4R Nutrient Management: Key to Increasing Sugarcane Yield in Myanmar

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1 EVENT: Nutrient Management Seminar 4R Nutrient Management: Key to Increasing Sugarcane Yield in Myanmar Dr. Tin Maung Aye Agronomist and soil scientist

2 Growing environments in Myanmar Sugarcane(Saccharum officinarum L. ) adapts well to a wide range of ecological conditions in Myanmar. The crop is known for its tolerance to low soil fertility, drought and flood conditions. That is why the crop continues to hold an important position in Myanmar agriculture systems.

3 Weather and Climate Myanmar Tropical monsoon with three distinct seasons Hot dry season (March April) Raining season (May Oct) Cool dry season (Nov- Feb) Temperature variation Rainfall <1000mm to 5000mm Four Agro-climatic Regions The Delta Region The Coastal Region The Central Dry Zone Region The Mountainous Region

4 Land Resource and Its Utilization in Myanmar Land Use Area (million ha) Percentage Net sown area Fallow land Cultivable waste land Reserved forests Other forests Others Total Source: MOAI 2014 Potential expansion of new agriculture land remains more than 5 million ha

5 A Brief History of Sugarcane in Myanmar Introduced into Myanmar since Inwa era (14 th to 16 th centuries) First grown in the Mandalay region grown for traditional use as juice and tonic National Sugarcane production plan was adopted in 1932 and its sown area was gradually increased Since 1950 through Pyi-dawtha project, it becomes a industrial crop

6 Uses of Sugarcane in Myanmar Traditionally use as juice and tonic Many farmers now grow sugarcane for the sugar production Mostly for sale to sugar-mills and also to local ethanol factories

7 Traditional Production Systems Planted on a wide rage of soils with traditional methods Produced mainly by smallholder farmers with locally available varieties Generally do not apply optimum inputs on the soils Resulting in low cane yields and soil nutrient depletion

8 Current Production Systems Grown in all parts of the country, mainly in Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Kachin and Shan states Sugarcane is a National Priority Crop, grown as mainly for sugar industry Recently changing in agricultural policy favours, sugarcane becomes as a Cash Crop for smallholder farmers

9 Sugarcane Harvested area, Yield and Year Production Harvested area (ha) Yield (t/ha) Production (t) , ,804, , ,194, , ,073, , ,038, , ,677, , ,900, , ,715, , ,397, , ,690, , ,000, , ,900,000 FAOSTAT 2015

10 What are the main constraints to closing yield gaps? Estimated yield gap (80 t/ha) Y Myanmar ± 75 Thailand ± 90 Colombia Attainable yield (± 140 t/ha) Current yield (± 60 t/ha) X

11 Improved Genetics + Agronomy +. Fertility management Weed management Pests & Diseases control + Mechanization + Processing + Marketing For example: Average farmers yields in Myanmar (around 60 t/ha) are far below than achievable yields while Farmers in Thailand can produce 75 t/ha and in Colombia 90 t/ha.

12 Impact: Genetics + Agronomy Example: Green Revolution Rice in LAC Peter Jennings: Found semi-dwarf gene at IRRI (IR8) Later moved to rice program at CIAT One-off increase in rice yields in LAC with introduction of semidwarf rice in favourable environments (~2t/ha) No major increase in yield with the release of a further 400 semidwarf varieties over next 30 years Improve rice agronomy:» fertilizer use» time of seeding» seedling density» seed treatment to control insects» weed control => additional 2t/ha» irrigation management

13 Available Sugarcane Varieties Local varieties VMC 74/527 VMC 67/611 Co Exotic varieties Guitang 11 Xintaitang 10 Z-10 Z-71/40 Exotic varieties K84/200 K88/92 U Thong 1 Phil 72/70 Phil 74/64 Hybrid varieties PMA 96/48 PMA 96/56

14 Sugarcane Production Constraints Many farmers grow local varieties on poor soils with limited inputs Little knowledge about how to use fertilizer better Usually get low yields and decline in soil fertility Emerging pests and diseases

15 Balanced Nutrition to Close Yield Gap Increased Yield (30 t/ha) Targeted yield (± 100 t/ha) Current yield (± 60 t/ha) Y X

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17 3. They must be synchronized with the sugarcane plant, soil, climate, and management environments. 4R Nutrient Stewardship Concept 1. Application of the right source of plant nutrients at the right rate, the right time, and in the right place are essential in the management of plant nutrition to increase sustainability of sugarcane systems. 2. Right rate is often overemphasized due to its simplicity and direct relation to cost. Right source, time, and place are more frequently overlooked and these may offer greater opportunities for improved performance.

18 Appropriate site-specific nutrient management to achieve maximum profits and environmental sustainability Right sources: Inorganic fertilizers and organic fertilizers can be used. Conceptual illustration of application of the right source of plant nutrients to improve better crop yield and profits

19 Appropriate site-specific nutrient management to achieve maximum profits and environmental sustainability Right rate: Nutrients must be applied to achieve a realistic yield goal. A combination of 150 kg N, 50 kg P and 150 kg K per hectare may supply sufficient N, P and K for the optimum cane yields in many soils Conceptual illustration of application of the right quantity of plant nutrients to increase better crop yield and profits

20 Appropriate site-specific nutrient management to achieve maximum profits and environmental sustainability Right time: Fertilizer applications must be properly timed to provide available nutrients for sugarcane plants depending upon its nutrient uptake patterns, varying cropping systems and climatic conditions at specific places. Conceptual illustration of application of plant nutrients at the right time to increase better nutrient uptake by the plant

21 Appropriate site-specific nutrient management to achieve maximum profits and environmental sustainability Conceptual illustration of application of plant nutrients at the right place to improve better crop yield and profits

22 Key to increasing yields for maximum profits and environmental sustainability Balanced fertilization can contribute as much as 35-40% to the general improvement of sugarcane yields. Two types of nutrient demand can be distinguished: 1. Nutrients removed with the harvested canes 2. Nutrient uptake by cane tops and trashes

23 Key to increasing yields for maximum profits and environmental sustainability Crop Yield t ha -1 Total uptake (above-ground biomass) kg ha -1 Removal (crop yield) Kg t -1 N P K Ca Mg S N P K Ca Mg S Sugarcane Fertilizer recommendation rate for sugarcane (kg ha -1 ) Targeted cane yield N P K Mg S Low (60 t ha -1 ) High (100 t ha -1 ) Nutrient uptake and removal in sugarcane and general guideline for N, P, K, Mg and S fertilization for sugarcane in Myanmar Source: Dierolf, Fairhurst and Mutert, 2001

24 Key to increasing yields for maximum profits and environmental sustainability Timing of plant nutrients to be applied to sugarcane according to the various fertilizer sources in Myanmar

25 Key to increasing yields for maximum profits and environmental sustainability Right place to apply NPK fertilizers to sugarcane crop

26 240 Production Situation in Myanmar Cane yield (t/ha/year) Contribution of various Inputs to Cane Yield Potential yield Biological Potential Yield under Optimum Growing Condition Cane yields of 200 tons per ha per year appear to be close to the potential yield limit. Attainable yield Targeted yield Targeted yield can be achieved by good agricultural practice such as balanced fertilizer application Actual yield Actual Yield - Abiotic and biotic, management constraints -Socio-economic limitation

27 What can you do about implementation of concept? If all knowledge is there, just implement but Knowledge gap may exist. What can be done? o If yield gap factor are known: use Best Management Practices (BMP) approach o If yield gap factor are unknown: use Plantation Intelligence (IP) approach, o Or go immediately to large scale experimentation

28 Improved Nutrient Management (Fertilizer Trials) Balance fertilizer application (150 kg N, 50 kg P and 150 kg K per) can increase the sugarcane yield (from t/ha to t/ha) Return on investment of fertilizers (more than 3 X?)

29 Conclusions In Myanmar, improved research techniques and agronomy procedures will use in future to boost sugarcane yields and improve farmers livelihoods through better income. Due to its present and future importance of agriculture commodities, a production strategic plan would be required to enhance the productivity of crops in terms of expending growing cropping areas as well as yield per unit area. International and regional collaborations and their assistances are needed particularly among researchers, educators, private sectors and farmers to address these important issues.

30 Great opportunity to transform the sugarcane crop into a major commercial crop in the Myanmar agriculture. Investment in sugarcane sector can be supported the income generation for rural communities in Myanmar. Due attention is not only focus on technical issue but also focus on the best way to manage other issues, such as socioeconomic, environmental, ethnic and political situations, which have to be considered to ensure both appropriateness and adoption of sugarcane planation management. Private and Public Partnership is essential to develop the sugarcane sector in Myanmar.

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