Executive Summary
In August 2025, chlorosis symptoms were observed in a paddy field at Kampung Guar Perahu, Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang. The field belonged to Pak Long Jamil, who manages approximately 10 hectares of paddy, with only about 3 hectares showing visible stress. Chlorosis is a common symptom that can occur when crops experience nutrient imbalance, including from over-fertilisation. Excessive fertiliser can disrupt nutrient uptake, damage roots, and reduce chlorophyll production, causing leaves to yellow.
Qarbotech agronomists worked together with the Department of Agriculture (DOA) Penang to assess the field, identify the likely agronomic causes, and implement corrective measures. The recommended actions included rebalancing nutrient management, applying potassium where appropriate, and flushing excess nutrients through water management.
Plant conditions improved within a week in the affected area. This case highlights how long-term, trust-based relationships enable rapid technical support, collaborative problem-solving, and practical field improvements.
Introduction
This case study documents how Qarbotech worked with a long-standing farming partner to troubleshoot a chlorosis incident in paddy cultivation. The objective is to show how multi-party coordination (farmer, cooperative service provider, and technical stakeholders) can be strengthened over time to protect outcomes, reduce misattribution risk, and improve field protocols.
Site and Stakeholders
Who
Pak Long Jamil is a veteran farmer in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia with over ten years of experience in paddy cultivation. He has been actively engaged in rice farming since more than a decade ago. In response to a decline in his paddy yield beginning during the COVID-19 period, Qarbotech initiated a project involving the application of QarboGrow with the objective of improving photosynthetic efficiency and increasing crop yield.
Where
The study site comprises a paddy field located in Kampung Guar Perahu, Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang.
Problem Statement
A chlorosis incident affected a portion of the field. Chlorosis can arise from several agronomic factors, including nutrient imbalance caused by over-fertilisation. The priority was therefore to determine the underlying cause promptly so that appropriate corrective actions could be implemented to minimise crop stress and support recovery.
Co-solving Response
What we did (Qarbotech + technical stakeholders)
- The Qarbotech team collaborated with the Department of Agriculture to identify the primary cause of chlorosis symptoms observed in the paddy fields. The investigation focused on identifying possible nutrient imbalances associated with over-fertilisation and recommending appropriate agronomic interventions.
- Based on these findings, Recommendations included reducing excessive fertiliser inputs, applying potassium to rebalance nutrient levels where appropriate, and implementing water flushing to remove excess nutrients from the soil.
What the farmer and partners changed (implementation)
- Pak Long Jamil implemented the recommended corrective actions, while stakeholders strengthened field coordination and input management practices to reduce the risk of similar issues in future.
Protocol upgrades to protect long-term outcomes
- Mixing transparency: All tank mixes are prepared in the farmer’s presence to verify measurement and prevent concentration errors.
- Input governance: Fertiliser, biostimulants, and other additives are measured as separate line items before mixing.
- Shared playbook: Clarify roles across farmer, cooperative, and drone operator (who measures, who confirms, who signs off).
- Awareness workshops: Brief cooperative management and members on QarboGrow™’s role and best practice integration to reduce misinterpretation during field incidents.
About Qarbotech
Qarbotech is an award-winning agritech company headquartered in Puchong, Malaysia, dedicated to advancing sustainable farming solutions. Its flagship product, QarboGrow™, supports more efficient and resilient food production guided by the vision “Harnessing Light, Enriching Lives.”
About QarboGrow™
QarboGrow™, a biostimulant, is developed using nanocarbon material derived from agricultural waste. It supports photosynthesis so plants utilise sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide more efficiently, supporting stronger crop resilience and more consistent field performance when integrated with good agronomic practice.
Call to Action
Ready to strengthen crop resilience through better nutrient management and field practices? Discover how Qarbotech’s agronomy team works alongside farmers and industry partners to support healthier crops through practical, science-based guidance and collaborative problem-solving.
Glossary
Chlorosis is the yellowing of plant leaves caused by a lack of chlorophyll, typically due to iron, magnesium, or manganese deficiencies, high soil pH, poor drainage, or root damage.
