships between farmers’ selected characteristics and their gap of fertilizer application. Besides, an attempt was made to identify the causes associated with application gap of different fertilizers and their probable remedies in boro rice cultivation. Data were collected from a sample of 100 farmers selected through simple random sampling procedure from Shankarpur Union of Jhikargachha Upazila under Jessore District during 5 August to 19 September, 2009. The findings revealed that 37% of the farmers had low application gap followed by 34% having high application gap of urea in cultivating boro rice. In case of TSP, more than one half (52%) of the respondents had low application gap and 30% had medium application gap but 44% of the respondents had medium application gap compare to 37% having low application gap in terms of MoP application. Among seven characteristics of farmers - age, education, farm size, annual income, credit received, extension contact and knowledge of using fertilizer, only two characteristics such as extension contact and knowledge of using fertilizer were found to have significant negative relationship with their application gap while the rest of the variables did not show any significant relationship. The causes of application gap of using fertilizers were high price of fertilizers, lack of credit facilities, and lack of adequate supply in time, poor fertilizer quality, and inadequate dealerships. Adequate credit facilities, timely supply of fertilizers and open market sale of fertilizers were the most important remedies opined by the farmers to minimize the gap.

Keywords: Application gap, Fertilizer, Boro rice, Cultivation, Farmers.

Location: Five villages of Shankarpur Union under Jhikargachha Upazila of Jessore district

Start Date: 05-08-2009

End Date: 19-09-2009

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer

Objectives:

To find out the application gap of using fertilizer in boro rice cultivation;
To describe some of the selected characteristics of the boro rice growers;
To explore the relationships between application gap of using fertilizer by the boro rice growers and their selected characteristics; and
To identify the associate causes of application gap of fertilizer and their possible solutions.

Methodology:

Study Area, Population and Sampling: The study was conducted in five villages of Shankarpur Union under Jhikargachha Upazila of Jessore district. All the farm family heads of Shankarpur union constituted the population of the study. This union has fourteen villages and out of which five villages were selected following a random sampling technique. An up-to-date list of all boro rice farmers (the head of farm households) of the selected five villages was prepared with the help of respective Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO). The list so prepared comprised about five hundred boro rice farmers. Approximately twenty percent (20%) of the boro rice farmers were selected randomly from each village. Thus, 100 boro farmers constituted the sample for this study. Measurement of Application Gap: Application gap of fertilizer of a farmer was measured as the difference between recommended dose and actual applied dose of fertilizer for the total potential area under boro rice cultivation. Application gap of a farmer was measured by using the following formula: Application gap of using fertilizer = (R-A). Where, R= Recommended dose or required amount of fertilizer for the area (in proper unit) A= Actual amount of fertilizer used in a unit area. Application Gap of Urea/TSP/MoP: Application gap of Urea/TSP/MoP fertilizers of a farmer was measured as the difference between recommended dose and actual applied dose of fertilizers for the total potential area under boro rice cultivation. Application gap of Urea/TSP/MoP fertilizer = (R-A). Where, R= Recommended dose of Urea/TSP/MoP fertilizers for the area (in proper unit) A= Actual amount of Urea/TSP/MoP fertilizers used in a unit area under boro rice cultivation. Overall Application Gap of Fertilizer Overall application gap of fertilizer of a farmer was measured as the sum of difference between recommended dose and actual applied dose of fertilizer for the total potential area under boro rice cultivation. Data Collection and Analysis: Data were collected through interviewing the sampled farmers. The principal researcher himself collected data for this study. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (r) was computed to explore the relationships between farmers’ selected characteristics and their application gap of fertilizers in boro rice cultivation.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education, Volume 21, No. 1&2, 2009: 27-34, ISSN 1011-3916

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Chemical fertilizers are a vital part of modern agriculture. The new high-yielding crop varieties which supply so much of the region's food only perform well when they are provided with an adequate and timely supply of plant nutrients in the form of different chemical fertilizers. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the boro rice growers used recommended dose of urea while TSP and MoP by minimum number of farmers. This means the farmers are more concern about use of Urea than TSP and MoP. This is why the application gap of Urea is lower than those of TSP and MoP fertilizers. Applying inappropriate fertilizer means an imbalance use of different plant nutrients. Nitrogen applications tend to be much too high in relation to the amount of potassium and phosphate used. This is partly the result of price differentials, and partly the lack of knowledge among farmers about the need for balanced fertilizer applications. Hence, inappropriate application of fertilizers not only reduces the yield of boro rice but also pollutes the environment and damage the agro-ecosystem to a great extent. However, the extension service providers should strengthen motivational campaign so that the farmers become aware about the use of recommended dose of all the inorganic fertilizers in boro rice cultivation. In addition, Government should take initiative regarding easy access of fertilizers to farmers through proper distribution system.

Knowledge Management: Journal