Dr. Hannah Krujia
ACTO – Agronomy KVK, Phek Dist. Nagaland
Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) is defined as maintenance or adjustment of soil fertility and supply of plant nutrient to an optimum level for sustaining the desired crop productivity through optimization of benefit from all possible resources of plant nutrients in an integrated manner. IPNS as a concept and farm management strategy embraces and transcends from single season crop fertilization efforts to planning and management of plant nutrients in crop rotations and farming systems on a long-term basis for enhanced productivity, profitability and sustainability. The implementation of IPNS involves three stages:
1) experimental phase 2) validation phase 3) extension phase.
The Participatory Diagnosis of Constraints and Opportunities (PDCO) at farm level and community or village level and Farmers Field School (FFS) approach form an integral part of the implementation strategy. An effective farmer-extension-research interface will be essential for the propagation of the IPNS approach for sustainable food production and environmental protection. The FAO activities in promoting this strategy are outlined. Scenario of Nutrient Use During the Green Revolution era, from 1965 to 1995, fertilizers have been responsible for 55% of the yield increase in developing countries (FAO, 1995). Recent FAO Study (2000) reveals that, towards 2015/2030 the fertilizer consumption in the world is expected to increase from 134 million tons in 1995/97 to 182 million tons in 2030, at an annual growth rate of 0.9%. Wheat, maize and rice will continue to be the dominant fertilizer consuming crops, with maize emerging to be the foremost user in 2030, closely followed by wheat and rice. Since these three crops are the predominant crops in India. Concept of Integrated Plant Nutrition System (IPNS) Population growth, urbanization and industrialization will compete for more lands from the agricultural lands. Hence, the projected yield increases have to be met with greater mobilization and efficient use of nutrients, of both inorganic and organic sources. Thus the development of Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS) to suit different farming systems is a major challenge for all stakeholders in agriculture to ensure sustainable food security. IPNS enhances soil productivity through a balanced use of soil nutrients, chemical fertilizers, combined with organic sources of plant nutrients, including bio-inoculants and nutrient transfer through agro-forestry systems and has adaptation to farming systems in both irrigated and rainfed agriculture. The following key concepts are fundamental to IPNS and should be built into the strategy and techniques recommended for promoting IPNS as one of the belief of sustainable agricultural production.
1. Loss of soil productivity is of greater concern than loss of soil fertility. 2. Adoption of soil conservation practices and improved organic matter management practices are crucial for maintaining soil productivity. 3. Inclusion of legume species in the cropping system and rotations as grain, forage or green manure crop. 4. Nutrient management cannot be dealt in isolation but should be managed as an integral part of a productive farming system. 5. The synergy between best water management practices (rainwater under rainfed dryland conditions and irrigation water under irrigated conditions) and best nutrient management practices must be optimized. 6. The full benefits from the supply of plant nutrients can be realized by farmers only after they have made improvements in the biological, physical and hydrological properties of the soils and removed soil related constraints. 7. It is necessary to identify the socio-economic constraints in the adoption of IPNS at community level and devise appropriate policy interventions and improvements. 8. Promotion of IPNS must be bottom-up rather than top-down in orientation, planning and implementation with the full involvement and participation of the farmers and local communities.
The IPNS approach aims
1. To enhance crop and soil productivity through a balanced use of mineral fertilizers combined with organic and biological sources of plant nutrients to ensure sustainability of the production systems. 2. To improve the capital stock of plant nutrients in the soil 3. To improve the efficiency of plant nutrients use, limiting losses of N and P to the environment.
