Nongda Fertilizer Helps Transform Potato-Cultivation Practices in Tengzhou

Tengzhou is known as the “Home of Potatoes in China.” The city boasts four specialized potato‑producing towns and 285 specialized villages, with a total potato‑cultivation area of 650,000 mu. Annual output exceeds 2 million tons, generating an annual value of over 4 billion yuan—accounting for roughly one quarter of the province’s total planting area, one third of its total production, and half of its export volume. Tengzhou is the county-level (or city‑level) region in China with the largest second‑crop potato‑planting area, the highest per‑mu yield, and the best economic returns. Local potato farmers have all achieved yields of 10,000 jin per mu and incomes exceeding 10,000 yuan.

On July 6, the 2018 “Nongda Humic Acid Cup” China High-Quality Agricultural Products World Guinness Challenge—Tengzhou Potato Competition was held at Longquan Subdistrict Square in Tengzhou. The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Key Laboratory for Humic Acid Fertilizers, the National Engineering Laboratory for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, and Shandong Radio and Television Station, and organized by Shandong Radio and Television’s Agricultural Science Channel and Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Technology Co., Ltd.

Zhao Zongyin, Researcher at the Agricultural Technology Extension Center of the Tengzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture

         Zhao Zongyin, a researcher at the Agricultural Technology Extension Center of Tengzhou Municipal Bureau of Agriculture, stated that Tengzhou’s potato‑cultivation model is shifting from quantity‑driven to quality‑oriented. Excessive fertilizer application in the past had caused some soil degradation. In response, technicians from Nongda Fertilizer Co., Ltd. have provided a series of technical guidance and demonstration trials tailored to Tengzhou’s potato‑growing conditions, promoting new, high‑efficiency, environmentally friendly fertilizers that seamlessly integrate scientific fertilization with soil improvement, yielding excellent results. He added that the key indicators of good soil are its productive capacity and organic matter content; when organic matter becomes active, it is humic acid at work, and humic‑acid‑based fertilizers play a crucial role in enhancing crop quality.

         According to reports, this year the purchase price for Grade‑1 potatoes is around 1.4 yuan per kilogram, while that for ordinary grades stands at 0.8 yuan. Meanwhile, potatoes grown with Nongda humic‑acid fertilizers achieve a Grade‑1 yield rate of approximately 20%, effectively maximizing farmers’ returns.

         Zhao Duncai, who won the championship in this potato challenge, said, “Winning this title was actually expected. I’ve been using Nongda Fertilizer for 12 years, and the potatoes I grow are all uniformly shaped, with a smooth skin and excellent appearance. Thanks to scientific fertilization and meticulous management, my potatoes thrive and fetch top prices.”

         The establishment of the Guinness‑record‑breaking platform by Nongda Fertilizer has energized farmers, not only promoting the principles of scientific fertilization but, more importantly, encouraging a broader audience to prioritize soil health and crop quality, thereby spreading the vision of high‑quality, eco‑friendly agriculture across the land.