1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development Collaboration for Agriculture & Rural Development Project Progress Report MS4: Second Six-monthly Report 013/06VIE Replacing fertiliser N with rhizobial inoculants for legumes in Vietnam for greater farm profitability and environmental benefits July 2008 Table of Contents 1. Institute Information ___________________________________________________ 1 2. Project Abstract _______________________________________________________ 2 3. Executive Summary ____________________________________________________ 2 4. Introduction & Background _____________________________________________ 3 5. Progress to Date _______________________________________________________ 6 5.1 Implementation Highlights ________________________________________________ 6 5.2 Smallholder Benefits_____________________________________________________ 22 5.3 Capacity Building _______________________________________________________ 23 5.4 Publicity_______________________________________________________________ 23 5.5 Project Management ____________________________________________________ 23 6. Report on Cross-Cutting Issues__________________________________________ 24 6.1 Environment ___________________________________________________________ 24 6.2 Gender and Social Issues _________________________________________________ 24 7. Implementation & Sustainability Issues ___________________________________ 23 7.1 Issues and Constraints ___________________________________________________ 23 7.2 Options________________________________________________________________ 23 7.3 Sustainability___________________________________________________________ 24 8. Next Critical Steps ____________________________________________________ 24 9. Conclusion __________________________________________________________ 25 10. Statuatory Declaration__________________________Error! Bookmark not defined. 1. Institute Information Project Name Replacing fertiliser N with rhizobial inoculants for legumes in Vietnam for greater farm profitability and environmental benefits Vietnamese Institution Oil Plants Institute (OPI) Vietnamese Project Team Leader Ms Tran Yen Thao Australian Organisation NSW Department of Primary Industries University of Sydney Australian Personnel Dr David Herridge Dr Roz Deaker Ms Elizabeth Hartley Mr Greg Gemell Date commenced March 2007 Completion date (original) March 2009 Completion date (revised) As above Reporting period October 2007 – March 2008 Contact Officer(s) In Australia: Team Leader Name: Dr David Herridge Telephone: 02 67631143 Position: Principal Research Scientist Fax: 02 67631222 Organisation NSW Department of Primary Industries Email: david.herridge@dpi.nsw.gov.au In Australia: Administrative contact Name: Mr Graham Denney Telephone: 02 63913219 Position: Manager External Funding Fax: 02 63913327 Organisation NSW Department of Primary Industries Email: graham.denney@dpi.nsw.gov.au In Vietnam Name: Ms Tran Yen Thao Telephone: 08 9143024 – 8297336 Position: Researcher Fax: 08 8243528 Organisation Oil Plants Institute (OPI) Email: yenthao@opi.org.vn yenthao@hcm.fpt.vn yenthao9@yahoo.com 2 2. Project Abstract 3. Executive Summary Increased production of high-quality inoculants and QA Much of the R&D effort during the reporting period was focussed on evaluating rhizobial strains for soybean and groundnut in both growth room and field. The Australian commercial strains CB1809 (soybean) and NC92 (groundnut) were found to be more effective than local Vietnamese strains at almost all of the 20 field sites for which data are available. Thus, when the crops were inoculated with CB1809 or NC92, nodule weight, biomass yield and grain yield increased relative to the local strains at 85%, 85 and 90% field sites respectively. However, the extent of the increase was different depending on sites and local strains. The two Australian strains increased soybean and groundnut nodulation, biomass yield and grain yield by an average of 62%, 34% and 27%, relative to uninoculated plots and 26%, 11% and 10% relative to inoculation with local Vietnamese strains. R&D on inoculant production technology focussed on additives to both broth and peat, on survival of rhizobia in peat, and on temperature and pH effects on rhizobial growth and survival. The IAS examined effects of broth (fermentor) culture dilution prior to inoculating the peat carrier as a means of extending the broth. Issues with rhizobial strain purity and maintenance, discussed at the Project Review Workshop in February 2008, prompted new recommendations for strain maintenance. Other issues raised and discussed were procedures for optimising the peat carrier through adjustment of pH and moisture and for sterilisation of the peat. There was no training Farmers in Vietnam currently fertilise legumes such as soybean and groundnut with N, rather than inoculate with rhizobia. Replacing fertiliser N with rhizobial inoculants would save Vietnamese farmers A$50-60 million annually in input costs and, at the same time, help facilitate the desired expansion in legume production. There would also be positive environmental outcomes. This project aims to increase production of high- quality legume inoculants in Vietnam through enhanced production capacity, implementation of a national quality assurance (QA) program at and increased inoculant R&D. Participating in the project in Vietnam are the Oil Plants Institute (OPI), the Institute of Agricultural Science (IAS) and the National Institute for Soils and Fertilisers (NISF; now known as the Soils & Fertilisers Institute (SFI)). Institutions in Australia are NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of Sydney. Legume inoculant use by farmers in Vietnam will be increased through the development and implementation of an effective extension and training program for researchers, MARD extension officers and farmers. The benefits of inoculants and legume nitrogen fixation will be demonstrated in the field and communicated through workshops, meetings and publications. To ensure sustainability of inoculant production and use, the project will engage the private sector in marketing and ‘pilot production’ of legume inoculants, with the aim that they may scale-up production and progressively take over supply as the technology and markets are developed. 3 conducted during the reporting period, although training scheduled for August-September 2008 in Thailand and for later in 2008 in Australia was discussed at the February 2008 Project Review Workshop. Extension and training of farmers and advisors Extension and training of farmers and advisors is a major focus of the project as a means of facilitating adoption of legume inoculation in Vietnam. The extension-training program is built around simple, multi-location inoculation experiments in the legume production areas of the country. The experiments involve participation of farmers and extension officers in all aspects, from the design of experiments to sowing, sampling, harvesting and interpretation of results. The MARD extension service plays a large role in extension activities. Data from field demonstrations will be used to produce an economic model for production and use of legume inoculants in Vietnam. In addition, training courses will be organised for farmers, extension workers and researchers in methods of inoculant use, and economic as well as environmental benefits of inoculation. A total of 28 demonstration (extension) trials have now been conducted in 9 provinces. At the time of writing this report, data were available for 15 demonstration trials. The demonstration fields usually had two treatments: +inoculation and -inoculation. Overall, inoculation of soybean and groundnut increased potential income to farmers by an average of 3.5000.000VNĐ. The size of the profit varied with different sites. Farmers were invited to the demonstration fields at least once. At many fields such as in DakNong and DakLak, they also came to the fields 2–3 times at nodule and biomass harvest as well as grain harvest time. At each trial site, at least 20 farmers, extension officers, agriculture advisors came and made evaluation of the trial (600–800 person visits to the extension trials). They observed development of soybean and groundnut and compared the health and growth of the plants in the two treatments. They took nodule samples to observe nodules and learnt to recognise effective nodules with pink colour inside and the white ineffective nodules. They evaluated the inoculation benefits by themselves by sampling soybean and groundnut plants, weighing biomass and grains. They were provided extension materials. Also, researchers and extension officers explained how rhizobia work and the conditions for successful inoculation. Farmers were very interested in learning about nitrogen fixation. Questions were often asked by farmers were: - How do the inoculants cost? - How much do inoculants used for 1000m 2 or 1 ha? - Where can we purchase inoculants? - Do inoculants have other benefits besides urea (N) fertilizer? - Can we use inoculants together with plant protection products? - Can we use legume inoculants for other crops? - Are inoculants effected by bad weather such as heavy rain, hot weather when inoculation and during plant growth? - Can we use inoculants together with urea (fertiliser N)? And main requests: - Supply inoculants for farmers to test inoculants in their fields - Technical support for farmers to use inoculants 4 Involvement of the private sector in inoculant production, distribution and marketing Careful selection of private sector partners for commercial production of legume inoculants is critical for ensuring the sustainable supply of high quality legume inoculants to farmers in Vietnam. After visiting potential inoculant producers in February 2008 and the withdrawal of Fitohoochmon from the project it was initially concluded that the prospect of the private sector producing high quality inoculants in Vietnam in the near future was low and that large scale production should be carried out by the institutes. However, following this, contact was made with the Thien Sinh (Komix) company which is much better equipped to adopt legume inoculant production and a strategy has been developed for the transfer of technology from the institutes to this company. A site visit in February 2008 revealed very good potential for legume inoculant production. The facilities were well equipped for careful industrial microbiological application. Technology transfer from the research institutes to the company was discussed and a clear strategy was determined. The company also agreed to conduct extension activities through their country-wide network. 4. Introduction & Background Project Objectives and Expected Outputs The Vietnamese government (MOI, MARD) is committed to increase the area sown to legumes from the current 780,000 ha to >1,000,000 ha by 2010, with particular focus on soybean and groundnut in the Mekong Delta, the Central Coastal region and upland (highland) areas of the North, Central and North. The legumes are used for production of food, oil and protein meal, and are grown as rotation crops with rice (Mekong Delta), as intercrops in the upland areas with cassava, sugar cane, rubber, fruit and maize and as cover crops in the sandy coastal soils. ACIAR Small Project LWR2/98/27 (Increasing yield and nitrogen fixation of soybeans, groundnuts and mungbean in Vietnam through Rhizobium inoculation) identified that legume production in Vietnam currently relies on expensive imported fertiliser N, rather than cost-effective inoculants containing rhizobia. Replacing fertiliser N with rhizobial inoculants would save Vietnamese farmers A$50–60 million annually in input costs and, at the same time, help facilitate the desired expansion in legume production. There would also be positive environmental outcomes. Details of the economic benefits of replacing fertiliser N with rhizobial inoculation were outlined in the proceedings of the technical workshop to terminate LWR2/98/27. However, for this to happen, high-quality inoculants need to be readily available in the market. The current capacity of inoculant production in Vietnam is about 40,000 packets annually, and would need to be increased to about 500,000 packets annually to meet potential demand. Inoculant quality is also poor (LWR2/98/27 project) and would need to be improved. Shelf life and distribution and marketing are issues that would also need to be addressed. Moreover, there is limited awareness of the benefits of inoculants and methods of application among Vietnamese farmers and extension workers. Capacity gaps are evident at the national and institutional level. The major gap at the national level is the lack of a coordinated, focussed national legume inoculant program. At the institutional level, the gaps are capacity for medium-scale inoculant production and associated quality assurance (QA) as well as R&D and training capacity. The proposed project would address these issues of production, quality, distribution and marketing and farmer education. Involvement of the private sector in both production and marketing will ensure the long-term viability of the concept. The project objectives are to: 5 1. Increase production of high-quality inoculants for soybean, groundnut and other legumes in Vietnam through enhancement of production capacity (personnel and equipment) at participating institutions, implementation of QA, and increased inoculant R&D; 2. Increase farmer interest and use of inoculants in Vietnam through development and implementation of an effective extension and training program on inoculants and legume nitrogen fixation for researchers, MARD extension officers and farmers through demonstration trials, workshops and meetings, and publications; 3. Ensure the long-term viability of the project through involvement of the private sector in this ‘pilot production’ of legume inoculants, with the aim that the private sector would progressively take over production as the technology and markets are developed. The Project is aligned with the CARD Program Strategic Objective 2 ‘Improved productivity and links to markets for the rural poor in the Mekong Delta and Central Coast regions’, through Objective 2.1 ‘Increase rural productivity’, using principally Strategy 1 ‘Increase productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural system’. Project Approach and Methodology The project strategy is to enhance inoculant production, quality, distribution and marketing and farmer education through the collaborating institutions. It will involve both Government institutions – Oil Plants Institute (OPI), the Institute of Agricultural Science (IAS) and the Institute for Soils and Fertilisers (ISF) – as well as private sector companies (Fitohoocmon Fertiliser JSC, Cu Chi Bio-Chemical Fertiliser JSC and Humix). The latter would be involved initially in marketing and distribution of inoculants and would be provided with advice and technical expertise to improve and expand their inoculant production capabilities. In time, it is envisaged that the private sector would take over inoculant production, leaving QA to the public institutions. Involvement of the private sector in both production and marketing will ensure the long-term viability of the concept. Increased production of high-quality inoculants and QA The focus will be on rhizobial strains and their maintenance, inoculant production (fermentation) technologies, quality assurance of the production process and products and training in the production technologies and QA. Rhizobial strains - Existing strains from the collections in Vietnam and/or other institutions, eg. ALIRU (Australia), NifTAL (University of Hawaii), Suranaree University (Thailand) will be utilised where appropriate. Decisions will be made about the most appropriate strains for inoculant production through a program of research and development. Strain maintenance - Protocols and operation manuals for maintaining strain effectiveness and recognition to ensure stability of inoculant quality during long-term storage will be developed and implemented. During the course of the project a decision will be made about which institute/s will take responsibility for the maintenance of a culture collection and verification of strains for inoculant production. The institute/s will be equipped with the necessary materials to continue processing germplasm for inoculant production. Production technology – Draw on experiences from Thailand and Australia to develop production technology of inoculants at medium-scale in Vietnamese institutes through: • Modifications to broth formulations and experiments in procedures for maintaining sterility and dispensing broths into the inoculant carrier. 6 • Testing appropriate forms of inoculant (peat, granular, liquid) that allow compliance with quality control standards and are easy to use, supply and transport. Economic benefits will be determined by assessing their effectiveness in laboratory and field trials. • Strain selection: Different strains will be tested for survival in inoculant products and during delivery of products to the field. Quality assurance - Australian QA protocols will be used initially as a model. From that, QA protocols, training and working manuals specific to inoculant production in Vietnam will be developed jointly between Australian and Vietnamese project scientists. Decisions will be made about which institute will be equipped to carry out on-going routine quality control of inoculants in Vietnam. Training on inoculant production and QA - Vietnamese researchers from institutes will be trained in Vietnam by Australian collaborators and at Suranaree University of Technology (Thailand) in inoculant production, QA and laboratory management, as well as R&D in rhizobiology. Extension and training of farmers and advisers The extension-training program for farmers and extension officers will be built around simple, multi-location inoculation experiments in the legume production areas (Mekong Delta, the Central Coastal region and upland (highland) areas of the North and Central and the South East). They will involve participation of farmers and extension officers in all aspects, from the design of experiments to sowing, sampling, harvesting and interpretation of results. It is expected that the MARD extension service will play a large role in extension activities. Data from field demonstrations will be used to produce an economic model for production and use of legume inoculants in Vietnam. In addition, training courses will be organised for farmers, extension workers and researchers in methods of inoculant use, and economic as well as environmental benefits of inoculation. This extension-training program will be conducted by Vietnamese researchers in collaboration with Australian counterparts, who will assist in collating and preparing extension materials for translation and transfer to Vietnam. Involvement of the private sector in production, distribution and marketing Two (and possibly three) Vietnamese companies will be involved in the project, Fitohoocmon Fertiliser JSC and Cu Chi Bio-Chemical Fertiliser JSC (and Humix). It is envisaged that the market for inoculants will grow during the course of the project from the current low level and that the private sector will progressively become involved as the production technology is developed and the market for the inoculants expands. The companies will initially be involved in marketing and inoculant distribution. Training workshops will also be open to researchers from the collaborating private companies. Project scientists will provide technical expertise to the companies throughout the project to troubleshoot production problems and increase production capacity and product quality. 5. Progress to Date 5.1 Implementation Highlights 5.1.1 Increased production of high-quality inoculants and QA The focus is on rhizobial strains and their maintenance, inoculant production (fermentation) technologies, QA of the production process and products and training in the production technologies and QA. 7 5.1.1.1 Rhizobial strains The efficacies of local strains for soybean and groundnut were compared with that of Australian commercial inoculant strains CB1809 (soybean) and NC92 (groundnut). Pot trials at ISF indicated that inoculation with CB1809 resulted in more nodules on soybean plants grown in sterile sand when compared with three local strains (Table 1). The ability for the different strains to grow in different fermentation conditions was also tested at ISF (see Section 5.1.1.3). Table 1: Nodulation of CB1809 and local strains on soybean Nodule number/plant No Strains Total nodule number Main roots Secondary roots 1 Uninoculated 0 0 0 2 CB1809 50 25 25 3 Local strain SL1 32 13 19 4 Local strain SL2 39 13 26 5 Local strain SL3 32 11 22 Field experiments were also conducted in 2007–08 to evaluate strain efficacy and effects of inoculation on nodule, biomass and grain yield. The total number of field experiments was 29 in 10 provinces; 23 experiments have already been harvested, with 6 experiments to be harvested in July 2008 (two experiments in Binh Thuan, one in Tra Vinh and 3 other ones in Son La). In each province, experiments involving soybean and groundnut and at least 3 rhizobial strains (CB1809 or NC92 and two local strains) were evaluated. Treatments are control without inoculation and without N fertilization, control with chemical N fertilizer, inoculation with CB1809 or NC92 and inoculation with local strains. A summary of project field experiments during 2007–08 and inoculation effects of CB1809 or NC92 on nodule, biomass and grain yield is shown in Appendix 1. A small response to inoculation was determined as less than 20%, from 20 to 40% was a moderate response and large response was more than 40%. Graphs 1, 2 and 3 summarise responses to inoculation with strains CB1809 (soybean) or NC92 (groundnut) of plant nodulation, biomass and grain yield, respectively. Responses ranged from small to large to inoculation depending on field sites. Graph 1. Range of nodulation responses to inoculation -20 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 0 5 10 15 20 Field site % response 8 There were large effects of inoculation on nodulation at 70% of the field sites (Graph 1). At those sites, nodule weight increased by 43–166%. Nodulation responded moderately at one site (34%) and, at the rest (25%) of the sites, response were small with an average increase of 10%. The overall average increase in nodulation using the superior Australian strains was 62%. With crop biomass, there were large responses (44–60%) to inoculation at 50% of the field sites, moderate responses (22–37%) at 30% of the sites and small responses (5–19%) at the remaining 20% of sites (Graph 2). Increases in grain yield from inoculation were smaller than the increases in nodulation and biomass yield (Graph 3). There were large responses (40–68%) at 20% of sites. Moderate responses (20–37%) were recorded at 55% of the sites and small responses (4–19%) at the remaining 25% of sites. The overall average increases in biomass yield and grain yield using the superior Australian strains were 34% and 27%, respectively. There were large differences in nodulation, biomass yield and grain yield responses amongst the rhizobial strains. Australian commercial strains CB1809 (soybean) and NC92 (groundnut) were more effective than local Vietnamese strains at almost field sites (Appendix 2). Data analysis shows that when the crops were inoculated with CB1809 or NC92, nodule weight, biomass yield and grain yield increased relative to the local strains at 85%, 85 and 90% field sites respectively. However, the extent of the increase was different depending on sites and local strains. Graphs 4, 5 and 6 show the increase in nodulation, biomass and grain yield of soybean and groundnut when inoculated with CB1809 and NC92, respectively, compared with inoculation using local strains. Graph 2. Range of crop biomass responses to inoculation 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 0 5 10 15 20 Field site % response Graph 3. Range of grain yield responses to inoculation 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 0 5 10 15 20 Field site % response [...]... Building Capacity building has commenced with participation of 17 Vietnamese scientists/technicians at the QA Workshop in HCM City in February–March, the Inoculant Production Technologies Workshop in Thailand in June 2007, and the purchase of materials and equipment for R&D and inoculant production This will continue during 2008 with additional training in inoculant production technologies in Thailand and. .. and again during December – February to determine the level of knowledge about inoculants, inoculant use by farmers and advisers and their attitudes to inoculant use in the future, and, finally, current production and QA of inoculants in Vietnam Results were reported in full in the Baseline Information Report, submitted May 2008 5.1.2.2 Field Extension Program – biological and economic effects of inoculation... production in Vietnam, eg carrier selection, inoculant formulations and packaging etc • Continue to upgrade laboratory and plant growth facilities in the major project laboratories in Vietnam (OPI, IAS and SFI) through equipment and consumables purchase • Implement 2008 training program for inoculant technology at Suranaree University, Thailand • Development of extension and training workshop materials and. .. purchase inoculants? - Do inoculants have other benefits besides urea (N) fertilizer? - Can we use inoculants together with plant protection products? - Can we use legume inoculants for other crops? - Are inoculants effected by bad weather such as heavy rain, hot weather when inoculation and during plant growth? - Can we use inoculants together with urea (fertiliser N) ? And main requests: - Supply inoculants. .. 5.1.2 Extension and training of farmers and advisers The extension-training program for farmers and extension officers is built around simple, multi-location inoculation experiments in the legume production areas (Mekong Delta, the Central Coastal region and upland (highland) areas of the North and Central and the South East) They involve participation of farmers and extension officers in all aspects,... 5.1.1.5 Inoculant QA (Quality Assurance) Program This was dealt with in detail in the First Six-Monthly Report, submitted September 2007, and in the Baseline Information Report, submitted May 2008 5.1.1.6 Training in inoculant production and QA There were no specific training programs during the reporting period It is intended that training of 3–4 Vietnamese researchers from collaborating institutes and. .. use, and economic as well as environmental benefits of inoculation This extension-training program will be conducted by Vietnamese researchers in collaboration with Australian counterparts, who will assist in collating and preparing extension materials for translation and transfer to Vietnam 5.1.2.1 Field Surveys of farmer knowledge and attitudes to inoculation The Surveys were conducted during April... sustainable 8 Next Critical Steps Steps to be taken during the next 6 months: • Continue field experimental program in the north, central, and south of Vietnam and Mekong Delta areas • Continue application of new production technologies for rhizobial inoculants and QA protocols in the major project laboratories in Vietnam – OPI, IAS and SFI • Continue R&D program on issues relevant to inoculant production... design of experiments to sowing, sampling, harvesting and interpretation of results The MARD extension service plays a large role in extension activities Data from field demonstrations will be used to produce an economic model for production and use of legume 18 inoculants in Vietnam In addition, training courses will be organised for farmers, extension workers and researchers in methods of inoculant... inoculant, shown in Table 11 Contrary to the original information from Fitohoochmon, legume inoculants are not currently produced in any capacity in Vietnam Initially, it was recommended that institutes build their capacity to produce high quality inoculants and that new private companies be formed possibly as joint-ventures in the future The current capacity of institutes to produce legume inoculants . Replacing fertiliser N with rhizobial inoculants for legumes in Vietnam for greater farm profitability and environmental benefits Vietnamese Institution Oil Plants Institute (OPI) Vietnamese. and use of inoculants in Vietnam through development and implementation of an effective extension and training program on inoculants and legume nitrogen fixation for researchers, MARD extension. out on-going routine quality control of inoculants in Vietnam. Training on inoculant production and QA - Vietnamese researchers from institutes will be trained in Vietnam by Australian collaborators