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Nutrient Use and Cycling

IPNI Working Group #1


Goals

The Working Group on Nutrient Use and Cycling is focused on the development of nutrient use decision support tools and information. Examples of major efforts (completed and in development) are listed below.

1. Crop-Specific Field Nutrient Balance Calculator for Brazil
    A web-based system for calculating nutrient balances with fields for a single crop or cropping system. Future plans involve the expansion of the calculator into a global tool. http://brasil.ipni.net/article/BRS-3293

2. Crop Nutrient Removal App and Online Calculator (PlantCalc)
    PlantCalc estimates crop nutrient removal of N, P, K, and S for a broad, and continually expanding list of field crops. The calculator is uniquely multilingual—providing full access English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Mandarin.
    iOS version: http://www.ipni.net/article/IPNI-3374
    Web-based version: http://info.ipni.net/calculator

3. Nutrient Use Geographic Information System (NuGIS)
    4. Global Nutrient Uptake and Removal Database
      Currently in development, this database is intended to improve the accuracy of nutrient uptake and removal estimates, which are becoming increasingly important in the refinement of nutrient management at farm or field scales.

    5. Nutrient Use, Performance and Agronomic Gap System (NuGAPS)
      The mission of NuGAPS is to better quantify the use and performance of crop nutrients supplied as fertilizers. NuGAPS stores (1) current and attainable fertilizer use data that correspond to estimates of current and attainable yields, (2) identifies gaps and track trends in fertilizer use and crop yields within and across countries, (3) adds to the discussion on the performance of crop nutrients supplied as fertilizers. http://www.ipni.net/nugaps

    6. Crop Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms Image Collection
      Provides a comprehensive assortment of hundreds of classic cases of crop nutrient deficiency documented from research plots and farm fields located around the world. A multilingual product—providing full access in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Mandarin. http://www.ipni.net/article/IPNI-3231

    7. Crop Nutrient Deficiency Photo Contest
    8. Nutri-Facts Series
      The full series is comprised of 17 individual pieces that correspond to nutrients categorized as essential, beneficial, or important to plants. By explaining how each nutrient plays a vital role in plant growth, these fact sheets help us all understand the importance of fertilizer and soil fertility management. The series is being adapted to an increasing number of regions and languages.
      http://www.ipni.net/nutrifacts

    9. Plant Nutrition Diagnostics Series
      A unique series comprised of e-books containing hundreds of high resolution photographs that document nutrient deficiency symptoms. The first two crops included in the series are Broccoli and Potato. http://info.ipni.net/ebooks

    10. “Importance of Lios” video
    12. Nutrient Stewardship Calendar
      Yearly produced six page calendar with different focus areas. Includes crop specific and nutrient specific deficiency symptom and roles of different nutrients in plant nutrition. Contact IPNI South Asia Program at http://sap.ipni.net

    WG-01 Members
    • Sudarshan Dutta (co-chair) Deputy Director, South Asia Program, Kolkata, India
    • Gavin Sulewski (co-chair), Editor, Peachtree Corners, GA, USA
    • Eros Francisco, Deputy Director, Brazil Program, Rondonopolis, Brazil
    • Brian Green, IT Manager, Peachtree Corners, GA, USA
    • Svetlana Ivanova, Vice President, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Moscow, Russia
    • Shutian Li, Deputy Director, China Program, Beijing, China
    • Rob Mikkelsen, Vice President, Communications, Merced, CA, USA
    • Scott Murrell, Director, North America Program, West Lafayette, IN, USA
    • Shea Shirley, Communications Agronomist, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
    • Shamie Zingore, Director, Sub-Saharan Africa Program, Nairobi, Kenya