"Smart" farming techniques are the key to solving food problems in China, China Agricultural University scientists said this week.

Based on more than 150 field experiments on rice, wheat and corn fields since 2009,research found that better matching of fertilizer to local soil and climates could increase yields while cutting fertilizer thereby helping the enivornment.

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Fusuo Zhang of the China Agricultural University in Beijing led the team of researchers who published a study in the journal "Nature," regarding scientific methods to increase harvests without increasing harm to the environment.

Four different agricultural techniques were tested in existing farmlands where the researchers planted cereals.

The first technique followed the regular planting procedure done by local farmers, while the second technique included an "enhanced" version of the same technique.

The third method included immersing the farmland with nitrogen fertilizer to maximize the yield, and the fourth technique involved proper crop and nutrient management.

In the fourth technique, the researcher took into consideration the grain that is most compatible with the type of soil and land that will be used.

The date and season of planting was also considered in the fourth technique.

The third technique, which used fertilizers, showed the highest yield among the four.

The rice harvest using the third technique reportedly jumped from an average of 7.2-tons-to-8.8 tons per hectare, while the yields of wheat went from 7.2-to-9.2 tons.

Corn harvest also showed a leap from 10.5-to-14.4 tons per hectare.

Although the yields were not as high as those recorded in Germany and the United States, the farming technique, called Integrated Soil-Crop System Management (ISSM), is exceptional.

China's population is currently at around 1.35 billion people. In 2030, the population is expected to reach its all-time high of 1.47 billion.

Because of the rapid increase in population in the country, there is an increase in demand for staple foods, such as rice, corn and wheat.

The problem of a rapidly growing population concurs with the worldwide climate change, which increases competition for land and water.

Analysts predict that by 2050, there will be a worldwide demand for food.

According to the study, if farmers will learn the ISSM and implement it, the demand for food in China will finally be met.

Tagsfood shortage, china farming, farming techniques, population growth, ISSM, agriculture, nature