Abstract:

There are large differences in the fertilization levels and fertilizer reduction potential across different crops in Zhejiang Province, China. It is of great significance to promote the development of green agriculture in Zhejiang, by clarifying the status quo of fertilization and exploring a scientific way to reduce fertilizer application. In the present study, more than 7 000 planting households in 11 cities of Zhejiang Province in 2022 were surveyed, involving 15 types of crops, such as grains and oil crops, fruits, vegetables, tea, etc. The fertilizer types, fertilizer dosage, application time, application methods, sowing area, crop varieties were investigated. The fertilization status and fertilizer reduction potential of different crops were analyzed based on the limits for chemical fertilizer application rate in Zhejiang Province.It was found that remarkable progress had been achieved in fertilizer reduction in Zhejiang Province. Among the crops surveyed, only the total application rates of nutrients in chemical fertilizers on wheat and tea was above the limits. The proportion of area with excessive application rates of nutrients in chemical fertilizers was as high as 73% in wheat. However, the above index in solanaceous vegetables was the lowest among all the surveyd crops, as only 1.3%. For other crops, the proportion of area with excessive application rates of nutrients in chemical fertilizers ranged from 19% to 44%. Excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer was an important reason for the excessive application of total nutrients in chemical fertilizers. In regions with excessive application rates of nutrients in chemical fertilizers, the application rates of total nutrients in chemical fertilizers could be reduced by by 43% and 35% in tea and root vegetables, respectively, and by 10%-25% in the other crops.

Key words: fertilization status, chemical fertilizer reduction, formula fertilizer, organic fertilizer, Zhejiang Province