From July 3 to 6, a delegation of four members, including Gao Xiangzhao and Wang Qiang, chief experts from the National Agricultural Technology Center, visited Shanxi Province as part of the national fertilizer quality campaign. Zhang Wuyun, deputy director of the Provincial Cultivated Land Quality Monitoring and Protection Center, along with relevant staff from cities and counties, accompanied the delegation on their visits and inspections.

The team of chief experts visited the control rooms, production workshops, and laboratories of several enterprises—including Tianji Group, Shanxi Huaxin, Tianfeng Fertilizer, Jinlan Chemical, and Shanxi Kaisheng—gaining firsthand insights into their operations. They also engaged in exchanges and communications with the heads of various positions within these companies. In the afternoon of July 5, a symposium for enterprise exchange was held in the conference room of Shanxi Huaxin Company. Eleven enterprises and the Calcium-Magnesium Fertilizer Branch of the China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association attended the meeting. During the symposium, the heads of each enterprise reported on their companies’ current development status and shared information about the challenges they face in production and sales. The chief experts and provincial and municipal leaders present promptly answered questions and provided guidance.

Through exchanges and discussions, experts pointed out that Shanxi Province boasts advanced nitro-fertilizer production technology and a high-level platform, making it the future direction for China’s nitro-fertilizer development. Nitro-complex fertilizers have several advantages, including low costs, high nitrate nitrogen content, excellent fertilizer efficiency, good environmental performance, and substantial market potential; as a result, their development has been remarkably rapid in recent years. China is currently the world’s largest producer of calcium nitrate, with a total production capacity approaching 500,000 tons in 2019, accounting for 40% of the global total capacity. In recent years, the nitro-fertilizer enterprises in Jiaocheng County, Shanxi Province, have formed an industrial cluster capable of producing annually 1.6 million tons of ammonium nitrate-calcium, 200,000 tons of magnesium nitrate, 300,000 tons of calcium nitrate, and 200,000 tons of potassium nitrate—totaling nearly 2.3 million tons of related products each year. The calcium nitrate and ammonium nitrate-calcium products primarily exported from Jiaocheng County account for 80% of the domestic market and over 50% of the international market. In recent years, the price of ammonium nitrate-calcium products has remained stable at around 1,600 yuan per ton, offering a clear price advantage compared to urea. Shanxi Province has become a leading hub for the development of nitro-fertilizers, and its future prospects are highly promising.

The chief expert also pointed out several issues facing the nitro-based fertilizer industry: First, there is a lack of systematic planning, resulting in a fragmented and disorganized layout that severely impacts product distribution; second, there is no well-established theoretical framework to support the proper application methods and effectiveness of nitro-based fertilizers; third, although nitro-based fertilizers have higher costs compared to urea, their value in agricultural applications has not been adequately recognized, leading to insufficient industry influence.

In response to the above-mentioned issues, experts have put forward the following recommendations: 1. Conduct a comprehensive review of the 30-year development of the nitrofertilizer industry and, based on this review, develop an advanced industry development plan; 2. Establish a technical theoretical framework for nitrofertilizers that focuses on their efficient utilization in terms of fertilizer efficacy, labor savings, and time efficiency; 3. Enhance the added value of products and place greater emphasis on industrial development. Leverage the strengths of agricultural technology teams in promotion and publicity to raise awareness among society, government leaders, and the general public about the benefits of nitrofertilizers, thereby ensuring that the nitrofertilizer industry enjoys greater influence, a positive image, and a strong voice in society.

Through this fertilizer quality initiative, the team led by the chief expert provided enterprises with solid guidance based on scientific principles, helping them firmly establish a development philosophy centered on fertilizer safety, high quality, and efficiency. By leveraging technological advancements, promoting transformation and upgrading, and implementing scientific management practices, they aim to enhance fertilizer quality.