--Interview with Bai Youlu, a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Agricultural Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

The application of organic fertilizer in my country can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty, but in the context of green agricultural development and high-quality development, organic fertilizer has been informed by policies such as "one control and two reductions" instead of "farming geological star protection" and other policies. Rapid development and growth. However, with the sound of "organic fertilizers completely replacing chemical fertilizers* or even "prohibiting the use of chemical fertilizers" in some areas, we can't help but start thinking about what positioning and development direction organic fertilizer should use to help my country's green and high-quality agricultural development. To this end, the reporter of "China Agricultural Materials" interviewed Bai Youlu, a researcher at the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Agricultural Regional Planning of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and director of the Plant Nutrition and Fertilizer Research Office.

 

Question: What do you think of the view that "organic fertilizers replace chemical fertilizers" or even "prohibition of chemical fertilizers"? What is the relationship between organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers?

Bai Youlu: In the current situation of my country's agricultural development, I think that modern agriculture is still inseparable from chemical fertilizers and only relying on organic fertilizers (commercial organic fertilizers) still has some problems.

At present, there are more than 2,000 organic fertilizer companies in my country, but the national organic fertilizer production capacity is about 30 million tons, and the actual output is 15 million to 20 million tons. However, my country uses 55 million to 60 million tons of pure nutrients in agriculture every year. The development of agriculture is not enough to rely solely on organic fertilizers, and chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers are required to cooperate with each other.

But in the end, what proportion of organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer should be used together? So far, we have only conducted research on the proportion of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients in chemical fertilizers, and there is no clear concept of organic and inorganic proportions for the time being. It is expected that for a long period of time, these are important topics that we need to study. Especially the current organic resources or organic wastes do not mean that we have as much as we want, but we must solve the problem according to its quantity, which adds more uncertainty.

 

Question: Judging from the current development of commercial organic fertilizers, what are the main problems in your opinion?

Bai Youlu: The first is the positioning problem. From the perspective of the current raw material positioning for the commercialization of organic fertilizers, we must be clear about whether the development positioning of organic fertilizers is an industry or a public welfare undertaking. At present, a large part of the source of commercial organic fertilizers we use is processed from waste, especially flying materials from the aquaculture industry. Therefore, we must be clear whether the production and processing of this type of organic fertilizer is to be used as a resource or as a waste treatment for green environmental protection, which also determines that the source of raw materials for organic fertilizer production enterprises should be spent by the enterprise. Purchasing is still the foundation of state-funded support.

The second is the market problem. There is a hype about the concept of organic fertilizer in the current market, which excessively exaggerates the function of organic fertilizer; the sales points are complicated and diverse, and it is difficult to form a consensus on brand functions; lack of price supervision, dealers drive up profits, and cause farmers to use fertilizer costs too high; The variety of organic fertilizer raw materials is messy; the organic fertilizer appraisal and supervision standard discusses problems such as inferiority.

 

Question: In what direction do you think my country's organic fertilizer will develop?

Bai Youlu: First, it should be considered from the perspective of straw application. Every year, we have about 700 million tons of straw, which is mainly directly returned to the field. From the perspective of the long-term output effect of straw returning to the field, the output will increase significantly after returning the straw to the field. However, in combination with the current carbon peak and carbon neutral goals, in order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the direction of the use of straw resources may be developed in the direction of biomass refining projects such as straw panels, cellulosic ethanol and bio-polyols. Second, it should be considered from the perspective of organic waste. The comprehensive utilization of waste from the combination of planting and breeding will also be one of the development directions of organic fertilizer, but this "integration of planting and breeding" is actually the non-commercialization of organic fertilizer. Utilized by the planting industry to form an integrated balance. Third, commercial organic fertilizers should be functionalized. In my opinion, whether it is the functionalization of fertilizers or the functionalization of organic fertilizers, it should mean that only the functions of fertilizers or organic fertilizers to provide nutrients to plants can be called functionalization, such as insect resistance, anti-stubble, and salt-alkali resistance. Wait. But it is worth noting that the other functions of commercial organic fertilizers should not be absolute. Fourth, in-depth mechanism research on organic fertilizers should be strengthened. At present, we are relatively clear on the mechanism of nutrient elements, but in terms of additives, especially biostimulants, the mechanism research needs to be strengthened. Fifth, the innovation capability of enterprises should be improved. At present, there are more than 2,000 organic fertilizer factories in my country, but the average annual output is less than 10,000 tons. Many of them are small factories below 5,000 tons. There are two or three people in total. How to do a good job in corporate innovation requires further thinking.