Efficiency Test of IRRI Fertilizing Recommendations on Rainfed Low Land Rice Field in West Kalimantan

Abstract

Fertilizing recommendation for lowland rice field in West Kalimantan is still in national scale and tends to be excessive. It is less relevant due to various factors such as the test method competence, the carrying capacity  of  the  land,  and  the  diverse  condition  of  rice  field  agro-ecosystem.  Site-specific  nutrient management (SSNM) is an approach for rice fertilizing on paddy plot based on science, history of land fertilization,  and  nutrient  sources  surrounding  the  area  which  can  affect  soil  fertility  level  and  soil conservation.This study was aimed to examine fertilizing efficiency of N, P, and K and the increased productivity of rice by utilizing software (website) of the IRRI. The study was conducted in farmers fields in two villages, i.e. Anjongan and Pak Bulu, Pontianak Regency, West Kalimantan. The results showed that the SSNM fertilization on rice increased yields by the average of 0.62 t ha-1 (13.47%) per growing season. The efficiency of SSNM fertilization was on the average of 22.05% N, 48.25% P2O5, and 31.50% K2O. The additional profits obtained from the SSNM recommendation was on the average of IDR 1,886,317 per ha pergrowing season compared to the profits from the FFP (farmer fertilizer practice).

Keywords: Fertilizing efficiency, low land, rice, site specific fertilization