Application of Nano Carbon to Improve Yield & Nutrient Use Efficiency A breakthrough in biotechnology and agriculture to improve plant growth and yields with reduced fertilizer usage. MA Yun IFA Crossroads Asia-Pacific 30 October 2012 Manila, Philippines Challenges & Solutions Increased use of fertilizers does not guarantee improved crop yield, and yet leads to hardening of soil and pollution of underground & surface water Solution: Increase the efficiency of fertilizer usage High cost transportation due to the volume of the fertilizers Solution: Reduce the volume of fertilizers to save cost & storage space Thin profit margin by fertilizer companies due to high competition Solution: Value-add to traditional fertilizers with better performance 1
In 5 years, we have tested with various plants in 16 provinces throughout China in varying season, climate and soil conditions. Cotton 棉花 Soybean, 大豆 玉米 corn, rice, 水稻 马 potatoes 铃薯 黑龙江 Heilongjiang 新疆 Xinjiang Kiwi 猕猴桃 Rice, 水稻 生菜 菊 lettuce, corn, chrysanthemum, 花 potato, tomato Sichuan 四川 Yunnan 云南 Rice, bananas, 水稻 oranges, papaya 吉林 Jilin Hebei 河北 Liaonin 辽宁 g 北京 Shan Beijing Rice 水稻山 xi 西山东 Shan dong 河南 Hena Jian n 江小麦 玉米 烟 Wheat, tobacco, gsu 苏草 各种蔬菜 flowers vegetables, Hube 湖北花卉 corn, fruit trees i Zhejian 浙江江西 Jiangx 湖南 Huna g i n 福建 Fujian Guangx 广西广东 Guan i gdon g 海南 Haina n Hybrid 杂交水稻 Rice Single-season field crops gain additional yield of 5-20% Vegetables gain additional yield of 20-40% Shorten the crop growth period - early harvesting allows the products to enter the market 7-10 days earlier than competitors which results in higher sales return 2
Improve the efficiency of plant respiration and photosynthesis (a) Nano Carbon Treatment: Accelerate the synthesis and transports of starch grains in chloroplast (b) The control group: A large number of starch grains within chloroplasts siltation, has been full of chloroplast Increase fertilizer use efficiency 3
Promote plant roots systems and increase photosynthesis of plants 对照 0.03 0.15 对照 3 15 0.01 倍 0.05 倍 1 倍 5 倍 0.3 1.5 3 30 60 90 0.1 倍 0.5 倍 1 倍 10 倍 20 倍 30 倍 对照 3 0.03 0.3 MS hydroponic,the apparent shape of Arabidopsis roots Arabidopsis roots Arabidopsis thaliana experiment: Arabidopsis root surface can capture and absorb a large amount of nano-carbons. 4
纳米碳 对照 Other Research Findings Improvement in the nutritional content of crops and the quality of the taste Enhance plants growth by resisting diseases and improving stability of the plants by anti-bending and deeper rooting of crops Reduce environmental pollution caused by excessive fertilizer use. 60% 纳米增效肥 100% 普通肥 5
Professors and Experts Academician Yuan Longping Father of Rice); and Li Jian Yang Academician Fang Rongxiang Academician Liu Gengling and Fang Zhiyuan Professors and Experts Professors and Experts Academicians and experts in bioscience and material science visiting our plant and research bases. 6
Participants of Our Research Participants of Our Research National Hybrid Rice Research Center National Soybean Research Center China Agricultural University Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of China National Tobacco Corporation Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology Jilin Agricultural University Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences Heilongjiang Bureau of Reclamation Sinochem Fertilizer Co., Ltd. Fertilizer Industry Group in Yunnan Dawei Shanxi Tianji Coal Chemical Group Co., Ltd. China Agricultural agricultural Chain Co., Ltd. 7
Application Examples : Rice Nano-enhanced fertilizer on rice yield (June 2009, Heilongjiang Province) Conventiona l fertilizer nanoenhanced fertilizer Treatment Average yield (kg/acre) Increase additional yields kg/acre % 100% conventional fertilizer 2880 70% nano-enhanced fertilizer 3798 918 31.8 Application Examples: Winter Wheat This technology enables a 50% increase fertilizer efficiency, equivalent to 1.5 times of the common fertilizer. We had carried out field trials for winter wheat using nano-enhanced fertilizer though the fertilizer application rate was only 50% of the conventional usage, still increased the mass yield more than 10%. 8
Application Examples: Maize and Paddy Rice Urea 70% of the nanoenhanced urea We have tested in a maize field using nano-enhanced fertilizer in April to August, 2008 to August though the fertilizer application rate was only 70% of normal usage,still increased the product yield more than18.6% Maize In December 2008 to May 2009,we had field trials with China National Hybrid Rice Technology Center. We made done 8 species using nanoenhanced fertilizers, though the fertilizer application rate was only 60-70% of normal usage, still increased the product yield 20-23%. Paddy Rice Application Examples Though the fertilizer application rate was only 50-70% of the normal usage, still received additional more yield more than 20%. Soya bean In October 2009,we carried out field trials in Heilongjiang, with only 50%-70% of normal fertilizer usage,the harvest still increased 24.4-27.4%. Results also showed significant increments in soybean pod numbers, per plant grain numbers and grain weights. 9
Application Examples: Vegetables Tomato Sweet Pepper 左侧节肥 50% 冲施纳米碳溶胶 右侧常规施肥 2011 年在河北省邯郸市永年县黄瓜苗期上冲施纳米碳溶胶一次, 节肥 50% 的情况下, 第 5 天观察与对照相比较病害少 叶片肥厚浓绿 植株健壮 根系发达, 平均增产 20% Application Examples: Flowers In August 2008,the Green Apple arrowroot rate used only 60-70% of imported highquality fertilizers. In 70 days we recorded significantly increments in plant height, leaf sizes, stress tolerance, disease resistance and root systems, The grown products reaches the market 10 days earlier. In May 2008, we carried out the flower nanofertilizer tests of poinsettia. Compared with the imported high quality fertilizers, the fertilizer application rate was 50% of imported highquality fertilizers. After 30 days plant height increased 4cm more, increased corolla 3cm more, significantly increased leaf sizes, can reach the market 10 days earlier than the competitors. 10
Application Examples: Tobacco Hi-tech Research and Development Program (National 863 Projects) Results showed that nano-efficiency fertilizer increased Tobacco yield by about 10% and significantly increase potassium ions content by 24-56%, and improve aroma quality and aftertaste of middle leaves. Substantial Benefits The fertilizer industries for higher profit margin The farmers for earlier and better harvest World s food-supply to reduce poverty The environment for sustainable growth Human kind for more healthier generations 11
Prof. MA Yun Mobile: (86) 18611321633 E-mail: may@im.ac.cn Institute of Microbiology Academy of sciences, China State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics Datun Road, Chaoyang District Beijing 100101 P.R. China 12