Using Baconco Npk Fertilizer For Rice On Acid Sulfate Soil In Kien Giang

Kien Giang is a province with a large area of acid-sulfate soil, which poses many difficulties for the growth and development of rice plants, especially during the early stages. Understanding the difficulties faced by farmers, Baconco has researched to create specialized fertilizers suitable for the acid-sulfate soil conditions in Kien Giang province.

What is acid sulfate soil?

Characteristics of acid sulfate soil

Acid sulfate soil, also known as acidic soil, contains high levels of sulfate (SO42-), has a low pH ranging from 2 to 4, and particularly high amounts of toxic substances such as SO42-, Fe2+ and Al3+.When soil is contaminated with acid sulfate, the environmental buffer is destroyed and measures must be taken to improve and leach the acid before it can be used again.

Acid sulfate soil

Causes of formation of acid sulfate soil

The primary cause of acid sulfate soil formation is due to potential oxidation at the site, creating H2SO4 acid, which contains many toxic substances like SO42-, Fe2+, and Al3+. This type of soil formed within the last 10,000 years and is typically found in sedimentary rock areas. In addition, rising sea levels that flood the land also contribute to the formation of acid-sulfate soil. When sea levels rise, sulfate salts in seawater mix with iron oxide sediments and other organic matter in the soil.

Acid sulfate soil can also form from agricultural practices. Continuous use of sulfur-containing fertilizers without soil improvement leads to acid sulfate contamination, making the soil hard and cracked when dry and too acidic for the survival of soil microorganisms.

Impact of acid sulfate soil on crops

The impact of acid sulfate soil on rice and other crops includes:

• Lowering soil pH, hindering nutrient absorption and affecting growth, which results in lower yields.
• Damaging soil affects subsequent crops. Without timely soil improvement, the soil becomes dry, cracked, and difficult to cultivate.
• Common issues in crops include seedling death, poor seedling growth, yellowing leaves, and delayed flowering.

Acid sulfate soil damages rice fields

The process of using NPK Baconco fertilizer

At the end of 2023, Baconco once again verified the effectiveness of the NPK product line with USP technology in Kien Luong district, Kien Giang province. The demonstration aimed to confirm the effectiveness of the microbial rice set on acid sulfate soil carried out in multiple districts such as Tan Hiep, Hon Dat, Giang Thanh, and Kien Luong.

In the process implemented by Baconco and farmer Nam Hoa in Kien Binh commune, Kien Luong district, Kien Giang, we applied the Microbial Rice Fertilizer Set (NPK Con Co 18-9-5+8.4Ca+6S) and the Microbial Rice Heading Fertilizer (NPK Con Co 16-8-12+8.4Ca+5S) on a 60,000m² experimental field.

• NPK Con Co 18-9-5+8.4Ca+6S: Applied during the first topdressing stage (15kg/1000m²) and the second topdressing stage (20kg/1000m²).
• NPK Con Co 16-8-12+8.4Ca+5S: Applied during the heading stage (25kg/1000m²).

Results of using Baconco NPK fertilizer

After the topdressing and heading stages with the supportive product set, we observed positive results:

• The root mass increased by 50% and root length by 2% compared to the control.
• The fertilizer helped rice plants absorb nutrients effectively, grow robustly and tiller better.
• The length of Baconco rice ears was 22% longer than the control.
• The number of spikelets per ear was 10% higher than the control.
• The number of grains per spikelet was 10% higher than the control.

Farmers will see clear evidence of the effectiveness of using the two NPK fertilizer products through yield indicators at harvest:

• Baconco achieved a rice yield of 926kg/1000m², with a selling price of 7,600 VND/kg, resulting in 7,037,600 VND. 
• In contrast, the control field yielded only 810kg/1,000m², with the same selling price, resulting in 6,156,000 VND, which is 881,600 VND less than Baconco. 
• After deducting investment costs, Baconco brought in a profit of 8,166,000 VND/ha higher.

With Baconco's sharing about the Microbial Rice Fertilizer (NPK Con Co 18-9-5+8.4Ca+6S) and the Microbial Rice Heading Fertilizer (NPK Con Co 16-8-12+8.4Ca+5S) for rice, we hope to provide farmers with useful knowledge. This way, farmers will know how to effectively cultivate rice on acid-sulfate soil in Kien Giang to achieve the best possible yields.