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 Prof.
Xie Jian-Chang, Head of the Potassium Research Group and
former Deputy-Director of the Institute of Soil Science of the
Academia Sinica, Nanjing, China, is the first winner of the new IFA
International Fertilizer Award.
Prof. Xie, generally considered as "the father of potassium" in
China, has devoted over 30 years to this research and extension
work. His work of on soil potassium and magnesium and on crop
responses to these nutrients, together with his preparation of the
"Soil Potassium Map of China", and his effective communication of
the results through demonstrations, meetings, conferences and
publications, have drawn widespread attention to the gravity of
nutrient imbalances in China. His efforts over many years have
materially contributed to reversing a dangerous trend towards
inefficient, unbalanced fertilizer use in the country and to
ensuring the sustainability of China's agriculture.
Prof. Xie has been instrumental in organizing a large number of
potassium fertilizer trials on various crops. In general, they have
demonstrated a 20-40% increase in crop yields, with an average
value-cost ratio of more than six, enhanced crop resistance to
drought, diseases and pests, greatly improved quality and market
value of the crops, and beneficial interaction with nitrogen and
phosphate fertilizers.
Since 1987, Prof. Xie has been the Secretary General of the Soil
Science Society of China. He has extensive international connections
and is engaged in many professional exchanges. He has organized six
international workshops on potassium and has published more than one
hundred papers. He is the Chief Editor of "English-Chinese
Dictionary of Soil Science" and of "Paddy Soils of China". He has
made many suggestions to policy-making bodies at different levels
concerning the need for potassium fertilizers in China.
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