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Application of Nano Carbon to

Improve Yield & Nutrient Use Efficiency

A breakthrough in biotechnology and

agriculture to improve plant growth

and yields with reduced fertilizer usage.

MA Yun

IFA Crossroads Asia-Pacific

30 October 2012

Manila, Philippines

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Challenges & Solutions • Increased use of fertilizers does not guarantee

improved crop yield, and yet leads to hardening of soil and

pollution of underground & surface water

Solution: Increase the efficiency of fertilizer usage

• High cost transportation due to the volume of the fertilizers

Solution: Reduce the volume of fertilizers to save cost &

storage space

• Thin profit margin by fertilizer companies due to high competition

Solution: Value-add to traditional fertilizers with better

performance

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云南

四川

吉林

黑龙江

辽宁

北京

山东

新疆

湖南 江西

湖北

海南

河北

广东

大豆、玉米、水稻、马铃薯

水稻

猕猴桃

水稻、生菜、菊花

小麦、玉米、烟

草、各种蔬菜、花卉

棉花

杂交水稻

河南

广西

水稻

山 西

福建

浙江

江 苏

Yunnan

Sichuan

Jilin

Heilongjiang

Liaonin

g Beijing

Shan

dong

Xinjiang

Huna

n

Jiangx

i

Hube

i

Haina

n

Hebei

Guan

gdon

g

Soybean, corn, rice, potatoes

Rice

Kiwi

Rice, lettuce, corn, chrysanthemum, potato, tomato

Wheat, tobacco, flowers vegetables, corn, fruit trees

Cotton

Hybrid Rice

Hena

n

Guangx

i

Rice, bananas, oranges, papaya

Shan

xi

Fujian

Zhejian

g

Jian

gsu

In 5 years, we have tested with various plants in 16 provinces throughout China in varying season, climate and soil conditions.

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• Single-season field crops gain additional

yield of 5-20%

• Vegetables gain additional yield of 20-40%

• Shorten the crop growth period - early harvesting allows the products to enter the market 7-10 days earlier than competitors which results in higher sales return

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Improve the efficiency of

plant respiration and photosynthesis

(a) Nano Carbon Treatment:

Accelerate the synthesis

and transports of starch

grains in chloroplast

(b) The control group:

A large number of starch

grains within chloroplasts

siltation, has been full of

chloroplast

2012/10/31 Increase fertilizer use efficiency

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对照

0.3‰ 1.5‰ 3‰

0.03‰ 0.15‰ 对照 3‰

30‰ 60‰ 90‰

15‰

1 倍 5 倍

10 倍 1 倍 20 倍 30 倍 0.5 倍 0.1 倍

0.05 倍 0.01 倍

对照

0.03‰ 0.3‰

3‰

Promote plant roots systems and increase photosynthesis of plants

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MS hydroponic，the apparent

shape of Arabidopsis roots

Arabidopsis

roots

Arabidopsis thaliana experiment: Arabidopsis root

surface can capture and absorb a large amount of

nano-carbons.

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纳米碳 对照

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• Improvement in the nutritional content of crops and the quality of the taste

• Enhance plants growth by resisting diseases and improving stability of the plants by anti-bending and deeper rooting of crops

• Reduce environmental pollution caused by excessive fertilizer use.

Other Research Findings

100%普通肥

60%纳米增效肥

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Professors and Experts

▲ ▲ ▲

Academician

Yuan Longping

“Father of Rice); and

Li Jian Yang

Academician

Fang Rongxiang

Academician

Liu Gengling and

Fang Zhiyuan

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▲ ▲ ▲

Academicians and experts in bioscience and material science visiting

our plant and research bases.

Professors and Experts

Professors and Experts

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Participants of Our Research

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Participants of Our Research

• National Hybrid Rice Research Center

• National Soybean Research Center

• China Agricultural University

• Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of

China National Tobacco Corporation

• Northeast Institute of Geography and

Agricultural Ecology

• Jilin Agricultural University

• Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences

• Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences

• Heilongjiang Bureau of Reclamation

• Sinochem Fertilizer Co., Ltd.

• Fertilizer Industry Group in Yunnan Dawei

• Shanxi Tianji Coal Chemical Group Co., Ltd.

• China Agricultural agricultural Chain Co., Ltd.

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Treatment

Average

yield

（kg/acre）

Increase additional

yields

kg/acre %

100% conventional

fertilizer 2880 —— ——

70% nano-enhanced

fertilizer 3798 918 31.8

Nano-enhanced fertilizer on rice yield (June 2009, Heilongjiang Province）

Application Examples : Rice

Conventiona

l fertilizer

nano-

enhanced

fertilizer

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Application Examples: Winter Wheat

We had carried out field trials for winter wheat using nano-enhanced

fertilizer though the fertilizer application rate was only 50% of the

conventional usage, still increased the mass yield more than 10%.

This technology enables a 50% increase fertilizer efficiency，equivalent to 1.5 times of the common fertilizer.

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Urea 70% of the nano-

enhanced urea

We have tested in a maize field using

nano-enhanced fertilizer in April to

August, 2008 to August though the

fertilizer application rate was only

70% of normal usage，still increased

the product yield more than18.6%

In December 2008 to May 2009，we had

field trials with China National Hybrid

Rice Technology Center.

We made done 8 species using nano-

enhanced fertilizers, though the fertilizer

application rate was only 60-70% of

normal usage, still increased the product

yield 20-23%.

Application Examples: Maize and Paddy Rice

Paddy Rice

Maize

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In October 2009，we carried out field trials in Heilongjiang, with only

50%-70% of normal fertilizer usage，the harvest still increased 24.4-

27.4%.

Results also showed significant increments in soybean pod

numbers, per plant grain numbers and grain weights.

Application Examples

Though the fertilizer application rate was only 50-70% of the normal usage, still received additional more yield more than 20%.

Soya bean

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Tomato

Sweet Pepper

左侧节肥50%冲施纳米碳溶胶、右侧常规施肥

2011年在河北省邯郸市永年县黄瓜苗期上冲施纳米碳溶胶一次，节肥50%的情况下，第5天观察与对照相比较病害少、叶片肥厚浓绿、植株健壮、根系发达，平均增产20%。

Application Examples: Vegetables

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Application Examples: Flowers

In May 2008, we carried out the flower nano-

fertilizer tests of poinsettia. Compared with the

imported high quality fertilizers, the fertilizer

application rate was 50% of imported high-

quality fertilizers. After 30 days plant height

increased 4cm more, increased corolla 3cm

more, significantly increased leaf sizes, can

reach the market 10 days earlier than the

competitors.

In August 2008，the Green Apple arrowroot

rate used only 60-70％ of imported high-

quality fertilizers. In 70 days we recorded

significantly increments in plant height, leaf

sizes, stress tolerance, disease resistance

and root systems, The grown products

reaches the market 10 days earlier.

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Application Examples: Tobacco

Hi-tech Research and Development Program (National 863 Projects)

Results showed that nano-efficiency fertilizer increased Tobacco

yield by about 10% and significantly increase potassium ions

content by 24-56%, and improve aroma quality and aftertaste of

middle leaves.

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Substantial Benefits • The fertilizer industries for higher profit

margin

• The farmers for earlier and better

harvest

• World’s food-supply to reduce poverty

• The environment for sustainable growth

• Human kind for more healthier

generations

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Prof. MA Yun Mobile: (86) 18611321633

E-mail: may@im.ac.cn Institute of Microbiology

Academy of sciences, China State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics

Datun Road, Chaoyang District

Beijing 100101

P.R. China