Investigation and analysis of dryland winter wheat fertilizer application in northwest typical areas

In order to define farmer nutrients resource application status for winter wheat in northwest dryland areas, continuous nutrients resource application investigation and analysis were carried out in 3 counties of northwest typical areas. The obtained results from 4 investigation seasons show that winter wheat yields are low and unstable. About 31.7 percent of average pure N applying amount is suitable, 1.7 percent is low, 3.7 percent is the lowest, 21.0 percent is high and 41.9 percent is the highest. For phosphate fertilizer applications, 10.6 percent farmer applying amount is suitable, 41.7 percent is low, 9.6 percent is the lowest, 28.3 percent is high and 9.8 percent is the highest. For potassium fertilizer applications, 1.5 percent farmer applying amount is suitable, 2.1 percent is low, 88.3 percent is the lowest, 2.9 percent is high and 5.2 percent is the highest. The PFP values of pure N, P2O5 and K2O are 21.7 kg/kg, 36.2 kg/kg and 88.9 kg/kg respectively. Organic nitrogen, phosphate and potassium nutrients account for 3.1%, 2.3% and 53.8% of the total nitrogen, phosphate and potassium nutrients resource applications. Nitrogen, phosphate and potassium nutrients as base dressing account for 96.2%, 100% and 100% of total nitrogen, phosphate and potassium nutrients resource applications. Problems of the farmer nutrients resource applications are the nitrogen fertilizer applications are much more than necessary, the average phosphate fertilizer applying amount is reasonable but the excessive and insufficient amounts coexist, the potassium fertilizer applications are not fully recognized. Main nutrients resource of farmer using for winter wheat are chemical fertilizer, and organic manure is the supplementary. Large amounts of fertilizers are applied as base fertilization, and topdressing amounts are the supplementary.