Temporal Dynamics of Antioxidant Defence System in Relation to Polyamine Catabolism in Rice under Direct-Seeded and Transplanted Conditions

Six rice cultivars viz. PR120, PR116, Feng Ai Zan, PR115, PAU201 and Punjab Mehak 1 under the direct-seeded and transplanted conditions were used to investigate the involvement of antioxidative defence system in relation to polyamine catabolism in temporal regulation of developing grains. Activities of ascorbate peroxidase(APx), guaiacol peroxidase(GPx), catalase(CAT), superoxide dismutase(SOD), polyamine oxidases(PAO) and contents of ascorbate, α-tocopherol, proline and polyamines increased gradually until mid-milky stage and then declined towards maturity stage under both planting conditions. The transplanted condition led to higher activities of antioxidative enzymes(APx, GPx and CAT) and contents of ascorbate, α-tocopherol and proline whereas the direct-seeded condition had elevated levels of PAO and SOD activities and contents of polyamines, lipid peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. Cultivars Feng Ai Zan and PR120 exhibited superior tolerance over other cultivars by accumulating higher contents of ascorbate, α-tocopherol and proline with increasing level of PAO and SOD activities under the direct-seeded condition. However, under the transplanted condition PR116 and PAU201 showed higher activities of antioxidative enzymes with decreasing content of lipid peroxide. Therefore, we concluded that under the direct-seeded condition, enhancements of polyamines content and PAO activity enabled rice cultivars more tolerant to oxidative stress, while under the transplanted condition, antioxidative defence with decreasing of lipid peroxide content was closely associated with the protection of grains by maintaining membrane integrity during rice grain filling. The results indicated that temporal dynamics of H2O2 metabolic machinery was strongly up-regulated especially at the mid-milky stage.     

Tillage and straw mulching impacts on grain yield and water use efficiency of spring maize in Northern Huang–Huai–Hai Valley

A two-year field experiment(2012–2013) was conducted to investigate the effects of two tillage methods and five maize straw mulching patterns on the yield, water consumption,and water use efficiency(WUE) of spring maize(Zea mays L.) in the northern Huang–Huai–Hai valley of China. Compared to rotary tillage, subsoil tillage resulted in decreases in water consumption by 6.3–7.8% and increases in maize yield by 644.5–673.9 kg ha-1, soil water content by 2.9–3.0%, and WUE by 12.7–15.2%. Chopped straw mulching led to higher yield,soil water content, and WUE as well as lower water consumption than prostrate whole straw mulching. Mulching with 50% chopped straw had the largest positive effects on maize yield, soil water content, and WUE among the five mulching treatments. Tillage had greater influence on maize yield than straw mulching, whereas straw mulching had greater influence on soil water content, water consumption, and WUE than tillage. These results suggest that 50% chopped straw mulching with subsoil tillage is beneficial in spring maize production aiming at high yield and high WUE in the Huang–Huai–Hai valley.     

Effects of Soil Copper Concentration on Growth, Development and Yield Formation of Rice （Oryza sativa）

Pot experiments were conducted in 2002 and 2003 to investigate the effects of soil copper（Cu） concentration on growth, development and yield formation of rice by using the japonica cultivar Wuxiangjing 14 and hybrid rice combination Shanyou 63. The plant height, leaf number, elongated internode number and heading date of rice plants were not affected at soil Cu levels below 200 mg/kg, but affected significantly at above 400 mg/kg. The inhibitory effects on rice growth and development were increased with the increment of soil Cu levels. The grain yields decreased significantly with raising soil Cu levels. The main reasons for the grain yield reductions under lower soil Cu levels （100, 200 mg/kg） were mainly due to the decrease of number of spikelets per panicle, however, under higher soil Cu levels （more than 400 mg/kg）, both panicle number and number of spikelets per panicle contributed to the yield loss. The decreases of panicle number by Cu stress were mainly attributed to slow recovery from transplanting, delayed tillering and reduced maximum tiller numbers. The reduction of number of spikelets per panicle under soil Cu stress resulted from the decreases of both shoot dry weight （SDW） at the heading date and the ratio of spikelets to SDW. Total biomass at maturity decreased significantly with the increase of soil Cu levels, while economic coefficient showed non-significant decrease except under soil Cu levels above 800 mg/kg.     

Improving the phenotypic expression of rice genotypes:Rethinking “intensification” for production systems and selection practices for rice breeding

Intensification in rice crop production is generally understood as requiring increased use of material inputs: water, inorganic fertilizers, and agrochemicals. However, this is not the only kind of intensification available. More productive crop phenotypes, with traits such as more resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and shorter crop cycles, are possible through modifications in the management of rice plants, soil, water, and nutrients, reducing rather than increasing material inputs. Greater factor productivity can be achieved through the application of new knowledge and more skill, and(initially) more labor, as seen from the System of Rice Intensification(SRI), whose practices are used in various combinations by as many as 10 million farmers on about 4 million hectares in over 50 countries. The highest yields achieved with these management methods have come from hybrids and improved rice varieties, confirming the importance of making genetic improvements. However,unimproved varieties are also responsive to these changes, which induce better growth and functioning of rice root systems and more abundance, diversity, and activity of beneficial soil organisms. Some of these organisms as symbiotic endophytes can affect and enhance the expression of rice plants' genetic potential as well as their phenotypic resilience to multiple stresses, including those of climate change. SRI experience and data suggest that decades of plant breeding have been selecting for the best crop genetic endowments under suboptimal growing conditions, with crowding of plants that impedes their photosynthesis and growth, flooding of rice paddies that causes roots to degenerate and forgoes benefits derived from aerobic soil organisms, and overuse of agrochemicals that adversely affect these organisms as well as soil and human health. This review paper reports evidence from research in India and Indonesia that changes in crop and water management can improve the expression of rice plants' genetic potential, thereby creating more productive and robustphenotypes from given rice genotypes. Data indicate that increased plant density does not necessarily enhance crop yield potential, as classical breeding methods suggest. Developing cultivars that can achieve their higher productivity under a wide range of plant densities—breeding for density-neutral cultivars using alternative selection strategies—will enable more effective exploitation of available crop growth resources. Density-neutral cultivars that achieve high productivity under ample environmental growth resources can also achieve optimal productivity under limited resources, where lower densities can avert crop failure due to overcrowding. This will become more important to the extent that climatic and other factors become more adverse to crop production. Focusing more on which management practices can evoke the most productive and robust phenotypes from given genotypes is important for rice breeding and improvement programs since it is phenotypes that feed our human populations.     

Effects of 42-year long-term fertilizer management on soil phosphorus availability,fractionation,adsorption–desorption isotherm and plant uptake in flooded tropical rice

Soil phosphorus(P) fractionation, adsorption, and desorption isotherm, and rice yield and P uptake were investigated in flooded tropical rice(Oryza sativa L.) following 42-year fertilizer and manure application. The treatments included low-input [unfertilized control without N, P, or K(C0N0)], farmyard manure(FYM)(C1N0), NP(C0NP), NPK(C0NPK), FYM + NP(C1NP), and high-input treatment, FYM + NPK(C1NPK). Grain yield was increased significantly by 74%over the control under the combined application of FYM + NPK. However, under low- and high-input treatments, yield as well as P uptake was maintained at constant levels for 35 years.During the same period, high yield levels and P uptake were maintained under the C0 NP, C0 NPK,and C1 NPK treatments. These are unique characteristics of a tropical flooded ecosystem, which is a self-sustaining system for rice production. The Fe–P fraction was highest compared to the Ca–P and Al–P fractions after 42 years of fertilizer application and was significantly higher under FYM + NPK treatment. The P adsorption capacity of soil was highest under the low-input treatment and lowest under long-term balanced fertilization(FYM + NPK). In contrast, P desorption capacity was highest under NPK and lowest in the control treatment. Long-term balanced fertilization in the form of FYM + NPK for 42 years lowered the bonding energy and adsorption capacity for P in soil but increased its desorption potential, increasing P availability to the plant and leading to higher P uptake and yield maintenance.     

Relationship Between Canopy Temperature at Flowering Stage and Soil Water Content, Yield Components in Rice

The canopy temperature of rice at the flowering stage and the soil water content were investigated under different soil water treatments(the soil water contents were 24%,55%,90%and 175%at the flowering stage).The canopy temperature was lower than air temperature,and the soil water content significantly influenced the canopy temperature.The lower the soil water content,the higher the canopy temperature,the less the accumulative absolute value of canopy-air temperature difference.Moreover,the maximum difference between treatments and CK in the accumulative absolute value of canopy-air temperature difference appeared at 13:00 p.m.in a day,thus,it could be considered as a suitable measuring time.Under the lowest water content treatment,the peak flowering occurred in the first three days(about 70%of panicles flowered),resulting in shortened and lightened panicle of rice.As to the CK and the high water content treatments,the peak flowering appeared in the middle of flowering duration,with longer panicle length and higher panicle weight.Results indicated the lower the soil water content,the less the filled grain number and grain yield.     

Survey of Rice Cropping Systems in Kampong Chhnang Province,Cambodia

Although Cambodia might have achieved self-sufficiency and an exported surplus in rice production,its rice-based farming systems are widely associated with low productivity,low farmer income and rural poverty.The study is based on a questionnaire village survey in 14 communes containing 97 villages of Kampong Chhnang Province from March to June,2011.It analyzes the prevailing rice-based cropping systems and evaluates options for their improvement.Differences in cropping systems depend on the distance from the Tonle Sap water bodies.At distances greater than 10 km,transplanted wet-season rice cropping system with low productivity of about 1.6 t/hm 2 prevails.This deficiency can be primarily attributed to soils with high coarse sand fractions and low pH (< 4.0),use of ’late’ cultivars,and exclusive use of self-propagated seeds.To improve this cropping system,commercial ’medium’ cultivars help prevent crop failure by shortening the cultivation period by one month and complementation of wet-season rice with non-rice crops should be expanded.Areas adjacent (≤ 1 km) to the water bodies become inundated for up to seven months between July until January of each year.In this area,soils contain more fine sand,silt and clay,and their pH is higher (> 4.0).Farmers predominantly cultivate dry-season recession rice between January and April.Seventy-nine percent of the area is sown directly and harvested by combines.Adoption ratio of commercial rice seeds is 59% and yields average 3.2 t/hm 2.Introduction of the second dry-season rice between April and July may double annual yields in this rice cropping system.Besides upgrading other cultivation technologies,using seeds from commercial sources will improve yield and rice quality.Along with rice,farmers grow non-rice crops at different intensities ranging from single annual crops to intensive sequences at low yields.     

Influence of Crop Nutrition on Grain Yield, Seed Quality and Water Productivity under Two Rice Cultivation Systems

The system of rice intensification (SRI) is reported to have advantages like lower seed requirement,less pest attack,shorter crop duration,higher water use efficiency and the ability to withstand higher degree of moisture stress than traditional method of rice cultivation.With this background,SRI was compared with traditional transplanting technique at Indian Agricultural Research Institute,New Delhi,India during two wet seasons (2009-2011).In the experiment laid out in a factorial randomized block design,two methods of rice cultivation [conventional transplanting (CT) and SRI] and two rice varieties (Pusa Basmati 1 and Pusa 44) were used under seven crop nutrition treatments,viz.T 1,120 kg/hm2 N,26.2 kg/hm2 P and 33 kg/hm2 K;T 2,20 t/hm2 farmyard manure (FYM);T 3,10 t/hm2 FYM+ 60 kg/hm2 N;T 4,5 t/hm2 FYM+ 90 kg/hm2 N;T 5,5 t/hm2 FYM+ 60 kg/hm2 N+ 1.5 kg/hm2 blue green algae (BGA);T 6,5 t/hm2 FYM+ 60 kg/hm2 N+ 1.0 t/hm2 Azolla,and T 7,N 0 P 0 K 0 (control,no NPK application) to study the effect on seed quality,yield and water use.In SRI,soil was kept at saturated moisture condition throughout vegetative phase and thin layer of water (2-3 cm) was maintained during the reproductive phase of rice,however,in CT,standing water was maintained in crop growing season.Results revealed that CT and SRI gave statistically at par grain yield but straw yield was significantly higher in CT as compared to SRI.Seed quality was superior in SRI as compared to CT.Integrated nutrient management (INM) resulted in higher plant height with longer leaves than chemical fertilizer alone in both the rice varieties.Grain yield attributes such as number of effective tillers per hill,panicle length and panicle weight of rice in both the varieties were significantly higher in INM as compared to chemical fertilizer alone.Grain yields of both the varieties were the highest in INM followed by the recommended doses of chemical fertilizer.The grain yield and its attributes of Pusa 44 were significantly higher than those of Pusa Basmati 1.The seed quality parameters like germination rate and vigor index as well as N uptake and soil organic carbon content were higher in INM than those in chemical fertilizer alone.CT rice used higher amount of water than SRI,with water saving of 37.6% to 34.5% in SRI.Significantly higher water productivity was recorded in SRI as compared to CT rice.     

Cadmium Accumulation and Its Toxicity in Brittle Culm 1 （bcl）, a Fragile Rice Mutant

Cadmium （Cd） accumulation and toxicity in rice plants were characterized and identified by using brittle culm 1 （bcl）, a fragile rice mutant and its wild type （Shuangkezao, an indica rice） as materials by hydroponics. The low Cd level didn＇t obviously affect the growth parameters in both rice genotypes, but under high Cd levels （1.0 and 5.0 μmol/L）, the growth of both rice plants were substantially inhibited. Moreover, bcl tended to suffer more seriously from Cd toxicity than Shuangkezao. Cd accumulation in both rice plants increased with the increase of Cd levels. There was a significant difference in Cd accumulation between the two rice genotypes with constantly higher Cd concentration in bcl, which also accumulated more Cd at 0, 0.1, and 1.0 μmol/L Cd levels. The same case was found in the two rice plants grown on Cd-contaminated soil. This suggested that cell wall might play an important role in Cd accumulation in rice plants by the physiological mechanisms. The malondialdehyde （MDA） content, superoxide dismutase （SOD） and peroxidase （POD） activities in rice plants were affected differently under Cd treatments, and which implied that POD might play the main role in detoxifying active oxygen free radical. A significant difference in antioxidative system between the two rice genotypes was found with constantly higher MDA content, SOD and POD activities in bcl. In summary, bcl accumulated more Cd and appeared to be more sensitive to Cd stress compared with its wild type.     

Effects of rice or wheat residue retention on the quality of milled japonica rice in a rice–wheat rotation system in China

In rice–wheat rotation systems, crop straw is usually retained in the field at land preparation in every, or every other, season. We conducted a 3-year-6-season experiment in the middle–lower Yangtze River Valley to compare the grain qualities of rice under straw retained after single or double seasons per year. Four treatments were designed as: both wheat and rice straw retained(WR), only rice straw retained(R), only wheat straw retained(W), and no straw retained(CK). The varieties were Yangmai 16 wheat and Wuyunjing 23 japonica rice. The results showed contrasting effects of W and R on rice quality. Amylopectin content, peak viscosity, cool viscosity, and breakdown viscosity of rice grain were significantly increased in W compared to the CK, whereas gelatinization temperature,setback viscosity, and protein content significantly decreased. In addition, the effect of WR on rice grain quality was similar to that of W, although soil fertility was enhanced in WR due to straw being retained in two cycles. The differences in protein and starch contents among the treatments might result from soil nitrogen supply. These results indicate that wheat straw retained in the field is more important for high rice quality than rice straw return, and straw from both seasons is recommended for positive effects on soil fertility.     

Bed planted rice–wheat rotation at differential soil moisture regimes on soil hydro-physical properties, root growth, nitrogen uptake, and system productivity

Along with most widely practiced resources conserving technology zero-tillage wheat after rice, adoption of permanent beds for rice–wheat rotation is also gaining popularity. Since relatively a new approach particularly for dry-seeded rice and permanent beds for wheat, very little information is known about permanent beds on soil properties, nutrient (N) use efficiency, and system productivity. A field experiment was carried out in a Typic Haplustept soil of New Delhi, India to study the effect of permanent beds on soil hydro-physical properties, root growth, nitrogen uptake, and system productivity of irrigated rice–wheat rotation. Results revealed that direct-seeded rice followed by wheat on permanent beds irrigated at different soil water tensions (field capacity, 20 and 40 kPa) reflected a significant variation in soil hydro-physical properties, reduced total nitrogen uptake, contribution by different plant parts, and N use efficiency compared to wheat after flooded transplanted rice system. Rice root weight density at flowering was also significantly low at 0–15 cm depth but higher at 15–60 cm depth in dry-seeded rice on beds. System productivity of rice–wheat rotation was 25–33% lower in permanent beds compared to flooded transplanted system. For wider acceptability of permanent beds as a promising resource conserving technology, system productivity needs to be improved.     

Soil Management Systems Improve Water Use Efficiency of Rainfed Rice in the Semi-Arid Tropics of Southern Lombok,Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa) grown on rainfed Vertisols in the semi-arid tropics of southern Lombok, Eastern Indonesia, is usually flooded in the short wet season, creating a considerable demand for water. However, rice crops and secondary crops frequently suffer from water stress as the soil dries after the wet season. Four systems of soil management for rice were studied at Wakan and Kawo, with average annual rainfalls of 984 mm and 1665 mm respectively. The objective was to improve water use efficiency (grain yield/m³ water consumed). The four systems were unflooded permanent raised beds with tillage (RMT) or without tillage (RNT), and flooded flat land with tillage (FMT, the conventional system, gogorancah), or without tillage (FNT). Water was kept at 0.1 m depth in the furrows (RMT, RNT) or at 0.05 m depth on flat land (FMT, FNT). Excess water was collected in a dam (embung), and used when necessary to keep the water at the desired depth. Compared with FMT, RNT reduced crop water requirement for rice by 50% at Wakan and by 44% at Kawo. Water use efficiency in RNT was increased by 90% at Wakan, and by 56% at Kawo, compared with that in FMT. There were no differences between treatments in the yield of rice at Kawo (4.5 t/ha), but at Wakan yield was better in FMT or FNT (4.2 t/ha) than RMT or RNT (2.8 t/ha). Hence, on rainfed Vertisols of Southern Lombok, rice grown on permanent raised beds, with or without tillage, could successfully replace rice grown under the conventional flooded system with tillage on flat land (gogorancah), where the rainfall is higher. The extra water saved with permanent raised beds could be used to irrigate secondary crops.     

Crop establishment method and irrigation schedule effect on water productivity,quality, economics and energetics of aerobic direct-seeded rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Rice is cultivated through transplanting of seedling in submerged field which is a cumbersome, labour intensive and water-guzzling practice. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of crop establishment methods and irrigation schedules on water productivity, economics and energetics of aerobic direct-seeded rice at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India, during Kharif 2012–2013. The experiment was laid out in split plot design, keeping combinations of two tillage system (no-tillage and conventional tillage) and two methods of sowing (uni-directional and bi-directional) in main plots and four irrigation schedule [(30, 45, 60 and 75 mm CPE (cumulative pan evaporation)] in sub plots. Aerobic direct-seeded rice sown after conventional tillage gave significantly higher grain yield than no-till with 15.4 % higher water expense efficiency. The energy gain and net monetary returns were 13.2 and 21.2 % higher in conventional sown crop than no-till, respectively. Bi-directional sowing resulted in 26.5 % higher grain yield than uni-directional with no effect on quality traits of grains. The net energy gain and net monetary returns were 26.5 thousands MJ/ha and 125.3 $/ha higher from bi-directional sown crop than uni-directional sown crop. Crop irrigated at 30 mm CPE schedule resulted in significantly higher grain yield than that irrigated at 45, 60 and 75 mm CPE. The energy gain, energy use efficiency and net returns were also maximum at 30 CPE schedule than at 45, 60 or 75 CPE. However, brown, milled and head rice recoveries were statistically at par between irrigation scheduling at 30 and 45 mm CPE but significantly better than 60 and 75 mm CPE. Bi-directional sowing with conventional tillage and irrigation at 30 CPE is an energy efficient and economical viable technique for direct-seeded rice.     

Relative abundance and damage of some insect pests of wheat under different tillage practices in rice–wheat cropping in India

Tillage changes the physical and chemical properties of soil and can also inhibit or enhance useful and harmful fauna. In agriculture, different tillage technologies are being tried to enhance crop productivity, but little concrete information seems to exist on their effects on pest abundance and damage. To address this lack of information, sowing of wheat was investigated under different tillage systems. In order to monitor pest abundance and damage in altered tillage systems, the present studies on the relative abundance and damage due to insect pests viz. pink stem borer (PSB, Sesamia inferens Walker), termites (Microtermes obesi Holmgren and Odontotermes obesus Rambur) and root aphid (Rhopalosiphum rufiabdominalis Sasaki) were undertaken in a rice–wheat cropping system during 2010–11 and 2011–12. Pest abundance and damage was monitored in four tillage systems i.e. conventional tillage (CT), zero tillage (ZT), ZT + mulch and rotary tillage (RT) under insecticide protected and unprotected conditions. The application of insecticide did not affect root aphid incidence or termite damage. However, significant differences in PSB damage in insecticide protected (0.9%) and unprotected (1.2%) conditions were observed. The investigations demonstrated that in CT, damage by PSB (0.6%) was minimum; however termite damage (2.2%) was maximum as compared to all other tillage conditions. In ZT, PSB damage (1.4%) was maximum and root aphid incidence (3.1 aphids/tiller) was minimum in comparison to other tillage conditions. ZT + mulch resulted in inter-mediate insect pest incidence/damage; however, RT was the least effective practice which showed relatively high incidence/damage of these three insects (1.2% PSB damage, 1.9% termite damage and 5.1 aphids/tiller). The insecticide × tillage interaction indicated that insecticide application is needed only in ZT and RT for PSB management.     

Yield and water productivity of rice–wheat on raised beds at New Delhi, India

Permanent raised beds are being proposed for the rice–wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plain to increase its productivity and to save water. It is not clear whether reported water savings in rice arise from the geometry of the beds per se or from the particular water management that keeps the soil in aerobic conditions and that can also be applied on flat land. Moreover, little research has been reported on direct seeding of rice on raised beds and on the effect of raised beds on the subsequent wheat crop. In this paper we compare the yield, input water (rainfall and irrigation) use and water productivity of dry-seeded rice on raised beds and flat land with that of flooded transplanted and wet-seeded rice, and analyze the effects of beds on the subsequent wheat crop. The experiment was conducted in 2001–2003 at New Delhi, India.

Rice yields on raised beds that were kept around field capacity were 32–42% lower than under flooded transplanted conditions and 21% lower than under flooded wet-seeded conditions. Water inputs were reduced by 32–42% compared with flooded rice, but could also be accomplished with dry seeding on flat land with the same water management. Reduced water inputs and yield reductions balanced each other so that water productivity was comparable among most treatments. Wheat yield was 12–17% lower on raised beds than on flat land with conventional (20 cm) row spacing. Neither wheat nor rice on raised beds compensated for the loss in rows by extra tillering or leaf growth at the edges of the rows. There was no carry-over effect of type of land preparation in rice on the growth and yield of the subsequent wheat crop. Further research on raised beds should focus on the selection of suitable rice and wheat varieties, soil health issues such as nematodes and micro-nutrient deficiencies, weed control, bed stability and long-term carry-over effects from one crop to the other.     

Evaluation of alternative tillage and crop establishment methods in a rice–wheat rotation in North Western IGP

The rice–wheat rotation covering 13.5 million ha in the Indo-Gangetic Plains is vital for food security. Its sustainability is at risk as the current production practices are inadequate resulting in high cost of cultivation and inefficient use of inputs (i.e. water, labor and energy). In a field study, we evaluated resource conserving and cost-saving alternative tillage and crop establishment options with an aim to improve system productivity and efficiency. Treatments included transplanting and direct-seeding of rice after reduced and no-tillage, followed by wheat after no-tillage. Conventional-tilled (puddled) transplanted rice followed by conventional-tilled wheat was included as a current practice. Rice yields of transplanted rice were similar irrespective of tillage/puddling. However, both dry and wet direct-seeded rice yielded 0.45–0.61 Mg ha⁻¹ lower than puddled transplanted rice. Wheat yield after no-tillage was either higher or equivalent to conventional practice. Wheat provided more economic return (US $35 ha⁻¹) than rice. No-till wheat was 6% more profitable than the conventional practice (T1). Rice transplanting with or without puddling had similar water application but dry direct-seeded rice had 10–12% lower and wet direct-seeded rice 20–24% higher. Machine labor without tillage was lower by maximum of 51 and 43% in rice and wheat, respectively. Similarly, human labor was also 9–16% lower in no-till rice compared to other practices. Two years results consistently showed $35 more net income when rice was transplanted without puddling than that of conventional practice. Direct-seeded/un-tilled rice had variable response in 2 years; US $16 more in year 1 and similar in year 2 to the puddled transplanted rice. Direct-seeded or transplanted rice after no-tillage can be more efficient and profitable alternatives to current practice (puddled transplanted rice), however, require further refinement in areas of cultivar development for no-till direct-seeding condition, nutrient, water and weed management to harness maximal potential.     

多年固定道保护性耕作对土壤有机碳和小麦产量的影响

为了研究固定道保护性耕作对土壤有机碳和小麦产量的影响,通过自2005年开始在河西绿洲灌区设置的田间定位试验,以传统平作（CT）为对照,分析了垄作固定道（PRB）和平作固定道（ZT）2种保护性耕作方式下土壤总有机碳（TOC）、土壤微生物量碳（SMBC）和小麦产量的变化及其相关性。结果表明,不同耕作方式下TOC 和 SMBC含量均表现为PRB>ZT>CT,且PRB、ZT与CT的差异达到显著水平,TOC和SMBC的土壤剖面垂直分布特征相似,耕层土壤TOC 和 SMBC 差异显著,随着土壤深度增加,各处理之间差异逐渐减小;PRB处理小麦产量是CT处理的1.14倍,ZT处理小麦产量是CT处理的1.11倍,PRB处理比ZT处理小麦产量高219 kg·hm^-2;TOC 和 SMBC之间及其与小麦产量之间存在极显著相关性。本研究结果说明,在河西绿洲灌区实施垄作固定道保护性耕作措施,有利于提高土壤固碳能力,是持续增加小麦产量的主要耕作方式。     

Effect of herbicides on weed management in dry-seeded rice sown under different tillage systems

In India, dry-seeded rice (DSR) production systems are rapidly replacing conventional rice production systems due to various advantages. DSR systems can be managed under zero-till (ZT) conditions or after a preparatory tillage, often referred to as conventional tillage systems (CONT). Although previous reports indicate the contribution of tillage to weed suppression, the effect of one-time preparatory tillage in a DSR system could vary depending on the dominant weeds in the system, vertical seed distribution and the weed seed dynamics. A study was conducted to test the efficacy of ZT and CONT and their interaction with herbicide treatments on the weed population dynamics and rice grain yield in 2010 and 2011. Tillage systems did not affect weed emergence, weed biomass, tiller production and crop yield. However, herbicide treatments varied in their efficacy on individual weeds. Hand-weeding treatments and pendimethalin combined with hand weeding did not effectively control Cyperus rotundus L. and Panicum maximum Jacq. (a perennial grass weed with underground parts). The herbicide combination of metsulfuron and chlorimuron was effective in controlling C. rotundus but not grass weeds. This indicates the need for sequential applications of herbicides for grass weed control or integration of hand weeding to achieve broad-spectrum weed control. Apart from hand weeding (three times), treatment with penoxsulam–cyhalofop and pendimethalin followed by (fb) hand weeding resulted in low weed density, high tiller production and grain yield. The study clearly indicates that tillage does not always lead to weed suppression compared with ZT, and herbicides must be chosen based on the dominant weeds in a system. The results of this study are pertinent as herbicide-resistant weeds are rapidly evolving under continuous herbicide selection pressure, which warrants studies on enhancing productivity through low-input, environmentally friendly and sustainable production technology.     

Rice–wheat cropping system: tillage,mulch, and nitrogen effects on soil carbon sequestration and crop productivity

Maintenance of organic carbon in soil (SOC) is critically important for sustained agricultural productivity and environmental quality. This paper presents SOC resulting from differences in tillage types and demonstrates how mulch and nitrogen (N) application can mediate the tillage functions on SOC and crop productivities. The results are derived from a 4-year field-scale study carried out in a low-land under sub-tropical hot and humid environment of Nepal. It compared eight treatment combinations, viz., tillage (no-tillage and conventional tillage), mulch (no-mulch and 12 Mg ha^?1 year^?1 of mulch), and N application (recommended versus leaf color chart method) under rice–wheat cropping system. Seasonal grain and biomass yields of these crops were recorded and at the end of the 4-year study, quantified the organic carbon stock of soil; Within 15 cm of surface soil, SOC stock (Mg C ha^?1) was statistically (p < 0.05) higher on no-tillage plots (11.2–11.8) than on conventional tillage plots (9.2–10.5). The treatment effect was more pronounced on winter wheat productivity where conventional tillage combined with straw-mulch exceled the performance of no-tillage. Clearly, no-tillage had the environmental benefit, and conventional tillage had the crop productivity benefit.     

干旱灌区固定道耕作对土壤水热效应及春小麦产量的影响

为提高干旱灌区小麦节水生产技术,依托2005年开始的定位试验,以传统耕作（CT）为对照,对固定道平作（ZT）和固定道垄作（PRB）下土壤温度、土壤水分和春小麦产量的变化进行了分析。结果表明,PRB可增加0～80 cm土层土壤水分含量,小麦出苗期至收获期不同土层土壤含水量为PRB>ZT>CT。在小麦播种期至出苗期,PRB土壤升温较慢,拔节期至收获期0～15 cm土层土壤温度变化趋势为PRB>ZT>CT。随着种植年限的增加,PRB保护性耕作对小麦具有明显的增产效应,穗粒数的增加是其增产的主要因素。PRB和ZT处理4年平均水分利用效率分别比对照提高了46.88%和12.96%。PRB处理节水增产效果明显,可作为干旱灌区小麦节水栽培新技术进行推广。