North Africa Regional Workshop Opportunities and Challenges of Nutrient Management in North Africa

Marrakech (Morocco), September 11-12, 2013

FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION IN TUNISIA : Constraints, Perspectives and Extension Methodology

TAREK JARRAHI, Med Annabi and Rim Sakouhi National Institute of Field Crops, Tunisia

Tunisia

Situation :North Africa /East

Area :163,610 sq. km

Population :11 millions

Natural resources :Crude oil,

phosphate, iron ore, lead, zinc,

salt

Climatic characteristics of Tunisia

• Mediterranean environment: Hot summers, winter rainfall and mild

winters • Climatic areas:

Humid to arid • Rainfall:

100 mm <R < 1000 mm • Important year-to-year variability

• Average temperature: 17° to 21°C

Agricultural production mainly in semi-

arid to arid areas

(75 % of total area)

Rainfed/Total (1000ha)

Rainfed areas (1000ha)

Irrigated areas (1000ha)

97% 1646 34 Cereals

93% 1835 130 Trees

28% 42 108 Vegetable

92% 285 23 Fodder

The importance of Rainfed agriculture (Data 1993)

Soils of Tunisia

the soils of Tunisia are classified as podzols, vertisoils, red Mediterranean soils, calcic-magnesic soils (dominant soils), brown and isohumic soils, saline and hydromorphic soils and also poorly evolved soils.

Soils nutrient status and agricultural use are related to both the landscape and the

climatic area

Nature of soil Areas (ha) fertile soils ha % of fertile soils

lithosols 2200000 0% Poorly developed soils 2180000 1300000 59,6 calcimagnesic soil 2400000 1050000 43,7 isohumic soil 3000000 1000000 33 vertisols 236000 230000 97,4 Red and chestnut soils 90000 80000 88,8 Salains and waterlogged soils 1500000 150000 10

Total 12200000 3810000 31,2

60% of agricultural land evolve in an arid zone, where the soil is presented in a precarious condition

516.000 farms (87 % less than 20 hectares)

Agriculture plays a key role for the country's economic and social growth

Tunisia Agriculture in brief

Growth Domestic Product (GDP): 13 %

Exportations: an average of 10%

Employment : 22 %

Contribution of 14 % in the investments

Tunisia Agriculture Production

Arable land; 5 M ha; 50%

Rangeland; 4 M ha;

40%

Forests and scrublands; 1M ha; 10%

Arboriculture, 2, 40%

Arable, 2, 40%

Fallow, 0.7, 14%

various crops, 0.3,

6%

Cereals 1.53 M ha (75%)

Olives (1.5 M ha)

10 M ha agricultural area

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Yiel

d

Yiel

d

Year

Cereal, fruits and vegetable yield

Fruit Vegetables Cereals

Productivity of Tunisian Agriculture

Since the 1980s, Tunisia achieved an increase of 50 % in agricultural production for most major crops

Reasons of Yields Increase

Fertilizer Pest Irrigation

Changes in cultural practices:

Government efforts to expand the area of fruit trees and wheat, which declined by about 15% compared to the 1950s

Improved cultural practices

The improvement in productivity was essentially a result of:

Mechanization Breeding Traditional agricultural practices

Fertilizers have played a key role in improving yield production in Tunisia

0

5

10

15

20

25

0 50 100 150 200

Yiel

d (Q

x/ha

)

Crop Yield and fertilizer consumption relationship

Fertilizer and Crop Production

Fertilizers kinds and amounts: An important input contributing 50% towards improvement in crop productivity

basically three nutrients are supplied: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5) and

potash (K2O)

The main fertilizers used: ammonium nitrate, super phosphates, ammonium phosphate, potassium Nitrate, potassium sulphate

During the past 50 years of the history of fertilizer use in Tunisia

Total fertilizer consumption (N, P2O5 and K2O) in Tunisian agriculture

R² = 0.8605

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160Co

nsum

ptio

n (1

000

t)

change/year: 2,56% change/year: 1,36 % change/year: 0,79 %

we find a considerable increase in the consumption of fertilizers Since 1960, by 7 times till 2013

Fluctuation of the fertilizer consumption level is due mainly to the unpredictable climatic conditions

Production and Distribution Systems

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

AN made-GCT (1000T) AN sold-Tunisia (1000T)DAP made-GCT (1000 T) DAP sold-Tunisia (1000T)

Two actors Gafsa Phosphate Company (CPG): responsible for phosphate mining

Chemical group in Tunisia (GCT): Production of mineral fertilizers

Tunisia Country a manufacturer of fertilizers

The annual production of phosphate is currently 8 MT/year

5th in the world

1952: TSP 1979: DAP 1983; AN 6.6 million tons of phosphate for the national market

1.4 million tons for export

Fertilizer manufacturing by GCT and part used in Tunisian agriculture

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Cons

umpt

ion

(100

0 t)

N P2O5 K2O

N: 2,37 %

P: 0,53 %

K: 0 %

N: 1,41 %

P: 0,12 %

K: 0,06 %

N: 1,36 %

P: 2 %

K: 0,08 %

Use by Type of Fertilizer

Agricultural Extension Service (include fertilizer demonstration plots), direct subsidies on fertilizer prices, distribution of fertilizer as seasonal credit and privatizing and liberalizing of the market

The initiation of the GOT's wheat project in 1966 and price controls in 1970 increased availability of fertilizer and agricultural extension activities

Factors Contributing to Growth in Fertilizer Use in Tunisia

Sub humid zone major crops: cereals, citrus,

and grape crops, 65 %

Region I

Semi Arid zone The major growing area are

cereals, 23 %

Region II

Region III

Region V

Irrigated Zone: the major growing area is cereals,

vegetables, 7 %

semi-arid –irrigated zone garden crops and olive

production, 3 %

Major crop activities located in the scattered

oases, 2 %

Fertilizer Sales in Tunisia by Regions

Crop Fertilizer Use in Tunisia

The cereal sector has absorbed More than 95% of fertilizer used

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

SUPER 45 (T) Nitrate ammonium (T) DAP (T)

Climatic conditions and fertilizer use

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

Unfavorable season Midium season Favorable season

SUPER 45% DAP AN 33,5%

Farmers are oriented towards to reduce the level of inputs during the beginning of the crop seasons when the weather conditions are unfavorable

The amount fertilizer consumption was mainly affected by climatic conditions The increase in fertilizers consumption was 53 % compared to the unfavorable growing

season Increase in the amount of ammonium nitrate by 73%, while for phosphate fertilizers improvement is about 32%

N/P2O5 ratio evolution in cereal crops in Tunisia

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015

Grain yield and production potentials of cereals

14 30

40 11

20

30

Arid Sub humid Irrigated

N Kg/ha AN Kg/ha 49 146

Rainfall conditions: Nearly 97 % of the cultivated area is under rainfed conditions The high price for fertilizer, especially that of locally produced fertilizer; Lack of farmer know-how in using fertilizers – specifically nitrogen; Degraded & poor soils often subjected to runoff and soil erosion Availability of credit in good time Poor transport facilities and road network in rural areas Small & Marginal holdings– difficulty in use of farm machinery Using the manual method in fertilizer application Shortage of labour in dry lands – Migration to commands and urban areas Inadequate extension reach for technology dissemination

Though the above actions have stimulated fertilizer use and increased the demand for fertilizers, especially nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, increased fertilizer consumption is still constrained by several conditions as follows:

Major Constraints

Nutrient Efficiency (%)

Cause of low efficiency

Nitrogen 30-50 Immobilization, volatilization, denitrification, Leaching

Phosphorus 15-20 Fixation in soils CaHPO4

Low nutrient use efficiency

Importance of Integrated Nutrient Management

There is an urgent need to adopt an integrated nutrient supply and management system for promoting efficient and balanced use of plant nutrients.

The main emphasis was given on increasing the proper and balanced used of mineral fertilizers taking into account the production potential

What is Nutrient Management?

Combine on-farm nutrient sources, with commercial fertilizer, to meet crop need.

Commercial fertilizer

On-farm nutrient sources

Soil reserves

Minimize nutrient losses

Nitrogen fertilizer

Will be applied based on the supply balance method that takes into account the nitrogen residue from the previous crop, rate of organic matter and target yield.

Phosphates and Potassium

Based on soil analysis

The total amount of nitrogen will be splited into three applications:

Methodology

Two Nodes (30%)

3 leaf (30%)

End of tillering (40%)

Decision tools

Improving Nitrogen Fertilizer Efficiency

Cereal Expert System on the web-site of INGC

www.ingc.com.tn

Integrated fertilizer management for wheat

Study the effects on crop productivity of the integrated fertilizer management compared with the farmers’ practice

Assist farmers to adopt an integrated fertilizer management (IFM) approach for wheat production

Optimize nutrient inputs to wheat production Examine the effect of fertilizer inputs on improving the productivity of wheat Improve the fertility and productivity of wheat soils in the area.

Objectives:

This activity was involved 212 (leaders and satellites fields) at Fernana (Jendouba) and Chebika (Kairouan). These sites have a potential for intensification under rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively. They are characterized by a very limited use of fertilizers, and these are not always adapted to crop requirements.

Sites:

Case study

Initial soil fertility status of farmers’ fields

9.09

22.73

68.18

21.21 24.24

54.55

4.50

39.40 34.80

21.20

0102030405060708090

100

<7

7-14

> 14

<200

200-

300

>300 <1 1-

2

2-2,

5

<2,5

P2O5 K2O MO %

% o

f fa

rmer

s

22.73 16.67

60.61

16.67

36.36 46.97

37.9

56.1

3.0 3.0 0

102030405060708090

100

<7

7-14

> 14

<200

200-

300

>300 <1 1-

2

2-2,

5

<2,5

P2O5 K2O MO %%

of

farm

ers

Delegation of Fernana Delegation of Chebika

Frequency of soil samples per available phosphorus (P2O5),potassium (K2O) and organic matter (MO %) at Fernana and Chebika

The farming practice and crop rotation

40.9

18.2

31.8

12.1 16.7

68.2

10.6 1.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Fernana Chebika

Freq

uenc

y (%

)

Cereals Fallow Vegetables Legumes

Proportions of prevalent previous crop at Fernana and Chebika

Fertilizer application (Kg/ha)

0

100

200

300

400

500

P2O5 K2O AN P2O5 K2O AN

Farmers Practices (Kg/ha) IFM (Kg/ha)

Fernana Chebika

↘18 % ↘38 %

↗ 36 %

↗ 42 %

2.46

4,21 3.42

5,41

01234567

Fernana Chebika

GY (t

/ha)

Sites

Yield Farmers Yield IFM

Compared grain yield obtained at Chebika and Fernana using integrated fertilizer application (IFM) and common farmers fertiliser applications

Improvement of grain yield represents 28 % and 24 % at both sites.

Therefore; there is a need to adopt the IFM involving soil test based balanced and judicious use of chemical fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and to increase productivity. Constraints of adoption of IFM: Low nutrient content and low efficiency of chemical fertilizer

Field days

Field visits & Traveling Workshops

Field Demonstration

Dissemination Tools to improve farmers’ access to technical knowledge

SMS

The number of subscribers in the SMS service reached 1840, including 1260 farms. The total number of SMS sent reached 22080

Adoption of the Short Messaging Service (SMS) technologies as a tool to improve farmers’ and extensionist access to technical knowledge and to increase technology adoption

Research: Development of soil fertility maps (OM,

P2O5 and K20) Remote sensing for Crop Nitrogen

Management Development of Slow Release Fertilizers

R&D Priorities

Development: Strengthening Soil Testing Service Promote farmer capacity to request new

technologies and information. Promote farmer to farmer extension. Push farmers to make their own decisions

R&D Priorities