Rice: How Agromaster^® can Increase Yield and Farm Income?

Agromaster® delivers nitrogen in line with crop demand, improving yield and reducing application frequency. Field trials show up to 20% higher gross revenue compared to conventional fertilization strategies.

Rice growers are increasingly asking a practical question: how can fertilization strategies improve both yield and profitability under real field conditions?

Traditional fertilization programs, often based on multiple nitrogen applications, can lead to inefficiencies, particularly in flooded rice systems where nutrient losses are common. As a result, growers are exploring more precise approaches that align nutrient availability with crop demand.

Agromaster®, a controlled-release fertilizer developed by ICL, offers a different strategy. By combining an initial nutrient release with a gradual supply over time, it is designed to improve nutrient use efficiency while simplifying field operations.

What Makes Controlled-Release Fertilization More Effective in Rice?

In rice cultivation, nitrogen management is critical but challenging, especially under waterlogged conditions where losses through leaching and volatilization can reduce efficiency.

Agromaster® addresses this by coating nitrogen with either ICL’s E-Max Release Technology, a polymer that regulates nutrient release, or eqo.x Release Technology, an award winning, fully biodegradable release technology. This allows nitrogen to be delivered steadily, in line with the crop’s uptake pattern and growth stages.

At the same time, the fertilizer supplies phosphorus and potassium, two essential nutrients that are often insufficient in soil reserves but are key to early development, root growth, and overall plant performance.

This controlled nutrient delivery supports:

• More consistent crop nutrition
• Reduced nutrient losses
• Improved operational efficiency through fewer applications

How Does Agromaster® Enhance Rice Yield and Crop Performance?

Field experience and trial data consistently show that improved nutrient availability translates into stronger crop performance.

Across both sandy and clay soils, plots fertilized with Agromaster® demonstrate:

• A higher number of panicles per square meter
• More uniform crop development
• Increased yield potential
• Improved nitrogen use efficiency

The increase in panicle density is particularly important, as it is one of the main drivers of final grain yield in rice systems.

Agromaster improved nitrogen use efficiency in rice

Does Improved Fertilization Translate into Higher Farm Income?

For growers, agronomic performance must ultimately deliver economic value.

Comparative trials evaluating a single application of Agromaster® versus conventional three-application fertilization programs show clear financial benefits. Despite similar or optimized input strategies, Agromaster® programs resulted in:

• Up to 27% higher gross revenue
• Improved return on investment
• Reduced labor and operational costs due to fewer applications

These results were consistent across different soil types, reinforcing the reliability of the approach under varying field conditions.

A More Efficient Approach to Rice Fertilization

Optimizing fertilization in rice is no longer just about supplying nutrients, it is about delivering them at the right time, in the right form, and with minimal losses.

Controlled-release technologies such as Agromaster® provide a practical solution, helping growers improve nitrogen efficiency, stabilize yields, and enhance profitability, while also supporting more sustainable nutrient management practices.