IPNI and the World of Crop NutritionSeptember, 2013

Paul E. FixenSr. Vice Presidentpfixen@ipni.net

• IPNI is a not-for-profit, scientific organization in its 7th year of operation

• Established in 2007 from the Potash Phosphate Institute (PPI)

The mission of IPNI is to develop and promote scientific information about the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of the human family.

IPNI is supported by leading fertilizer manufacturers …

… and industry associations

IPNI ... 34 scientists and 13 Program Areas

Eastern Europe & Central AsiaNorth America

Brazil

Latin America Southern Cone

Northern Latin America

Mexico & Central America

Australia & New Zealand

Sub-Saharan Africa

North AfricaMiddle East

Southeast Asia

South Asia

China

Agronomic programs focus on research and education

1. Collaborate with others to lead in the development of regional and global plant nutrition issues

2. Facilitate research supporting 4R nutrient stewardship for the sustainable use of plant nutrients

3. Educate and engage our stakeholders to enable continuous improvement of nutrient stewardship

4. Support IPNI members in their research and educational activities related to nutrient use

IPNI scientists have regional and global responsibilities• Regional programs are driven by local staff to address local

challenges and opportunities related to plant nutrition– Agronomic education– Research and demonstration activities– Member company support

• Global nutrient issues are addressed through thematic working groups

– Nutrient use & cycling– Nutrient stewardship performance & environment– Nutrient stewardship educational tools– Nutrient decision support – maize systems– Nutrient decision support – soybean systems– Nutrient decision support – precision agriculture

Decision Support Tools …. integrate the numerous site factors used in making decisions about nutrient management practices…

Nutrient Expert for wheat helps you to:• Evaluate current nutrient management practices• Determine a meaningful yield goal • Estimate fertilizer NPK rates• Translate rates into fertilizer sources• Develop application strategy (source, rate, time, place)• Compare expected or actual benefit of current and improved practices

Precision Ag in IPNI programs

• The premier precision event with over 1100 attendees

• 5 concurrent sessions• 78 speakers• Going annual – 7/2014• A key to the future of

nutrient stewardship

101 Exhibits

Communications and Websites• Hard copy and e-publications• Press releases, folders, periodicals,

manuals, books, posters, slide sets, Better Crops, etc.

www.ipni.net

Soil Test Levels in North America

• 4.4 million samples from 60 private and public labs

• P, K, Mg, S, Cl-, Zn and pH

• represents about 75% of samples taken

Percent of samples testing below critical levels for major crops in 2010

P Levels K Levels

Source: Soil Test Levels in North America, 2010. IPNI

• Median soil test P = 25 ppm; declined 6 ppm from 2005• Median soil test K = 150 ppm; declined 4 ppm from 2005

ppm = parts per million

Nutrient Use GIS - NuGISA simple partial nutrient balance algorithm

Farm fertilizer

Recoverable manure

Biological N fixation

Removal by crop harvest

Partial nutrient balance

1987 to 2007 in 5-yr increments set by Census of Agriculture (COA)

2010 soon to be released

Interactive Graphics

3,117 counties2,150 8-digit hydrologic units18 Hydrologic regions

http://www.ipni.net/nugis

P and K net balance for the 12 Corn Belt states1987-2010

P2O5

K2O

NuGIS, 4/17/2013

y = 0.1289x - 0.201R² = 0.80

-3.0

-2.5

-2.0

-1.5

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5

Annu

al ch

ange

in m

edia

n P,

ppm

NuGIS balance*, lb P2O5/A/yr

Annual change in median soil P level for 12 Corn Belt states as related to state P balance, 2005-2009.

*NuGIS 1/12/2012.

WI

IL

MI

IA

MN

SD

KS

OH

IN

NE

KY

MO

Annual program report highlight activities.

Available at: http://www.ipni.net/programreport

Universal science … applied for local impact

Our biggest challenge: the permanent “greening” of this map

% of population undernourished

World population prediction to 2100 (UN, 2010)

7 billion today, 9 billion by 2050

The world needs to produce more food, while diets are changing …

1961

1964

1967

1970

1973

1976

1979

1982

1985

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

2009

280.0

300.0

320.0

340.0

360.0

380.0

400.0

22.0

26.0

30.0

34.0

38.0

42.0

cereal production per capita meat production per capita

Ce

rea

l p

rod

uc

tio

n p

er

ca

pit

a (

kg

)

Me

at

pro

du

cti

on

pe

r c

ap

ita

(k

g)

Source: FAOSTAT, 2012

The world needs to produce more food … 50 to 70 % increase by 2050, some predict 100%

Options:

1. Increase harvested area

2. Increase yield

1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 201540

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Corn

gra

in y

ield

, bu/

AUS average corn yields, 1965-2012

Modified w/ permission: Cassman et al., 2006. Convergence of Agriculture and Energy. CAST

1.8 bu/A/yr

(underpinning stream of tremendous technological innovation)

Double-X to single-X hybrids

Expansion of irrigated area, increased N fertilizer rates

Soil testing, balanced NPK fertilization, conservation

tillage

Transgenic (Bt) insect resistance

Integrated pest management

Precision, high-speed planters

Auto-steer tractors

?

Potential impact of climate change on crop yields in 2050 relative to 2000

With full CO2 fertilization

Without CO2 fertilization

% change

Which map “… will much depend on availability of additional inputs, especially N.”

World Bank (Background note to the World Development Report 2010).

What is the role of fertilization?

Yield attributable to fertilizer

• Temperate soils: 40-60% • Tropical soils: much higher

Stewart et al., 2005.

Response to P & K fertilization in the cerrado of Brazil

Our biggest challenge: the permanent “greening” of this map

Improved crop nutrition will play a major role in meeting that challenge

% under-nourished

Underlying factors for the challenges of the coming decades

Soil & nutrient management are

common to all threeHuman nutrition

LandCarbon

• Land use• Soil quality• Water use & quality• Waste disposal• Etc.

• Climate change• Cheap energy• Bioenergy• Etc.

• Food quantity• Food quality• Food cost

Carbon and land concept by Henry Janzen, 2009

A triangle of opportunity for those offering

solutionsor

a target for those perceived as contributing

to problems

A multitude of economic, environmental, and social issues involving crop nutrients

Coastal hypoxiaClimate change

Biofuels Air qualityFood quality

Fresh water eutrophication

Biodiversity in natural eco-systems

Food supply and cost

Conserving natural lands

Fertilizer costs& security

4R Nutrient Stewardship

Applying the Right Source at the Right Rate at the Right Time and in the Right Place within well managed cropping systems

Right is defined by practice impact on system performance

Cropping system

Sustainability Initiatives by major food retailersChanneling consumer interests

Net profit

Resource use efficiencies: Energy, Labor,Nutrient, Water

Return on investment Yield

stability

Water &air quality

Farm income

Working conditions

Nutrientbalance

Nutrient loss

Yield

Quality

Soil erosion

Biodiversity

Ecosystem services

Affordable& accessible

food

Both productivity and resource efficiency must be improved

Stakeholder input on performance indicators

They have power - ballot box & the

super market

The World of Crop Nutrition

• Biggest challenge: to contribute as much as possible to a permanent solution to food security

– 50 to 70% more food by 2050 while increasing resource use efficiency – To minimize environmental impacts and support economic opportunity

• The role of fertilizers in meeting that challenge will be substantial– Well over 50% of existing production is due to fertilizers and it will likely be

greater in the future– Significant yield gains are needed and are possible in both developing,

small holder systems and in advanced, large holder agriculture• Site-specific BMPs based on 4R Nutrient Stewardship are critical

in meeting the challenge