Foliar micronutrient addition for healthier rice

Enhancing Yield and Nutrition with Micronutrient Sprays

The technology "Foliar Micronutrient Addition for Healthier Rice" is a method developed to address micronutrient deficiencies in rice crops. It involves the use of concentrated liquid forms of micronutrient fertilizers that are designed to be applied directly onto the leaves and stems of the rice plants. This technology is designed to be easily adopted within rice-growing communities of Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to tackle the low availability of crucial micronutrients in the soil due to the region's old and highly weathered soil conditions. The application of micronutrients onto the rice canopy aims to significantly enhance the harvest yield and nutritional quality of the grain without requiring extensive investment or infrastructure.

This technology is TAAT1 validated.

8•8

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 8/9; level of use 8/9

Positive or neutral impact

Adults 18 and over: Positive high
The poor: Positive medium
Women: Positive medium

Positive or neutral impact

Climate adaptability: It adapts really well
Biodiversity: It doesn't hurt them
Carbon footprint: It doesn't reduce emissions at all
Environment: It doesn't make a difference
Soil quality: It doesn't harm the soil's health and fertility
Water usage: It uses the same amount of water

Problem

Crucial deficient of soil in rice-growing areas in crucial micronutrients like magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, manganese, and boron.
Low rice yield and micronutrient content

Solution

The technology supplements essential elements directly to plant leaves,
Enhances both grain yield and nutritional value. It can be used in various soil conditions.
The nutrients are quickly absorbed through the leaves, providing immediate benefits to the plant.

Key points to design your project

This technology, focusing on rice cultivation, addresses the challenge of low micronutrient content in rice, a common issue in Sub-Saharan Africa due to depleted soils. By employing a practical and cost-effective approach of spraying specialty liquid mixes of micronutrient fertilizer on rice crops. This not only enhances grain yield and nutritional value but also contributes to sustainable agriculture, aligning with goals for food security, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability.

To integrate this technology into your project, create a list of project activities and prerequisites, including:

Informing rice farmers and agrodealers about the higher production level and market value of grain that can be achieved through foliar micronutrient addition,
Assessing the specific micronutrient deficiencies and imbalances in rice paddies that limit grain yield and nutritional value,
Formulating appropriate rates, mixes and schedules for foliar micronutrient application at critical stages of the production cycle,
Providing cash or credit to purchase of specialty fertilizer, and hire manual or tractor mounted sprayers for application on rice paddies.

- Estimate the quantity of mineral fertilizers, and tractor mounted sprayers needed for your project.

- As the technology is available in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, Togo, Tanzania, Senegal, Rwanda, Nigeria, Niger, Mozambique, Malawi, Madagascar, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Benin, include the delivery cost to the project site and account for import clearance and duties if relevant.

Consider also:

The cost per kilogram of microelement in fertilizers amounts to: 4.3 USD (sulfate), 16.2 USD (zinc chelate), 6.0 USD (iron sulfate), 6.2 USD (sodium pentaborate) and 14.6 USD (copper sulfate).
Protective kits for one person at 40 USD
Top-quality agricultural knapsack sprayers with a tank of 20 liter are sold at 30 to 45 USD, and
Renting tractor-mountable sprayers costs approximately 100 to 300USD per hour and 1-3 hectares of rice paddies can be treated in one hour.

Training is important. A team of trainers could provide training and support during project installation. Include the cost for training and post-training support for using the technology.

Communication support for the technology should be developed (flyers, videos, radio broadcasts, etc.)

For better optimization of this technology, it is recommended to associate this technology with New Rice for Africa (NERICA), Hybrid Rice Varieties for Africa (ARICA), Mineral fertilizers with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

To implement the technology in your country, you could collaborate with agricultural development institutes, Fertilizer suppliers, and Agricultural service companies.

Cost: $$$ 41.1 USD

Fertilizers

ROI: $$$ 7—30 %

Yield increased

40 USD

Protective kits per person

30—45 USD

Knapsack sprayers with a tank of 20 liter

IP

Open source / open access

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested

Countries where the technology has been tested and adopted
Country	Tested	Adopted
Benin	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	Tested	Adopted
Burundi	Tested	Adopted
Cameroon	Tested	Adopted
Côte d’Ivoire	Tested	Adopted
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Tested	Adopted
Ethiopia	Tested	Adopted
Ghana	Tested	Adopted
Kenya	Tested	Adopted
Madagascar	Tested	Adopted
Malawi	Tested	Adopted
Mozambique	Tested	Adopted
Niger	Tested	Adopted
Nigeria	Tested	Adopted
Rwanda	Tested	Adopted
Senegal	Tested	Adopted
Tanzania	Tested	Adopted
Togo	Tested	Adopted
Uganda	Tested	Adopted
Zambia	Tested	Adopted
Zimbabwe	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Tropic - warm
Arid	–	–
Semiarid	–	–
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 8: decent work and economic growth

Goal 2: zero hunger

Goal 3: good health and well-being

Selection: Choose the right foliar micronutrient solution tailored for rice crops, ensuring it contains essential elements like magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, manganese, and boron.
Safety: Wear appropriate protective equipment during application to prevent any potential health risks, especially if the solution contains additional chemicals or pesticides.
Timing: Apply the solution at the appropriate growth stage of the rice, preferably when the plant leaves are most receptive, typically six to eight weeks after planting or at critical growth stages.
Dilution: Dilute the concentrated solution as recommended, ensuring the correct concentration for optimal uptake by the plants.
Application: Using a sprayer, evenly spray the solution onto the rice canopy. Ensure the droplets are fine for maximum absorption. A nebulizer sprayer can be particularly effective.
Coverage: Ensure complete coverage of all plant leaves, as this is where absorption primarily takes place.