Abstract:

This study aims to systematically summarize the major achievements and experiences of Guangdong Province’s fertilizer industry from 2004 to 2024 in technological innovation, industrial transformation, and green development. It further analyzes its contribution to the technological advancement and structural upgrading of China’s fertilizer sector, and proposes key directions and pathways for achieving sustainable and high-quality development of Guangdong’s fertilizer industry. By integrating literature review, industry statistical data, and typical case analyses, this paper provides a systematic review and evaluation of core technological breakthroughs, industrial applications, and business model innovations in fields of compound fertilizer granulation technology, slow/controlled-release fertilizers, water-soluble fertilizers and fertigation, organic fertilizers, soil conditioners, straw decomposition agents, and microbial fertilizers. Among these achievements, the “high-tower granulation technology” represents a major breakthrough in China’s compound fertilizer production processes; low-cost slow/controlled-release fertilizers utilizing green, natural coating materials have achieved large-scale applications in field crops; water-soluble fertilizers and fertigation technologies developed through introduction, absorption, and re-innovation have secured a significant position nationwide, and the pioneering “factory-distribution station-farmer” fertilizer supply service model has been widely adopted. Soil conditioners and straw decomposition agents have achieved industrialized and large-scale application; organic fertilizer enterprises are widely distributed across the province, with notable progress in aerobic composting technology, production processes, equipment automation, and environmental control. The microbial fertilizer sector has experienced rapid growth, with a wide variety of registered products and multiple technical breakthroughs in core strain screening and functional applications, gradually forming a development pattern that balances industrialization and independent innovation. Over the past 20 years, Guangdong’s fertilizer industry has significantly advanced China’s fertilizer technological system and green transformation through technological innovation, model innovation, and industrial chain upgrading. Looking ahead, the industry should further strengthen the leading role of enterprises in scientific and technological innovation, deepen industry-academia-research collaboration, promote fertilizer development toward greater greenness, efficiency, intelligence, precision, and multifunctionality, and accelerate the establishment of a modern fertilizer industry system aligned with the emerging new-quality productive forces in agriculture.

Key words: Guangdong Province, fertilizer industry, technological innovation, high-tower granulation, slow/controlled-release fertilizer, water-soluble fertilizer, microbial fertilizer, soil conditioner, organic fertilizer