History of plant nutrition and fertilizer research in China

The researches of plant nutrition and fertilizer have gone through 60 years' development, with fruitful achievements since the foundation of Soil and Fertilizer Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The researches could be divided into four periods, according to the research focus. Before 1980 was the period of mono-nutrient effects. During that period, the effects of N, P and K fertilizers were tested individually, which laid a foundation for the fertilizer industry in China. From 1980 to 1990, it came into the second period, when the combined application of N, P and K fertilizers and the combining ways had been concerned in most researches. The achievements provided important support for the importing and introducing of compound fertilizers in China. From 1990 to 2000 belonged to the third period, when was characterized by balanced fertilization researches, and the effects of micronutrients in the main crops as well. Since 2000, the researches come into the forth or present period, which could be named comprehensive nutrient managements. The typical researches include precession agriculture, soil testing and nutrient recommendation, fertilization and environmental safety, new type fertilizers and the key techniques for value-added fertilizers. All the researches played important roles for guarantee of the grain supply safety of China.