New research reveals path to sustainable rice farming in Myanmar

(Press-News.org) Scientists have identified practical fertilizer strategies that can help rice farmers in Myanmar boost their profits, protect the environment, and improve food security. Recent research, led by an international team including experts from the University of Melbourne and local partners, provides new recommendations for nitrogen fertilizer use, aiming for a balance between high yields and low environmental costs.

Myanmar is one of Southeast Asia’s largest rice producers, yet struggles with low productivity, financial challenges, and food insecurity. Most local farmers rely on traditional practices, facing obstacles such as limited access to fertilizer, poor infrastructure, and high input costs. The country’s rice fields, vital for local diets and rural livelihoods, are especially sensitive to nitrogen management – the key factor influencing crop growth, environmental health, and farmer income.

Research showed that while rice yields respond modestly to added nitrogen in the monsoon season, dramatic improvements can be achieved through strategic fertilizer use in irrigated dry-season rice. In dry months, crops benefit from higher solar radiation, allowing yields to increase from 4 to 8 tons per hectare with optimized nitrogen inputs. Applying the right amount of fertilizer helps farmers achieve better profits and higher harvests, particularly when irrigation is available.

Yet, using too much nitrogen fertilizer can backfire. Excess inputs not only fail to increase yields but also harm the bacteria and natural processes that keep rice paddies fertile. The runoff of nitrogen-rich water threatens surrounding ecosystems, adding to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The team conducted economic and environmental analyses to pinpoint both “economically optimal” and “ecologically optimal” nitrogen rates. During the monsoon season, the best economic results came from applying around 83 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare, providing a net economic benefit of nearly $617 per hectare. For irrigated dry-season rice, the optimal economic rate was higher, about 202 kilograms per hectare, which brought a $661 per hectare benefit. However, when accounting for the social and ecological costs of pollution and environmental damage, lower nitrogen application rates yielded far greater long-term gains.

By adopting the ecologically optimal nitrogen rates, 66 kilograms per hectare in the monsoon, and 48 kilograms per hectare in the dry season, farmers could reduce pollution and save money, with only a small drop in yield. The researchers estimated that this adjustment could avoid annual environmental costs of up to $368 per hectare, a substantial benefit compared with current practices. These findings offer authorities and farmers a new path to sustainability, where minor yield sacrifices translate into major gains for community health and future generations.

Farmer engagement also played a central role in the project. Surveys and focus groups revealed a strong preference for learning and decision-making through discussion, peer support, and social media such as Facebook. Instead of relying solely on top-down instructions or one-off mobile apps, farmers valued participatory platforms that allow for experience sharing and real-time advice. To support broader adoption of better fertilizer practices, the research team recommends expanding demonstration plots, interactive online forums, and tailored content delivered via popular digital platforms.

Policy-makers in Myanmar have taken note of the findings. New digital resources, databases, and agricultural extension websites are being built to help farmers and suppliers track fertilizer quality and crop management information. This integrated approach, emphasizing economics, ecology, and farmer participation, could transform rice production not just in Myanmar, but across similar regions in Southeast Asia.

The full research article, funded by Australian and Chinese agricultural research agencies, is published in Nitrogen Cycling, Volume 1, 2025.

 

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Journal Reference: Liang X, Willett IR, Pandey A, Suter H, Mekala G, et al. 2025. Nitrogen use for improved profitability and sustainability of rice production in central Myanmar. Nitrogen Cycling 1: e009  

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/nc-0025-0009  

 

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About Nitrogen Cycling:
Nitrogen Cycling is a multidisciplinary platform for communicating advances in fundamental and applied research on the nitrogen cycle. It is dedicated to serving as an innovative, efficient, and professional platform for researchers in the field of nitrogen cycling worldwide to deliver findings from this rapidly expanding field of science.

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