Fertilize Right optimizes rice nutrient management

On May 11, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in coordination with the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment and MTK Huu Thanh Joint Stock Company, organized a demonstration of precision nutrient management technologies and tools at Kien Thanh Agricultural and Service Cooperative in Vi Thanh 1 commune.

James Yi, Agricultural Attaché at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), said rice farmers are under significant pressure from rising input costs while still needing to maintain productivity and reduce losses. This requires fertilizer use to become more efficient and precise.

To meet these demands, science- and digital technology-based nutrient management solutions are being strongly promoted. The “Fertilize Right” (FR) app is developed by IRRI scientists as a special version of the Rice Crop Manager (RCM) tool in Vietnam. It can provide fertilizer recommendations tailored to specific farming conditions based on soil characteristics, crop seasons, and cultivation methods.

This tool helps improve fertilizer-use efficiency, reduce input costs, minimize nutrient losses, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, it enhances rice productivity, quality, and value.

“Combining region-specific digital fertilizer applications with solutions such as row seeding with fertilizer incorporation, improved fertilizers, water management, and straw management can reduce nitrogen fertilizer use by up to 30%, lower seed rates while maintaining or increasing yields, and reduce post-harvest losses as well as emission rate,” said Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, Head of the “Fertilize Right” Project.

In Can Tho city, the Sub-Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection has worked closely with IRRI to deploy the FR app across many localities. The tool is considered a practical solution to promote digital transformation and precise nutrient management in high-quality, low-emission rice production.

Nguyen Thi Giang, Deputy Director of the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that within the one-million-hectare high-quality, low-emission rice scheme, innovation in farming methods, application of science and technology, and digital transformation have been identified as key tasks.

The city is currently implementing the scheme across 64 communes and wards, covering nearly 171,000 hectares through 171 cooperatives and cooperative groups. Pilot models have shown remarkable effectiveness, reducing nitrogen fertilizer use by more than 30% and cutting pesticide spraying by two to three times. As a result, farmers’ profits have increased by VND 1.3 - 6.5 million per hectare in comparison to traditional farming methods, while greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 6 - 12 tons of CO₂ per hectare.

According to Deputy Director Giang, cooperation among IRRI, enterprises, cooperatives, and the local agricultural sector has helped narrow the gap between scientific research and practical production.

In the near future, the Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment will continue working with international organizations, enterprises, and localities to support farmers and cooperatives in expanding advanced farming solutions and accelerating digital transformation, aiming to develop a high-quality, low-emission rice industry in the Mekong Delta.

Despite ample efforts, reality persists as fertilizer costs still account for a large share of rice production expenses. Many farmers have yet to fully understand that improper fertilizer use not only increases costs but also leads to nutrient losses, greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental impacts.

Within the framework of the Fertilizer Right Project, funded by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the FR app has been introduced into practice. Based on farmers’ input data such as field area, yield targets, sowing methods, rice varieties, and fertilizer types, the “Fertilize Right” app provides recommendations on fertilizer dosage, fertilizer sources, application timing, and water management. The application also calculates fertilizer investment costs for each specific field based on crop demand and achievable maximum yield. This tool holds undeniable potential as it allows farmers to see greater heights in their journey to low-emission rice production.