Nutrient Management for Sustainable Crop Production in Asia

Bali (Indonesia), 9-12 December, 1996
Proceedings edited by A. E. Johnston and J. K. Syers

This IMPHOS International Conference in Asia was held in Bali in December 1996, to address the problem of soil degradation and soil nutrient levels.

Although Asia has achieved tremendous growth in food production over the last thirty years, it is still facing a rapid population growth and a notable change in the demand of food. To meet the ever growing food requirements, the Asian countries will have to broaden their agricultural production base, to improve the productivity of the land already under cultivation, and to bring the acid soils into productive land through the use of sound plant nutrient management.

The conference was precisely designed to contribute to removing the constraints to increased crop production in the region, and raising awareness among decision-makers of the urgent need to address the key issues that are impeding agricultural development and jeopardizing sustained food security in many Asian countries.

The proceedings include the following papers presented in the plenary session :

	Food security in Asia and the need for plant nutrients: challenges and opportunities
	The principles and practices of nutrients management
	The potential of phosphate rock materials for increasing food crop production in Asia
	Increased food production in Asia and the environment : issues of sustainability
	Current use and future requirements of nutrients for sustainable food production in five Asian countries

The proceedings also include contributed posters and the specific working group reports on the following topics :

	Nutrient balance and food crop production in Asia
	Agronomic effectiveness of phosphate rock materials in acid upland soils in Asia
	Economic and policy aspects of phosphatic fertilizer use in Southeast Asia
	Environmental and sustainability issues of phosphorus use in Asia
	Technology sharing for efficient phosphorus fertilizer use

Recommendations and resolutions stemmed from a recognition of several facts :

	Integrated nutrient management is a key contributor to sustainably increased food production in Asia
	Phosphorus deficiency is widespread in the Asian region and limits crop productivity in rainfed areas, particularly the acid upland soils.
	There is increasing scientific evidence that the use of suitable phosphate rocks is an agronomically and economically effective method of alleviating phosphorus deficiency on very large areas of acid soils in Asia.
	There is a need for improved information and extension services in the region

In recognition of the above, the conference issued a resolution urging national governments, with the assistance of development banks and U.N and international agencies, to develop policies which will provide their farmers with the required technical and institutional support to eliminate poverty by sustainably increasing food production using integrated nutrient management technologies and strategies.

The conference was attended by about 450 participants coming from more than 40 countries.

Copies of proceedings are available from IMPHOS upon request.