Vĩnh Long coastal area, early sowing for Winter-Spring crop from October 10-30: prepare for basal fertilization with NPK Phú Mỹ 16-16-8+13S+TE

Published 16/10/2026 · Út Nữ Co., Ltd

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The early sowing schedule for Winter-Spring 2026–2027 has arrived. The Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection recommends early sowing from October 10–30, 2026 in areas at risk of late-season drought, especially the coastal areas of Vĩnh Long (formerly Bến Tre and Trà Vinh territories), to avoid salinity, high tides, and conserve water for the rice crop; the main sowing period is from November 1–30, the later period is from December 1–31, and late areas must be completed before January 10, 2027 (Dân Việt, 2026). The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology forecasts that salinity intrusion may occur from late December 2026 (Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, 2026).

Each province also has its own schedule. For example, Cà Mau divides it into three phases, phase 1 from October 2–20 (Thúy Lam, 2026). In Vĩnh Long, farmers should follow the specific planting schedule announced by the commune and hamlet. For coastal fields sown in October, basal fertilization must be prepared this week. This article uses NPK Phú Mỹ 16-16-8+13S+TE as a technical example, focusing on the seasonal schedule and sulfur content, following the principle of right type – right time – right amount.

Before Basal Fertilization: Are Freshwater and Soil Ready?

Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection notes (Dân Việt, 2026):

• For areas at risk of drought and salinity late in the season, prioritize short-duration varieties, salt-tolerant varieties; for areas with water scarcity late in the season, use varieties not exceeding 90 days.
• For rice-shrimp areas, only sow seeds when there is sufficient freshwater and salinity flushing meets requirements; if freshwater arrives late, postpone the schedule, do not sow when salinity is still high.

Basal fertilizer is only useful when the field is ready for sowing. If the field has not been desalinized and fertilizer is applied prematurely, it will likely be wasted. If the acidic soil needs lime, apply it first, maintaining a gap before fertilizing as guided in the article Applying lime before Winter-Spring crop.

Specifications of NPK Phú Mỹ 16-16-8+13S+TE

According to the website of PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation (PVFCCo, n.d.):

• NPK fertilizer with added secondary and micronutrients; code 00061.
• Total nitrogen (Nts) 16%, effective phosphorus (P₂O₅hh) 16%, effective potassium (K₂Ohh) 8%, sulfur (S) 13%.
• TE: zinc (Zn) 50 ppm, boron (B) 50 ppm; moisture 5%.
• Manufacturer's characteristics: round, uniform granules, dissolves quickly; suitable for basal and top dressing.

Every 100 kg of fertilizer provides approximately 16 kg N, 16 kg P₂O₅, 8 kg K₂O, and 13 kg S.

Sulfur: Which Fields Need It, Which Don't?

This is the most critical point to calculate carefully in this formula.

• According to Binh Dien, year-round flooded rice paddies usually do not lack sulfur; each rice crop of about 5 tons only removes about 5–7 kg S/ha. These areas only need to retain rice stubble and apply a low amount of S, with the total S applied to the soil not exceeding 10–15 kg S/ha. For severely acidic (phèn) soils, fertilizers with high S content should not be applied, as excess S makes the soil more acidic (Binh Dien, n.d.).
• Gray soils, degraded soils, upland soils, and soils with low organic matter are more prone to S deficiency (Binh Dien, n.d.).
• IRRI also notes that S deficiency is not common in flooded rice, but is often found in sandy soils and soils with low organic matter; S deficiency symptoms resemble nitrogen deficiency, so to be sure, soil and plant samples must be taken for analysis; straw should be incorporated instead of burned (IRRI, n.d.).

In terms of bags: applying 100 kg/ha of NPK 16-16-8+13S+TE as basal fertilizer introduces approximately 13 kg S/ha, which falls within the recommended range of 10–15 kg S/ha. Increasing to 115 kg/ha would provide about 15 kg S/ha, reaching the upper limit. Therefore:

• If using this formula, it should be applied for one basal dressing, approximately 80–115 kg/ha (8–11.5 kg/công), which falls within the manufacturer's recommended basal dressing range of 50–200 kg/ha (PVFCCo, n.d.).
• For subsequent topdressings, use sulfur-free fertilizer to ensure the total S for the entire crop does not exceed the limit.
• More suitable fields: sandy ridges, organic-poor fields, fields where straw has been burned for many years.
• Severely acidic (phèn) fields: avoid using high-S fertilizers; choose a sulfur-free formula like NPK Cà Mau 18-16-8 for the basal dressing.

How much basal fertilizer is sufficient for the entire crop cycle?

PVFCCo recommends for food crops: basal application of 50–200 kg/ha (5–20 kg/công), top dressing of 50–300 kg/ha/crop (5–30 kg/công for the entire crop) (PVFCCo, n.d.). Compared to the total seasonal amounts from Can Tho University, approximately 85–95 kg N/ha on alluvial soil, 70–80 kg N/ha on acid sulfate and saline soils, and 30–45 kg P₂O₅/ha of phosphorus (Ngo Ngoc Hung et al., 2020):

• Basal application of 100 kg/ha provides approximately 16 kg N/ha, about one-fifth of the total nitrogen for the entire crop, suitable for the early stage when rice plants are small.
• The same amount provides about 16 kg P₂O₅/ha, which is about one-third to one-half of the total phosphorus for the entire crop. IRRI recommends applying all phosphorus close to sowing (IRRI, 2007), so phosphorus-deficient fields may need additional phosphorus according to local technical guidelines, but not excessively.

Example: For a 15-công field, if applying 10 kg/công as basal fertilizer, 150 kg is needed, which is 3 bags of 50 kg.

When and how to apply basal fertilizer?

• Apply during the final harrowing, mixing the fertilizer into the mud before sowing.
• For fields with a thin layer of water or wet mud, ensure water does not overflow the field after application.
• Avoid applying immediately before heavy rain or high tides that could cause overflow.
• For fields sown early from October 10th, the first top-dressing (7–10 days after sowing) will be around October 17–20th; plan your fertilizer for that application in advance.

What Should Coastal Dealers Prepare?

1. Ask about sowing date and soil type: if sowing in October, basal fertilizer is needed this week. 2. Has the field been desalinated and is there enough fresh water? If not, do not sell basal fertilizer. 3. Is the soil severely acidic, sandy, or low in organic matter? To choose a formula with or without sulfur. 4. Calculate total S for the crop cycle: if sulfur-containing fertilizer was used for basal application, subsequent topdressings should switch to a non-sulfur type.

For early-sown rice fields that are not severely acidic, an NPK fertilizer with added sulfur, zinc, and boron is needed for the basal application. Dealers can recommend NPK Phú Mỹ 16-16-8+13S+TE, reminding farmers to maintain a quantity of about 8–11.5 kg/cong. Út Nữ Co., Ltd distributes wholesale in Vĩnh Long – Trà Vinh – Mekong Delta; if you need to replenish stock, please call / Zalo 0294 3882069 – 02943 883791 – 02943 882837.

Conclusion

Coastal areas of Vĩnh Long sow early for the Winter-Spring crop from October 10–30, so this week is for preparing the basal fertilizer application. Before spreading fertilizer, fields must have enough fresh water and be desalinized. NPK Phú Mỹ 16-16-8+13S+TE has equal nitrogen and phosphorus, plus 13% sulfur, zinc, and boron; applying 80–115 kg/ha as a basal dose provides 10–15 kg S/ha, which Bình Điền recommends for rice soil. For severely acidic (phèn) fields, choose a formula without sulfur. Applying the correct type, at the right time, and in the right amount from the basal application helps save fertilizer for an entire crop season predicted to face water shortages.

References

Bình Điền – Bình Điền Fertilizer JSC (n.d.) *Sulfur, familiar yet strange*. Smart Farming Program. Available at: https://binhdien.com/dong-hanh-cung-nha-nong/chuong-trinh-canh-tac-thong-minh/luu-huynh-quen-nhung-van-la.html (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (2026) *Water sources for the Mekong Delta in the 2026–2027 dry season may be low, saltwater intrusion appearing from late December*. September 17. Available at: https://vnmha.mae.gov.vn/nguon-nuoc-ve-dbscl-mua-kho-20262027-co-the-o-muc-thap-xam-nhap-man-xuat-hien-tu-cuoi-thang-12-18747.htm (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

Dân Việt (2026) 'Latest seasonal calendar to "avoid" El Nino-induced salinity for the 2026-2027 winter-spring crop, what does the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection recommend?', *Dân Việt Newspaper*, 19 June. Available at: https://danviet.vn/khung-thoi-vu-moi-nhat-ne-han-man-do-el-nio-cho-vu-dong-xuan-2026-2027-cuc-trong-trot-va-bvtv-khuyen-cao-gi-d1436554.html (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

IRRI – International Rice Research Institute (2007) *Nutrients for irrigated rice: SSNM* (Rice Production e-learning, Nutrient management IV.4). Available at: http://knowledgebank.irri.org/ericeproduction/IV.4_SSNM.htm (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

IRRI – International Rice Research Institute (n.d.) *Sulfur deficiency*. IRRI Rice Knowledge Bank (based on Dobermann, A. and Fairhurst, T., 2000, *Rice: Nutrient disorders & nutrient management*). Available at: http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/training/fact-sheets/nutrient-management/deficiencies-and-toxicities-fact-sheet/item/sulfur-deficiency (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

Ngô Ngọc Hưng, Lý Ngọc Thanh Xuân, Trần Ngọc Hữu, Lâm Văn Thông, Nguyễn Bảo Vệ, Lê Phước Toàn, Lê Văn Dang, Nguyễn Kim Quyên, Trần Văn Dũng and Trịnh Quang Khương (2020) 'Using NPK for rice on major soil types in the Mekong Delta', *Can Tho University Journal of Science*, 56 (Special Issue on Soil Science), pp. 177–184. doi: 10.22144/ctu.jsi.2020.083.

PVFCCo – PetroVietnam Fertilizer and Chemicals Corporation (n.d.) *NPK Phú Mỹ 16-16-8+13S+TE* (code 00061). Available at: https://dpm.vn/san-pham/npk-phu-my-16-16-813ste-70 (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

Thúy Lam (2026) 'Guidance on seasonal calendar and rice variety structure for the 2026–2027 Winter-Spring crop', *Cà Mau Provincial Agricultural Extension Center*, 6 October. Available at: http://khuyennongcamau.vn/thong-tin-va-truyen-thong/huong-dan-lich-thoi-vu-va-co-cau-giong-lua-vu-dong-xuan-2026-2027-85460 (Accessed: 8 October 2026).

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