The results of "Key Technologies for Efficient Utilization of Nutrient Resources of Major Food Crops" led by researcher Zhou Wei from the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP) of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) won second prize at the 2020 National Science and Technology Progress Awards.

The project address the problem of excessive application of chemical fertilizers in the country's intensive agriculture, low fertilizer utilization, and insufficient utilization of rich organic nutrient resources. Main food crops such as rice, wheat, and corn were targeted and the goal was to reduce fertilizer application and increase efficiency. Based on the new method of recommended fertilization based on yield response and agronomic efficiency, the Nutrient Expert System (NE) for recommended fertilization for corn, wheat, and rice has been developed. It features innovative technologies such as organic substitution, straw returning to the field, high-efficiency microbial fertilizer products and the integrated model of reduced application of chemical fertilizers for food crops.

This project has constructed a theoretical and technical system for the efficient utilization of nutrient resources of major food crops, achieving an average increase of 5 percent to 10 percent in large-area crops, and reducing the application amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizers by 10 percent to 30 percent and 10 percent to 20 percent chemical phosphate fertilizer. It can increase the utilization rate of nitrogen fertilizer by 10 percent to 15 percent, and greatly improve the utilization efficiency of nutrient resources, crop yield and comprehensive benefits.