Effective Fertilizer Application Techniques on Rice for High Yield – According to Dr. Frisco Malabanan, the national coordinator of Ginintuang Masaganang Ani of the government, that most of the time, farmers don’t apply enough fertilizer. When the recommended rate is 6 to 8 bags per hectare, they may apply only 3 to 5 bags. Worse, they don’t’ apply the right fertilizer at the right time. To obtain the potential yield of the variety planted, the recommended fertilizer should be applied at the right time.
What is the right time? Dr. Malabanan emphasizes the application of the right fertilizer formulation in the right amount during the last harrowing. That’s called basal application. The kind and amount should be based on soil analysis. Normally, however, a basal application of 14-14-14 (complete) is recommended. Urea or ammonium sulfate could also be applied.
During the dry season 3 to 4 bags of complete are recommended per hectare. It is less during the wet season – 2 bags complete and one bag urea.
At 45 to 50 days after seeding, side-dressing is done. During the dry season, side-dress 2 to 3 bags of urea or 4 to 6 bags of ammonium sulfate.
When 5 percent of the rice plants are flowering, apply one bag or muriate of potash (0-0-60) or one bag 17-0-17. That is for grain filling. When the grains are well-filled, one sack will usually weigh 55 to 56 kilos. If the plants are not fertilized with 0-0-60 or17-0-17, one sack of the harvested grains will normally weigh 48 to 50 kilos. That’s because the grains are not as well-filled, according to Dr. Malabanan.