The International Fertilizer Industry Association (IFA) has awarded crop physiologist Dr. Xuhua Zhong this year’s IFA Norman Borlaug Award for his achievements in rice nutrition management in China.
Dr. Zhong, head of the Crop Physiology and Ecology Laboratory at the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, developed the ‘three controls’ technology. The process incorporates control of nitrogen (N) input, control of unproductive tillers and control of pest and diseases. It is now one of the most widely adopted rice-growing technologies in China and officially recommended to farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture.
IFA explained the impact of Dr. Zhong’s work: “With the ‘three controls’ technology, nitrogen recovery efficiency increased from less than 30 percent for farmer’s practice to 40 percent. Farmers can now save on inputs such as fertilizer-N and pesticide sprays and still achieve a 10 percent increase in grain yield, giving extra income to farmers.”
IFA presents the Norman Borlaug Award annually on the birth date of the Father of the Green Revolution. Each year, it recognises research that has led to significant advances in crop nutrition.
The announcement this year comes as influential figures in the fight against global hunger gather in Mexico to celebrate Dr. Norman Borlaug’s 100th birthday.