Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –
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Through a project implemented by the IAEA in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Azerbaijani scientists and farmers have more than doubled their cotton yields by implementing climate-smart agriculture (CSAA) methods using nuclear and related technologies.
October 7, 2025
Artem Vlasov, IAEA Office of Public Information and Communication
Isotopic techniques are helping Azerbaijani scientists and farmers obtain crucial data to optimize fertilizer use and improve cotton production while protecting soil health. (Photo: M. Zaman/IAEA)
As part of a project implemented by the IAEA in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Azerbaijani scientists and farmers, by implementing climate-smart agriculture (CSAA) methods using nuclear and related technologies, were able to more than double their cotton yield. Thanks to the use of a new "cotton super" variety and the effective implementation of CSAA methods that increase agricultural productivity in a sustainable manner, yields in the pilot project increased from the national average of three tons per hectare to eight tons per hectare.
This pilot project was implemented in 2021 as part of an IAEA technical cooperation project. Its primary focus was developing CSA guidelines for cotton production, training Azerbaijani scientists and innovative farmers in CSA practices, and conducting on-farm pilot field trials. In 2022, another project began, aimed at improving best practices for nutrient application and soil and water management in cotton production. It also aims to increase cotton productivity, as Azerbaijan's lands are particularly vulnerable to climate change and soil degradation. Since 1991, the country's average annual temperature has increased by 0.4 degrees Celsius, while precipitation has decreased, and extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and heat waves have become more frequent.
"Overall, soil nutrient application and water management strategies account for 60% of crop productivity gains," says Mohammad Zaman, a soil scientist at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and the project's lead specialist. "It's important to accurately determine the volume, mode, and stage of growth."
KSAH methods involve the use of isotopic techniques to obtain important data that allows for the optimization of fertilizer use and the improvement of agricultural production efficiency while maintaining soil health.
"When we first started, Azerbaijan's soils were severely degraded, fertility was very low, and the soil lacked a range of essential nutrients necessary for cotton growth," says Zaman. To address this issue, IAEA specialists developed and provided cotton growers with a full range of nuclear and related techniques covering a wide range of crop production aspects, including soil preparation, selection of the best cotton varieties, nutrient application, irrigation of cotton fields, and control of weeds, pests, and diseases.
"Using improved nutrient application, soil, and water management techniques, along with the Cotton Super variety, has allowed us to improve productivity, enhance quality, and increase profits," says Sakhavat Mammadov, a farmer from Azerbaijan who participated in the pilot project and has been implementing COSH practices on his farm for the past two years.
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