1. What are FBMPs?
2. Who are responsible for FBMPs?
3. What benefits can all stakeholders derive from FBMPs?
4. How to best use fertilizers?
5. What is the relationship between, IPNM, SSNM, balanced fertilization and FBMP?
6. How are FBMPs developed?
7. What are the “tools” needed in FBMPs?
8. How are FBMPs promulgated or adopted?

1. What are FBMPs?

FBMPs stand for “fertilizer best management practices.” These are agricultural production techniques and technologies that are based on scientific principles and applied research to improve crop production in a sustainable manner. It follows the simple basic principle of applying the “right fertilizer at the right time, rate and place.” By practicing FBMPs the benefits derived from using fertilizers are maximized while losses that may lead to environmental degradation are minimized. FBMPs are site- and crop-specific, they vary depending on the soils, climatic conditions, crops and cropping history as well as overall farm management practices. Thus, there is no one-size-fit all FBMP.

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2. Who are responsible for FBMPs?

Anyone involved in agricultural production has a responsibility; the fertilizer industry, the farmers, researchers and scientists, government and policy makers, and extension people and all relevant stakeholders including civil society. The fertilizer industry in each country/region, in partnership with researchers and scientists, search and refine agricultural practices, technologies and techniques that are site/location, crop and soil specific.The farmers are the main implementors of FBMPs. Since, social and cultural dimensions weigh heavily, farmers must be actively involved in the development, validation and extension of new fertilizer practices.

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3. What benefits can all stakeholders derive from FBMPs?

Higher yields, better quality crops, higher profits, safer environment, less nutrient losses, and more efficient use of resources, are some of the tangible benefits that can be derived from adopting FBMPs

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4. How to best use fertilizers?

Fertilizer must be viewed as an investment, rather than an expense in agricultural production. By applying the principles of the 4Rs; "right fertilizer at the right rate, right time and right place," nutrient losses will be minimized, uptake of nutrients by plants will improve, thus, overall fertilizer efficiency is raised.

• Right product – use the product(s) that best suit the crop needs and soil properties. As much as possible, apply balanced fertilization, and choose the best nutrient form (ex. nitrate-N source). Where profitable, the use of slow-and controlled-release fertilizers , and of urease or nitrification inhibitor should be considered. Right product can be chosen with the aid of plant and soil analyses.
• Right rate – the amount of fertilizer applied should match the crop needs. Too much may lead to losses such as leaching, and too little may result in lower yields and poor quality of produce. Soil and plant tissue analysis, leaf color charts, cropping history and patterns, nutrient budgeting are among the tools used to determine the right rate.
• Right time - the release of nutrients from the applied fertilizer should be in synchrony with the crop needs during each stage of crop growth/development. Knowledge of the crop growth stages, and crop inspection, will help in the determination of the right time of application.
• Right place – nutrients should be placed where the crops can use them. The appropriate application methods, such as soil incorporation, can increase fertilizer use efficiency. The rooting pattern of the crop, the soil type and the characteristics of the fertilizer product chosen are guides in the proper placement of the fertilizer to maximize crop's uptake and minimize losses to the environment.

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5. What is the relationship between IPNM, SSNM, balanced fertilization and FBMPs?

FBMPs entail managing all sources of nutrients together in an integrated manner. The main objective of FBMPs is to manage the flow of nutrients to produce enough affordable and quality food while sustaining soil fertility, protecting the environment, and conserving natural resources.

Integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) focuses on efficiently utilizing all available sources of plant nutrients.

Site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) is an approach aimed at supplying nutrients to plants as, where and when needed to ensure that nutrients are applied according to the site specific properties of the cropped area.

Balanced fertilization embraces the principle that all essential plant nutrients must be supplied to the crops at ratios or amounts equivalent to what the plant requires for optimum growth and yield.

FBMPs, incorporate the principles of IPNM, SSNM and balanced fertilization, among others.

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6. How are FBMPs developed?

Focusing on economic, environmental and social areas for sustainable development, the fertilizer industry in partnership with farmers and other stake holders such as scientists, policy makers and environmental groups, search and develop site- and crop-specific best management practices that maximizes the benefits derived from fertilizer use and minimizes its negative impact on the environment.

Through scientific researches, refinement of farmer's practices and results of long term experiments, recommendations on fertilizer best management practices are developed that are site- and crop- specific. These recommended site-and crop-specific FBMPs are validated by the farmers.

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7. What are the “tools” needed in FBMPs?

The tools needed for the effective implementation of FBMPs depend on farmers access to technology. In North America and Europe, farmers may use sensors and GPS devices to adjust application rates. In Asia, farmers compare the color of the rice leaves to the Leaf Colour Chart developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in rice growing areas. However, in most countries, farmers collect soil and plant samples for analyses of nutrient content status. Applying the principles of FBMP: right product, at the right rate, time and place will give users the proper tools for FBMP adoption.

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8. How to foster the adoption of FBMPs ?

For FBMPs to be adopted and its principles known, farmers must have participatory involvement in its development. FBMPs must be developed through inter-active approach with farmers and the fertilizer industry, agricultural researchers, scientists, communication and extension workers, policy makers, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

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