Tibet enjoys rich solar radiation, adequate rainfall and tremendous fresh water resources. The weather conditions are suitable for growth of a number of highland crops such as wheat, barley, rape, and corn. The average grain yield is 2.6 t/ha; however, local research indicates wheat and rapeseed could reach maximum yields of 14.8 and 6.2 t/ha. The low crop yields result from poor crop management, technology transfer, soil fertility, and inadequate and imbalanced fertilizer input. Soil testing indicates almost all soils are deficient in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) as well as various secondary and/or micronutrients. In 2000, Tibet used only 27,000 tonnes (t) of chemical fertilizers - an average input of 117 kg/ha on 230,400 hectares (ha) - the lowest level of fertilizer use in China. Tibet has 131 million ha of grassland (highest in China) and 88 million ha are currently grazable and inhabited. Over grazing, poor management, and no fertilizer input have degraded Tibet’s grasslands. This threatens sustainability of animal husbandry in the region. Using national averages for fertilizer use on agricultural crops and grassland, Tibet is estimated to require 726,000 t of fertilizer for its crops and 13.3 million t for its grassland. Given a N:P2O5:K2O ratio of 100:40:20, the P and K potential would be 3.33 million t of P2O5 and 1.67 million t of K2O. These figures would be over optimistic if not for railway construction from Qinghai to Tibet. Once built, the problematic system of fertilizer transportation would be solved and farmers would have a dedicated system of supply capable of delivering a much cheaper fertilizer product. There is no doubt that Tibet has much P and K market potential.

(The photo on the left (green) is a typical Tibetan farmer's wheat field that would yield 2.6 t/ha while on the right we see a PPI demonstration plot with balanced fertilization that yielded 5.2 t/ha.)