Fertilizer Usage in Malaysia
The single most important imported item used in crop production in Malaysia is fertilizers. The use of fertilizers has shown a steady increase from 1,034,956 metric tons in 1993 to 1,376,061 tons in 1998, an increase of about 33%. This increase is significant in that there was no substantial increase in cultivated hectare. The value of fertilizer imports increased from RM687.33 millions in 1993 to RM1, 157,592 millions in 1997. It is estimated that about 63% of fertilizer used are for oil palm, followed by 16% for rubber, 10% for paddy and 11% for other crops.
Under the New Agricultural Policy, horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops have been identified as priority crops with good potential to meet the growing domestic and international demand and to generate higher income for producers. The cultivated area for fruits is projected to increase by 44.7% from 244,471 ha in 1995 to 353,733 ha in 2010. Vegetable production is expected to increase by 77.3% from 54,800 ha to 97,160 ha over the same period. The increasing trend in fertilizer use will continue especially in the use of organic and soluble fertilizers (for foliar fertilizers) instead of the traditional reliance on straight fertilizers for plantation and field crops.
Agriculture in Malaysia
Malaysia agriculture is currently undergoing a revival and shifting from its original position as a pillar of the nation’s economy to its future strategic role as a provider of food and raw materials for agro-based industries. The Asian economic crisis of 1998, fluctuation in prices of important commodities (rubber, oil palm and pepper) and the impending global trade liberalization are contributory factors to this shift. More emphasis has been given to the production of food crops in order to address the twin problems of the growing national food import bill and food security. The demand for food has shown a steady increase due to the growth in income and population as well as changes in lifestyle.
Food imports have increased by 11% per annum between 1990-1995 compared to a slower growth rate of 4% in domestic production. This increasing trend of the shortfall in production to meet national demand is expected to continue and need to be addressed to ensure food security. In order to meet significant and increased national requirements, domestic food production will be enhanced under the NAP3 (New Agricultural Policy 3) through large-scale involvement and production by the private sector. This area is given great emphasis in the NAP3 and is in line with the call by Prime Minister to make agriculture the second vision after the Multimedia Super Corridor.
Fertilizer is the most important production input in agriculture and is critical to the success of agriculture in the country. It is thus an opportune for Glorious Broadway Sdn Bhd to release the RiteGrow range of foliar fertilizers to help increase agricultural productivity in food production in the country.
Micro elements of Plant Nutrition
Micro elements are also known as trace elements and sometimes people even call them the "multi vitamins" for plants. The micro elements of plants are made up of Iron(Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (MN), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo) and Copper (Cu).
Macro elements of Plant Nutrition
Plants require nutrients to grow and develop, much the same like people. We eat so our bodies can get the vital nutrients and minerals to grow healthy. This brings to mind the saying "you are what you eat" and it is the same with plants. Poor feeding and low nutrient levels will result in poor or diminished growth and low food, flowering and fruit production. As mentioned in organic matter we need to supplement the nutrient value of the garden soil by making soil amendments in the form of adding fertilizers.
What is Fertilizer?
Fertilizers are plant nutrients .
Nutrients existing naturally in the soil, atmosphere, and in animal manure. However, naturally occurring nutrients are not always available in the forms that plants can use, or in the quantities needed. So we add to them by applying fertilizer, to make plants grow to their maximum potential.
Fertilizers can be classified into two categories: organic or inorganic.
The World fertilizer situation
Consumption
World fertilizer consumption increased from 1997/98 to 1999/2000, declined in 2000/01 by about 3 percent and from then increased with some 3 percent (2003/04)/ From 2002/03 to 2003/04, fertilizer consumption decreased in developed countries (down by about 12 percent) and increase in developing countries by 7.8 percent.
Farmers have been using foliar fertilizers since the 1950's. They knew it worked but were told by 'experts' it shouldn't, but kept using them anyway.
There are some, who would say that foliar fertilizers are a waste of time and money because they do not have elements in sufficient quantity to do anything.
There are others who say that plants do not take up nutrients through their leaves, so applying a foliar fertilizer is wasting money.
There are still others who say that foliar is all you need, and the way to go.
Some advocate using foliar in conjunction with soil applied fertilizers.
No doubt there are many others, but lets look at these in a little more detail.
How are nutrients transported from the roots and leaves to those areas of the plants which require it?
How does foliar spraying work when most people think that plant nutrition is a one-way movement from the roots to the leaves?
Plants range in size and in some instances they can draw water and minerals through their vascular systems to elevations of hundreds of feet.
A vascular network runs through the leaf, providing the cell walls with water and removing the food products of photosynthesis, as well as nutrients, to other parts of the plant.
The vascular tissue system consists of two kinds of conducting tissues: the xylem, responsible for conduction of water and dissolved mineral nutrients, and the phloem, responsible for conduction of food.
The xylem also stores food and helps support the plant.
The most common reason for failure of plant-growth regulators, micronutrients, and foliar spraysis that growers do not apply the material at the most critical time.
Plants absorb nutrients as well as other chemicals (e.g. herbicides) through their foliage.
Foliar fertilization is a particularly useful technique, when you understand the principles behind it.
Foliar fertilization enables you to correct deficiencies, strengthen weak or damaged crops, speed growth and grow better plants, which is of course, the bottom line.
The mere presence of a particular chemical element in the soil is not enough. Certain soil conditions, such as pH, excess moisture, or cool temperatures, may render a nutrient or nutrients unavailable to the plant root.
One advantage of foliar fertilization is that it often brings about immediate improvement (within hours) in plant health and growth.
Foliar fertilization can be designed to meet a plant’s specific needs for one or more micro and macro nutrients--especially trace minerals. More recently established, however, is the fact that foliar fertilization also stimulates the plant roots themselves to become more efficient in the uptake of all nutrient requirements.
Foliar are best applied at nutritional stress periods and tend to increase the uptake of major nutrients far in excess of the input levels.
Efficiency of utilization of Fertilizer sprays
Here are some striking examples of comparisons of foliar fertilizers versus soil applications.
Such ratios favoring foliar applications exist only under extreme conditions of soil fixation. Nevertheless, they single out the effectiveness of leaves as organs for absorption.
