Quantifying rice yield gaps and their causes in Eastern and Southern Africa

The demand for rice in Eastern and Southern Africa is rapidly increasing because of changes in consumer preferences and urbanization. However, local rice production lags behind consumption, mainly due to low yield levels. In order to set priorities for research and development aimed at improving rice productivity, there is a need to characterize the rice production environments, to quantify rice yield gaps—that is, the difference between average on-farm yield and the best farmers’ yield—and to identify causes of yield gaps. Such information will help identifying and targeting technologies to alleviate the main constraints, and consequently to reduce existing yield gaps. Yield gap surveys were conducted on 357 rice farms at eight sites (19–50 farmers per site) across five rice-producing countries in Eastern and Southern Africa—that is Ethiopia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda—for one or two years (2012–13) to collect both quantitative and qualitative data at field and farm level. Average farm yields measured at the eight sites ranged from 1.8 to 4.3 t/ha and the average yield gap ranged from 0.8 to 3.4 t/ha. Across rice-growing environments, major causes for yield variability were straw management, weeding frequency, growth duration of the variety, weed cover, fertilizer (mineral and organic) application frequency, levelling and iron toxicity. Land levelling increased the yield by 0.74 t/ha, bird control increased the yield by 1.44 t/ha, and sub-optimal management of weeds reduced the yield by 3.6 to 4.4 t/ha. There is great potential to reduce the current rice yield gap in ESA, by focusing on improvements of those crop management practices that address the main site-specific causes for sub-optimal yields.     

江淮地区稻–麦周年产量差及其与资源利用关系

江淮地区是我国水稻和小麦重要的生产基地,明确该地区不同产量水平之间的差异特征及形成机制,探索区域粮食生产的限制因子,可为缩减江淮地区周年产量差的技术途径提供科学依据和参考。本研究以稻–麦周年生产体系为研究对象,定量分析不同产量水平田块之间的产量差与气候影响因素。结果表明,江淮地区水稻、小麦及周年农户水平与试验水平和高产纪录间存在显著的产量差,分别为3315.9、1537.5、4645.6 kg hm–2和7498.6、3977.9、9840.9 kg hm^–2。水稻、小麦及周年农户水平较试验水平还有46.2%、29.7%和37.3%的增产潜力,较高产纪录还有104.5%、77.0%和79.0%的增产潜力。每穗粒数是造成水稻产量差的主要因子,穗数和每穗粒数是造成小麦产量差的主要因子。与农户水平相比,水稻试验水平和高产纪录的穗粒数分别增加30.4%和116.1%;小麦试验水平和高产纪录的穗数和每穗粒数平均分别增加40.9%、70.0%和21.8%、19.6%。缩小产量差水稻主要依赖于增加每穗粒数,小麦靠穗数和每穗粒数的协同提高。生育期累积辐射和积温较低是导致水稻产量差异的主要气候因素,而生育期降雨过多是导致小麦产量差异的主要气候因素。根据研究提出了“强稻稳麦”是提升江淮地区周年粮食生产的有效途径。     

江淮地区稻-麦周年产量差及其与资源利用关系

The Yangtze-Huaihe rivers region is an important production base of rice and wheat in China. It is necessary to clarify the differences and formation mechanism between different yield levels in the region, and to explore the limiting factors for regional grain production, which can provide scientific basis and reference for the management practices to reduce the annual yield gap in the Yangtze-Huaihe rivers region. Based on annual rice-wheat production situation, crop yield was divided into three different levels, farmer yields, experimental yields and high record yields. Yield gaps and the climate factors of different yield levels were quantified. Results showed that there were significant differences between farmer yields and experimental yields, high record yields of rice, wheat and annual in the Yangtze-Huaihe rivers region, which were 3315.9, 1537.5, and 4645.6 kg hm^-2, 7498.6, 3977.9, and 9840.9 kg hm^-2, respectively. Compared with the experimental yields, the farmer yields of rice, wheat and annual had yield increase potential of 46.2%, 29.7% and 37.3%, and 104.5%, 77.0% and 79.0% in comparison with the high record yields, respectively. The number of grains per spike was the main factor resulting in the yield difference in rice, and the grain numbers per spike and the number of spikes contributed to the yield difference in wheat. Compared with the farmer average yield, the grain numbers per spike of rice in experimental yields and high record yields were increased by 30.4% and 116.1%, respectively; the spikes and grain numbers per spike of wheat were increased by 40.9%, 70.0% and 21.8%, 19.6%, respectively. Reducing the yield gaps mainly depended on increasing the grain numbers per spike for rice, and synergistic improvement in the number of spikes and the grain numbers per spike for wheat. Cumulative radiation and low accumulated temperature during the growth period were the main climatic factors affected rice production, while excessive rainfall was the main climatic factor affected wheat production. The results suggested that in order to strengthen rice production and stabilize wheat production was an effective way to increase the annual grain production in the Yangtze-Huaihe rivers region.     

Morphological and genetic diversity analysis of rice accessions (Oryza sativa L.) differing in iron toxicity tolerance

A major emphasis in breeding for iron toxicity tolerance in rice is to identify differences that are associated with resistance and harness them for genetic improvement. In this study, thirty accessions, including IRRI gene bank accessions, two varieties from Brazil, 8 cultivars from West Africa and 10 cultivars from Uganda were analyzed for sensitivity to iron toxicity, and genetic diversity using morphological and SSR markers. Two genotypes, IR61612-313-16-2-2-1 and Suakoko 8 showed significantly high resistance with an average score of ≤ 3.5 on 1–9 scale. The SRR markers were highly informative and showed mean polymorphism information content (pic) of 0.68. The PIC values revealed that RM10793, RM3412, RM333, RM562, RM13628, RM310, RM5749, and RM154 could be the best markers for genetic diversity estimation of these rice cultivars. Diversity at the gene level showed an average of 4.61 alleles ranging from 2 to 12 per locus. Mean gene diversity (H) value for all SSR loci for the 30 genotypes evaluated was 0.69 but was decreased to 0.53 when analysis was performed on Ugandan accessions. The low genetic diversity found among the Ugandan accessions is the evidence of a narrow genetic base, and such a scenario has a potential vulnerability for resistance break down. A low correlation was detected between the observed molecular and morphological datasets. This means that a combination of morphological traits and SSR analysis would be required when assessing genetic variation under iron toxic conditions, and could be a practical strategy for breeders when planning crosses. A distinction between the resistant and susceptible accessions in both phenotyping and SSR datasets suggests the presence of unique alleles that could be harnessed for improvement of rice against iron toxicity.     

Season-specific varietal management as an option to increase rainfed lowland rice production in East African high altitude cropping systems

Due to land expansion and an increase in productivity, rice production in sub-Saharan Africa has been growing at a rate of 6% in the past decade. Rainfed rice production systems have accounted for a large share of this expansion. In these systems, the potential growing period not only depends on the length of the rainy season and thus water availability, but is often, especially in the highlands of East Africa, bordered by the onset of the cool period of the year, when low minimum temperatures compromise rice yields. The objective of this study was to investigate the yield potential of 30 rice varieties contrasting in crop duration and cold tolerance in the highlands of East Africa, with its limited length of growing period. A field trial was conducted in the cropping seasons in 2016 and 2017 at the Fogera rice research station, Ethiopia. As a function of the onset of rains, rice was sown mid-July in 2016 and early July in 2017. Early sowing in 2017 led to an extended crop duration and significantly lower yields of the short-duration varieties, and to a shortened duration and significantly higher yields of the medium- and long-duration varieties, when compared to late sowing in 2016. Late sowing compromised yield of the medium- and long-duration varieties because of low temperatures during booting stage, which led to high spikelet sterility. Early sowing resulted in low yields of the short-duration varieties, probably due to low solar radiation during the cloudy rainy season, which coincided with the vegetative stage. Therefore, choice of variety should be a function of the variable onset of the rainy season and related sowing date. However, crop models precisely calibrated for potential varieties and the respective environmental conditions could fully support the selection of a suitable variety, depending on the date of sowing, for example with the help of online tools or smartphone applications.     

Wheat productivity in the Mediterranean Ebro Valley: Analyzing the gap between attainable and potential yield with a simulation model

Water deficit is an important constraint for wheat yield generation under Mediterranean environments. However, nitrogen (N) availability could limit yield in a more important way than poor water conditions. The aim of the work was to analyze, using the Ceres-Wheat crop simulation model, to what degree N fertilization constitutes a tool for reducing the gap between attainable and potential yield. Firstly, the model was calibrated and validated under a wide range of N and water conditions for the region of the Ebro Valley (NE Spain). Anthesis and maturity date were adequately predicted by the model. Predictions of yield tended to be quite accurate in general, though under severe water deficits precision was lower. We then assessed the gap between attainable and potential yield considering different N availabilities at sowing taking into account a weather database of 17 years for the location of Agramunt (NE Spain), representative of cereal growing conditions of the Mediterranean Catalonia. Potential yield ranged between 3.5 and 8.1 Mg ha⁻¹. Variations in potential yield were explained by the duration of the period from sowing to anthesis and by the level of incident radiation during the period immediately previous to anthesis. Average attainable yield was 1.8 Mg ha⁻¹ for N availability of 50 kg_N ha⁻¹; but increased to 2.8 Mg ha⁻¹ for higher N availabilities (100–250 kg_N ha⁻¹). In the 25% of the worst years there was no effect of N availability on attainable yield. Increasing N availability beyond 100 kg_N ha⁻¹ generated a gain in yield only in 6% of the years. Variations between years in attainable yields were mainly explained by rainfall during the period from sowing to anthesis, whereas differences in attainable yield between N treatments increased with increases in rainfall. The gap between potential yield and attainable yield was higher in years with higher potential yield. On the other hand, the higher the attainable yield, the lower the gap. Thus, the proportion of the yield gap ascribed to N availability varied depending on the conditions of the growing season. In the high-yielding potential years, the main restriction for growth was water shortage, and fertilizing only slightly reduced the gap. Conversely, in rainy years characterized by low potential yields and mild water stresses, N management may constitute a simple tool for effectively reducing yield gap under rain-fed conditions.     

不同类型冷浸田Fe2+对水稻生理酶活性的影响

铁毒致病的生理机理是植物体内积累过量的铁以及铁化合物诱发多种活性自由基,进攻膜脂,导致脂质的过氧化和膜的损伤。在过量Fe^2＋胁迫下,植株的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶活性（POD）及丙二醛（MDA）含量的变化与抗铁毒密切相关。为了研究水稻对Fe^2＋毒害的响应机制,通过田间试验,对不同类型的冷浸田开展不同浓度Fe^2＋对水稻生理酶活性、生长发育及产量的影响。结果表明：不同类型冷浸田加入Fe^2＋后。水稻叶片和根系的POD、SOD活性MDA含量随Fe^2＋浓度的增加而提高,冷浸田（冷水田、烂泥田）的环境因子如低温提高了水稻的POD活性及MDA含量,降低了水稻的SOD活性,冷浸田（冷水田、烂泥田）水稻叶片和根系受Fe^2＋伤害的程度高于黄泥田;Fe^2＋对水稻生理活性的影响主要表现在分蘖期和抽穗期,尤其是水稻分蘖期的叶片和根系更容易受到Fe^2＋的伤害;适宜的Fe^2＋浓度有利于提高水稻产量。     

Nutrient culture media with agar is effective for early and rapid screening of iron toxicity tolerance in rice

The breeding for iron toxicity tolerant rice needs an effective, efficient, and reliable screening method. The study was aimed to evaluate the best method for screening iron tolerant genotypes at the seedling stage in the greenhouse. Two rice genotypes, Mahsuri (tolerant) and IR64 (sensitive) were grown in three modified media solutions namely, Yoshida-conventional solution (YCS), Yoshida with etylenediamintetraacetic acid (1:2) (YES), and Yoshida with 0.2% agar (YAS). Three levels of iron were tested to observe the severity of their leaf bronzing score (LBS). The optimized solution in the greenhouse was then evaluated using 24 rice genotypes. Using the same genotypes interrelationship, the LBS in the greenhouse with grain yield and its attributes was validated under acute and moderate Fe toxicity in the field. The results showed that the optimized media culture was YAS with 400 mg L^-1 of FeSO₄. This media had more stable pH and redox potential, it could maintain sufficient Fe²⁺ supply over 10 days, and it could discriminate of LBS between tolerant and sensitive genotypes. Evaluation using the optimized media solution showed that there was a significant variation among genotypes in shoot dry weight and a significant correlation of relative reduction of shoot dry weight with LBS. The LBS in the greenhouse was correlated with LBS in acute iron stress in the field (r=0.673**) and the grain yield (r= -0.618**). This study has proven that YAS culture media can be used as early identification of iron toxicity tolerant genotypes for supporting breeding programs.     

晚籼稻抽穗期冷害生态适应性评价

选择生育期相近的迟熟高产杂交稻组合或水稻品种（品系）,在自然条件下分期播种,寻找水稻抽穗期冷害相关的形态评价指标,并对参试材料进行抽穗期耐冷生态适应性评价。抽穗期遭受低温冷害胁迫后,主要农艺性状中受冷害程度大小顺序依次是每穗实粒数、单蔸产量、结实率、每穗总粒数、株高、穗长、千粒重;单蔸产量相对受害率（ＲＤＰ）与每穗实粒数ＲＤＰ、结实率ＲＤＰ、剑叶叶色分、抽穗期延尺天数分成极显著正相关。在低温冷害胁迫条件下,水稻不同基因型的抽穗期耐冷能力存在明显的差异。将判别水稻抽穗期耐冷能力的形态指标－－每穗实粒数ＲＤＰ、结实率ＲＤＰ、剑叶叶色、抽穗期延迟天数、苞穗率增加值进行量化,综合判别参试材料抽穗期对低温冷害的生态适应性。研究结果表明：籼穗交材料９５ＬＲ１０２后期耐冷能力强;带有部分粳稻血缘、正在生产中大面积种植的杂交稻     

淹涝胁迫条件对水稻形态的试验研究初报

为分析不同品种早稻对水淹胁迫的响应,于2012年3—7月分别对不同品种水稻的分蘖期、抽穗扬花期耐淹能力及不同淹涝强度对一些农艺性状的影响进行了研究。结果表明：分蘖期不同品种籼稻在不同的淹涝强度处理间的株高变化结果不一。不同淹水处理小区出现主茎穗和分蘖穗发育进程不一致,生育期延长天数与淹水天数之间呈现极显著的正相关关系。因为‘湘早籼24’植株相对比较矮,受钻心虫危害比较严重。钻心虫发生面积和淹水强度之间呈现极显著的正相关关系。淹水处理造成水稻产量降低,试验结果表明同一品种,产量降幅随淹水时间延长而加大。     

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Growth Indices, Root Yield and its Components in Upland and Inland Valley Ecologies of Sierra Leone

Cassava is predominantly an upland crop that is also cultivated in inland valley swamps (IVS). Identifying physiological traits that can withstand excess moisture stress can aid in the selection and use of stable cassava cultivars in IVS. Three cassava cultivars were evaluated for growth and yield in the upland and IVS ecologies in the 1993–94 crop seasons using a randomized complete block design. In the upland, 80/40 outyielded 87/29 and 'coco', while in the IVS, 87/29 had the highest yield. Highest yielding cultivars in each ecology also had the highest tuberous root bulking rate (TBR), dry matter (DM) production, crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate, net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area index, leaf production rate and leaf life. Positive correlations between these parameters and tuberous root yield were noted. High yield of 87/29 in IVS was partly due to its low tuberous root rotting. High root rotting in 80/40 was partly as a result of the greater depth of tuberous roots in the soil (0.3–0.6 m) as compared to the other cultivars (0.15–0.3 m) where roots were in contact with stressful water levels earlier than others. The yield and yield components, growth and leaf characters were all drastically reduced when the cultivars were grown in IVS as compared to upland. For example, root yields of 'coco', 87/29 and 80/40 were reduced by 53 %, 60 % and 92 %, respectively, in IVS. Selection of cassava cultivars with longer leaf life and leaf area maintenance leading to high CGR, TBR, NAR and harvest index (in IVS and upland), coupled with a shallow tuberous root formation zone (in IVS) can give higher root and leaf yields in the two ecologies.     

抽穗扬花期淹涝胁迫对杂交稻的影响

为了研究淹涝胁迫环境下,抽穗扬花期杂交稻形态特征及产量结构的变化,以杂交晚稻‘湘丰优103’为供试材料,在抽穗扬花期设计不同淹水深度及淹水时间的淹涝胁迫试验,通过测定淹水前后水稻绿叶数、气生根、倒伏状况、产量构成等因素的变化,分析杂交稻对淹涝胁迫环境的敏感性。结果表明,相同淹水深度,淹水时间与绿叶数变化量均呈极显著负相关关系。产生气生根的茎的比率与淹水深度呈负相关关系,与淹水时间呈正相关关系。抽穗扬花期发生的倒伏为茎倒伏,同一淹水深度,水稻植株的断茎百分率和淹涝时间呈极显著正相关关系。产量结构方面,抽穗扬花期对淹涝胁迫环境非常敏感,全淹5天以上,几乎绝收,全淹3天,结实率仅有28粒,比对照少74粒,产量非常低。通过研究淹涝胁迫环境下抽穗扬花期的杂交稻形态特征及产量结构的变化,明确了不同淹涝环境下抽穗扬花期杂交稻形态变化和产量因子的变化,了解了杂交稻对淹涝胁迫环境的适应机制和敏感性,为进行洪涝灾害致灾能力、强度的鉴定提供形态学和产量结构的数据基础。     

栽培稻叶结构、水分生理与抗旱性关系研究

摘 要：增强栽培稻品种的抗旱性是稻作节水生产的重要途径。稻作种质资源抗旱相关指标的研究是改良稻作品种抗旱性的重要依据。选择抗旱性差异明显的四种类型稻作种质,采用三种干旱胁迫方式,对孕穗期植株叶片的叶肉厚、中脉粗、叶片相对含水量及叶片保水率进行了考察,分析稻作种质在三种处理下各性状相互之间的内在关联及其与品种抗旱性的关系;结果表明叶肉厚、中脉粗、叶片相对含水量及叶片保水率在干旱胁迫下均表现为旱稻类型高于水稻类型。轻度干旱下的叶肉厚与成熟期生物量抗旱指数DRIm2-B极显著相关,与孕穗期生物量抗旱指数DRIm2-H显著性相关。重度干旱下的中脉粗与DRIm2-B极显著相关,重度干旱下的叶片保水率与重度干旱产量抗旱指数DRIm2-Y显著相关,中脉粗和叶片相对含水量在四种种质类型中差异不明显;孕穗期叶肉厚和叶片保水率可分别作为稻作种质抗旱性研究和评价的两个指标。     

Mulching Improves Water Productivity,Yield and Quality of Fine Rice under Water‐saving Rice Production Systems

Water‐saving rice production systems are inevitable in the wake of severe water shortage in rice‐growing regions of the world. Mulches can improve water productivity, yield and quality of rice through increase in water retention. Studies were conducted for two consecutive years to assess the potential role of mulches (plastic and straw) in improving the performance of water‐saving rice production systems in comparison with no mulch used and conventionally irrigated transplanted rice. Water‐saving rice production systems in this study comprise aerobic rice and transplanted rice with intermittent irrigation. These systems saved water (18–27 %) with improved water productivity more than the conventional system. However, these systems caused a yield penalty of 22–37 %; nevertheless, these yield losses were compensated with the application of mulches under water‐saving rice production systems. Both plastic and straw mulches were helpful in improving moisture retention and water productivity (0.18–0.25 kg grain m^?3 water) relative to non‐mulch treatments (0.19–0.29 kg grain m^?3 water). Mulch application was also helpful in reducing the number of non‐productive tillers and sterile spikelets, and improving the productive tillers, kernel number and size, and kernel quality. Plastic mulch was more effective than straw mulch in improving water retention, water productivity and reducing spikelet sterility. In conclusion, the mulching improved the soil moisture retention, and thus enhanced the rice water productivity, spikelet fertility, paddy yield and quality of rice. This signifies the importance of mulching in water‐saving rice production systems.     

Uncertainty assessment of soya bean yield gaps using DSSAT‐CSM‐CROPGRO‐Soybean calibrated by cultivar maturity groups

Soya bean yield gap can be caused by different factors resulting in uncertainties when the objective is to use such information for farm decision‐making and reference yield determination. Thus, this study aimed to quantify the soya bean yield gap for four sites, located in Southern and Midwestern Brazil, as well as the uncertainties of that related to cultivars, sowing dates, soil types and reference yields. The crop simulation model DSSAT‐CSM‐CROPGRO‐Soybean was calibrated for cultivars with similar maturity groups, based on the data obtained from the best farmers at the county level. The yield gap by water deficit (YG_WD) was obtained through the difference between potential and attainable yields, and that one caused by sub‐optimum crop management (YG_CM) by subtracting actual yield of each county, obtained from official statistics between 1989/90 and 2014/15 growing seasons, from the estimated attainable yield. The yield was simulated using four sowing dates, three soil types and two soya bean maturity groups by county. The reference yield uncertainty was quantified using yield reference from crop model and regional winners of the soya bean yield context, conducted by CESB (Brazilian Soybean Strategic Committee), for the growing seasons from 2013/14 to 2015/16. The crop model showed a good agreement between measured and simulated crop development and growth using calibration by maturity group, with low root mean square error (347 kg/ha). Southern sites had a mean YG_WD of 1,047 kg/ha, while in the Midwest, it was lower than 100 kg/ha. The YG_CM was 1,067, 528, 984 and 848 kg/ha, respectively, for Castro, PR, Mamborê, PR, Montividiu, GO and Primavera do Leste, MT, representing the opportunity for yield gain when having the best farmers as reference. The maturity groups, sowing dates and soil types showed to be an important source of uncertainty for yield gap determination, being recommended to investigate the farms in detail for an appropriate quantification. The reference yield showed expressive uncertainties, with some farmers presenting conditions to increase their soya bean yields by more than 3,000 kg/ha, when considering as reference the yields obtained by the winners’ farmers. These results show that uncertainties must be reduced when assessing farm yield gaps, in order to ensure that expected rate of soya bean yield growth could be reached by adopting the same technologies from CESB winners and best farmers in the county as a reference.     

云南籼稻每公顷15吨高产的产量及其结构分析

本文利用ＩＲ７２汕优６３等材料,在云南永胜县涛源乡高产环境下,对高产品种的产量及其构成因素分析研究表明,高产品种的结实率与产量呈极显著的正相关,相关系数为０．８１８１;有效穗与穗粒数呈显著负相关,有效穗、穗粒数、结实率和千粒重对产量的直接效应均为正值,其中以结实率的影响力最大,直接通径系数为０．７９７９。穗数、大穗型和中间型的品种（组合）均能获得１５t/hm^2的产量,但穗粒协调的中间型品种更易获得１５t/hm^2的高产。云南涛源获得每公顷１５t以上产量就在于高水平的穗数群体下,仍能协调与穗粒数及产量的关系。使得粒数和粒重达到相当的水平,１９９６年汕优６３获得１５t/hm^2产量的产量结构为,每平方米穗数489,每穗实粒数101．4千粒克30．7g;桂朝2获15．18t/hm^2的产量结构为每平方米穗数433,每穗实粒数126．2,千粒重27．3g。     

Factors affecting variation in farm yields of irrigated lowland rice in southern-central Benin

For increasing rice production in West Africa, both expansion of rice harvested area and raising rice yield are required. Development of small-scale irrigation schemes is given high priority in national rice development plans. For realizing potential of the newly developed schemes, it is essential to understand yield level, farmers’ crop management practices and production constraints. A series of field surveys were conducted in six small-scale irrigation schemes in Zou department, Benin during the dry season in 2010–2011 to assess variation in rice yields and identify factors affecting the variation. The schemes were established between 1969 and 2009. Rice yields ranged from 1.3 to 7.8 t ha⁻¹ with an average yield of 4.8 t ha⁻¹. The average yield was only 2.9 t ha⁻¹ for newer irrigation schemes developed in 2002 and 2009. Multiple regression analysis using farmers’ crop management practices as well as abiotic and biotic stresses as independent variables revealed that 75% of the variation in yields could be explained by five agronomic factors (fallow residue management, ploughing method, water stress, rat damage and N application rate) and two edaphic factors (sloped surfaces and sand content in the soil). Removing fallow residue from the fields for land preparation reduced yields. Yields were lower in plots ploughed by hand than by machine. Sloped surface, water stress and rat damage reduced yields. Yield increase due to N application ranged from 0.8 to 1.6 t ha⁻¹. Higher sand content was associated with lowered yields. The low yields in new irrigation schemes caused by sub-optimal crop management practices suggest that farmer-to-farmer learning and extension of good agricultural principles and practices can increase yields. Organizational capacity is also important to ensure the use of common resources such as irrigation water and tractors for land preparation.     

The Effect of Mulching,Tillage and Rotation on Yield in Non‐flooded Compared with Flooded Rice Production

Non‐flooded rice cultivation has been proven to be an effective measure to reduce water consumption in drought areas of Southeast China. However, rice cultivation under non‐flooded conditions leads to less stable productivity and lower grain yield. The objectives of this study were (1) to compare crop performance and yields among flooded and non‐flooded rice over several seasons, (2) to identify the yield performed in non‐flooded rice systems over seasons and whether the options which included no‐tillage, straw mulching and wet‐dry rotation system can narrow the grain yield gap between non‐flooded and traditional flooded condition. The results showed the difference between flooded rice (F) and non‐flooded rice (NF) with straw mulching was much lower than the difference between F and NF without straw mulching. Within late seasons, the difference of aboveground total biomass between non‐flooded rice without mulching and flooded rice gradually widened as the number of cropping seasons increased. Compared with the non‐flooded rice without mulching, straw mulching can reduce the decline of aboveground total biomass and grain yield. The yield difference between F and NF treatments became smaller in no‐tillage plots than complete tillage plots. It suggested that no‐tillage can keep the crop production more stable. In comparison with continuously non‐flooded cultivation, our study indicated that the wet‐dry rotation system can reduce the yield decline under non‐flooded condition.     

Predicting Crop Yields with the Agricultural Reference Index for Drought

A generic agricultural drought index, called Agricultural Reference Index for Drought (ARID), was designed recently to quantify water stress for use in predicting crop yield loss from drought. This study evaluated ARID in terms of its ability to predict crop yields. Daily historical weather data and yields of cotton, maize, peanut and soybean were obtained for several locations and years in the south‐eastern USA. Daily values of ARID were computed for each location and converted to monthly average values. Using regression analyses of crop yields vs. monthly ARID values during the crop growing season, ARID‐yield relationships were developed for each crop. The ability of ARID to predict yield loss from drought was evaluated using the root mean square error (RMSE), the Willmott index and the modelling efficiency (ME). The ARID‐based yield models predicted relative yields with the RMSE values of 0.144, 0.087, 0.089 and 0.142 (kg ha^?1 yield per kg ha^?1 potential yield); the Willmott index values of 0.70, 0.92, 0.86 and 0.79; and the ME values of 0.33, 0.73, 0.60 and 0.49 for cotton, maize, peanut and soybean, respectively. These values indicated that the ARID‐based yield models can predict the yield loss from drought for these crops with reasonable accuracy.