Characterizing N uptake and use efficiency in rice as influenced by environments

To compare N uptake and use efficiency of rice among different environments and quantify the contributions of indigenous soil and applied N to N uptake and use efficiency, field experiments were conducted in five sites in five provinces of China in 2012 and 2013. Four cultivars were grown under three N treatments in each site. Average total N uptake was 10–12 g m^?2 in Huaiji, Binyang, and Haikou, 20 g m^?2 in Changsha, and 23 g m^?2 in Xingyi. Rice crops took up 54.6–61.7% of total plant N from soil in Huaiji, Binyang, and Haikou, 64.3% in Changsha, and 63.5% in Xingyi. Partial factor productivity of applied N and recovery efficiency of applied N in Changsha were higher than in Huaiji, Binyang, and Haikou, but were lower than in Xingyi. Physiological efficiency of soil N and fertilizer N were lower in Changsha than in Huaiji, Binyang, and Haikou, while the difference in them between Changsha and Xingyi were small or inconsistent. Average grain yields were 6.5–7.5 t ha^?1 (medium yield) in Huaiji, Binyang, and Haikou, 9.0 t ha^?1 (high yield) in Changsha, and 12.0 t ha^?1 (super high yield) in Xingyi. Our results suggest that both indigenous soil and applied N were key factors for improving rice yield from medium to high level, while a further improvement to super high yield indigenous soil N was more important than fertilizer N, and a simultaneous increasing grain yield and N use efficiency can be achieved using SPAD-based practice in rice production.     

Radiation use efficiency,N accumulation and biomass production of high-yielding rice in aerobic culture

The concept of aerobic culture is to save water resource while maintaining high productivity in irrigated rice ecosystem. This study compared nitrogen (N) accumulation and radiation use efficiency (RUE) in the biomass production of rice crops in aerobic and flooded cultures. The total water input was 800–1300 mm and 1500–3500 mm in aerobic culture and flooded culture, respectively, and four high-yielding rice cultivars were grown with a high rate of N application (180 kg N ha⁻¹) at two sites (Tokyo and Osaka) in Japan in 2007 and 2008. The aboveground biomass and N accumulation at maturity were significantly higher in aerobic culture (17.2–18.5 t ha⁻¹ and 194–233  kg N ha⁻¹, respectively) than in flooded culture (14.7–15.8 t ha⁻¹ and 142–173 kg N ha⁻¹) except in Tokyo in 2007, where the surface soil moisture content frequently declined. The crop maintained higher N uptake in aerobic culture than in flooded culture, because in aerobic culture there was a higher N accumulation rate in the reproductive stage. RUE in aerobic culture was comparable to, or higher than, that in flooded culture (1.27–1.50 g MJ⁻¹ vs. 1.20–1.37 g MJ⁻¹), except in Tokyo in 2007 (1.30 g MJ⁻¹ vs. 1.37 g MJ⁻¹). These results suggest that higher biomass production in aerobic culture was attributable to greater N accumulation, leading to higher N concentration (N%) than in flooded culture. Cultivar differences in response to water regimes were thought to reflect differences in mainly (1) early vigor and RUE under temporary declines in soil moisture in aerobic culture and (2) the ability to maintain high N% in flooded culture.     

Genetic dissection of grain nitrogen use efficiency and grain yield and their relationship in rice

Breeding for improved grain yield (GY) and grain nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is an important objective of many rice breeding programs. A better understanding of the genetics of these two complex traits and their genetic relationship is required for more efficient breeding. This study reports the results of a linkage mapping study conducted for these two traits using 127 rice recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross of Zhanshan 97/Minghui 63. Phenotypic data were collected under two nitrogen conditions in 2006 and 2007. For NUE, four and six QTLs were identified in 2006 and 2007, respectively. These QTLs were on chromosomes 1, 2, 6, 7 and 11. For GY, nine and five QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1, 2, 7 and 11 in 2006 and 2007, respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between NUE and GY are positive and highly significant. Four genomic regions, including C86-C2340 on chromosome 1, RZ599-R1738 on chromosome 2, RZ471-C1023 on chromosome 7 and R3203-RM20a on chromosome 11, were found to contain QTLs for both NUE and GY. The effects of the co-located QTLs were in the same direction for NUE and GY, providing a genetic basis for the observed positive genetic correlation between the two traits. These genomic regions might be explored for the simultaneous improvement of NUE and GY in breeding.     

Yield, grain quality and water use efficiency of rice under non-flooded mulching cultivation

Plastic film or straw mulching cultivation under non-flooded condition has been considered as a new water-saving technique in rice production. This study aimed to investigate the yield performance in terms of quality and quantity and water use efficiency (WUE) under such practices. A field experiment across 3 years was conducted with two high-yielding rice cultivars, Zhendao 88 (a japonica cultivar) and Shanyou 63 (an indica hybrid cultivar) and four cultivation treatments imposed from transplanting to maturity: traditional flooding as control (TF), non-flooded plastic film mulching (PM), non-flooded wheat straw mulching (SM), and non-flooded no mulching (NM). Compared with those under the TF, root oxidation activity, photosynthetic rate, and activities of key enzymes in sucrose-to-starch conversion in grains during the grain filling period were significantly increased under the SM, whereas they were significantly reduced under the PM and NM treatments. Grain yield showed some reduction under all the non-flooded cultivations but differed largely among the treatments. The reduction in yield was 7.3–17.5% under the PM, 2.8–6.3% under the SM, and 39–49% under the NM. The difference in grain yield was not significant between TF and SM treatments. WUE for irrigation was increased by 314–367% under the PM, 307–321% under the SM, and 98–138% under the NM. Under the same treatment especially under non-flooded conditions, the indica hybrid cultivar showed a higher grain yield and higher WUE than the japonica cultivar. The SM significantly improved milling, appearance, and cooking qualities, whereas the PM or the NM decreased these qualities. We conclude that both PM and SM could significantly increase WUE, while the SM could also maintain a high grain yield and improve quality of rice. The SM would be a better practice than the PM in areas where water is scarce while temperature is favorable to rice growth, such as in Southeast China.     

Effect of a Bio-decomposer on Utilization by Rice (Oryza sativa L.) of 15N Derived from Rice Chaff or Straw

Abstract

The ¹⁵N - labeled technique was used to study the stock, transformation, fate and utilization efficiency of N in the farming–pig husbandry–biogas ecosystem in rice areas. It was shown that the crude protein digestibility of the ensilaged milk vetch by pig was 53.76%, the recovery rates of ensilaged milk vetch N from the pig feces and urine were 39.36% and 24.71%, respectively. The recovery rate of biogas fermentation N of pig feces and urine was 97.9%. The quantity of alkali-hydrolysable N was 2.6 times as great as before the fermentation. The mixed application of milk vetch, biogas-tank sludge and chemical fertilizer could promote N partitioning to rice grain, therefore it was advantageous to yield improvement. The residual quantity in soil of the fertilizer N was equivalent to 2.0 - 2.5 times that of only chemical fertilizer and yet gaseous loss N of the latter was 2.6-8.2 times that of the former. The comprehensive economic effect of the whole ecosystem increased by times, compared with the only milk vetch-early rice-late rice pattern, and ecological effect and social effect were also very prominent.     

Challenges and opportunities for improving N use efficiency for rice production in sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), rice production from smallholder farms is challenged because of a lack of fertilizer inputs and nutrient-poor soils. Therefore, improving nutrient efficiency is particularly important for increasing both fertilizer use and rice yield. This review discusses how to improve the return from fertilizer input in terms of agronomic N use efficiency (AE_N), that is, the increase in grain yield per kg of applied N, for rice production in SSA. The AE_N values we summarized here revealed large spatial variations even within small areas and a certain gap between researcher-led trials and smallholder-managed farms. Experimental results suggest AE_N can be improved by addressing spatial variations in soil-related factors such as P, S, Zn, and Si deficiencies and Fe toxicity in both irrigated and rainfed production systems. In rainfed production systems, differences in small-scale topography are also important which affects AE_N through dynamic changes in hydrology and variations in the contents of soil organic carbon and clay. Although empirical evidence is further needed regarding the relationship between soil properties and responses to fertilizer inputs, recent agricultural advances have generated opportunities for integrating these micro-topographical and soil-related variables into field-specific fertilizer management. These opportunities include UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) technology to capture microtopography at low cost, database on soil nutrient characteristics at high resolution and more numbers of fertilizer blending facilities across SSA, and interactive decision support tools by use of smartphones on site. Small-dose nursery fertilization can be also alternative approach for improving AE_N in adverse field conditions in SSA.

ABBREVIATIONS: AE_N: agronomic nitrogen use efficiency; FISP: farm input subsidy program; VCR: value cost ratio; SOC: soil organic carbon; SSA: sub-Saharan Africa; UAV: unmanned aerial vehicle     

Effect of rice straw management and organic fertilizer application on growth and yield of dry direct-seeded rice

The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of rice straw management and application of different types of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of dry direct-seeded rice grown under rainfed conditions. The experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field at Muang Yai village, Khon Kaen province in 2005. A split-plot design was used, with the main plot under rice straw management (incorporating into the soil and burning), and sub-plots by type of organic fertilizer (green manure, cattle manure and powder organic fertilizer) and one plot under no-fertilizer application. It was found that rice straw incorporated into the soil had no significant effect on grain yield when compared with the effect of burning. Organic fertilizer of cattle manure and powder organic fertilizer significantly increased grain yield over that of green manure and no-fertilizer application. This paper is listed as a series of articles of the special issue “Water and Food” 6(1), March 2008.     

Nitrogen use efficiency in selected rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes under different water regimes and nitrogen levels

Water and nutrient availability are two major constraints in most rice-based rainfed shallow lowland systems of Asia. Both stresses interact and contribute to the low productivity and widespread poverty in this environment. The objective of this study was to improve the understanding of interaction between the two factors and to identify varietal characteristics beneficial for productivity in a water- and nutrient-limited rice environment. For this purpose, we screened 19 rice genotypes adapted to different rice environments under two water and two nutrient treatments during the wet season of 2004 and 2005 in southern Luzon, Philippines. Across all genotypes tested and in comparison with the irrigated control, rainfed conditions reduced grain yield of the treatment without N application by 69% in 2004 and by 59% in 2005. The mean nitrogen fertilizer response was highest in the dryer season of 2004 and the rainfed treatment, indicating that water stress had no effect on fertilizer response. Nitrogen application reduced the relative yield loss to 49% of the irrigated treatment in 2004 and to 52% of the irrigated treatment in 2005. Internal efficiency of N (IEN) and recovery efficiency of applied N (REN) were significantly different between genotypes, but were not affected by water availability (REN) or by water and nutrient availability (IEN). In contrast, grain yield and total N uptake were affected by cultivar, N and water availability. Therefore, germplasm for rainfed environments should be screened under conditions of limited and good nitrogen and water supplies. The four best cultivars, CT6510-24-1-2, IR55423-01, IR72, and IR57514-PMI5-B-1-2, performed well across all treatments and both years. Except for IR72, they were all characterized by medium height, medium duration, high early vigor, and a moderate level of drought tolerance. This combination of characteristics seems to enable the optimal use of limited water and nutrient resources occurring in many shallow rainfed lowlands. We also concluded that moderate drought stress does not necessarily affect the response to moderate N rates, provided that drought does not induce high spikelet sterility and that fertilizer N is properly managed.     

Fate of 15N-labeled Inorganic Fertilizer in an Upland Soil Applied with Sweet Sorghum Bagasse and N Uptake Efficiency by Komatsuna Plants

Abstract

Sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) is a soil amendment with potential for biofuel production. This study was conducted to determine the appropriate techniques for application of SSB and the effect of incorporation of inorganic fertilizer (IF) on the production of komatuna (Brassica rapa) plants. SSB was applied to the surface of the plant or incorporated into soil. The N fate of IF was evaluated by using ¹⁵N-labeled IF. The combination of surface application of SSB and incorporation of IF to soil decreased the N uptake by komatsuna plants but increased dry weight, whereas the incorporation of IF and SSB gave lower komatsuna dry weight than IF treatment alone. Moreover, the application of SSB tended to increase the N distribution from IF to komatsuna with decreased N loss from the plant-soil system. These results showed that surface application of SSB is effective for increasing crop production due to reduction of N loss and improved N use efficiency.     

Rice Uptake and Recovery of Nitrogen with Different Methods of Applying 15N-Labeled Chicken Manure and Ammonium Sulfate

Abstract

The effects of different methods of fertilization on rice uptake and recovery of nitrogen were studied using ¹⁵N-lablled chicken manure (CM) and ammonium sulfate (AS). The results showed that the application method of totally basal dressing of organic and inorganic fertilizers can increase the N uptake by rice from the fertilizers. The N uptake from CM was obviously higher than that from AS. The N partitioning to rice grain was also higher than other application methods. The effect on increasing yield was obviously higher than the method of application of chemical fertilizers only. This method had such benefits as increasing N use efficiency, increasing N residue in soil and reducing N loss. High rice yield can be obtained while the soil fertility can be maintained with this method. So it is an effective and practical method of fertilization technique thus can be recommended to rice growers.     

Variation in transpiration efficiency and its related traits in a groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) mapping population

Transpiration efficiency (TE) has been recognized as an important source of yield variation under drought stress in groundnut. Here the variation for TE is evaluated in a set of 318 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of groundnut at F₈ generation, derived from a cross between a high TE (ICGV 86031) and a low TE (TAG 24) parent, and the value of specific leaf area (SLA), SPAD chlorophyll meter readings (SCMR) and carbon isotope discrimination (Δ¹³C) as surrogates of TE are measured. Transpiration efficiency was measured gravimetrically in the 318 RILs and parents under progressive soil drying in a pot culture in two post-rainy seasons. Large and consistent variation for TE existed among the RILs across years. The overall distribution of TE among the RILs indicated that TE was governed by dominant and additive genes. Surrogates SLA and SCMR, were measured prior, during and after completion of the drought period, whereas Δ¹³C was measured on the dried tissue after harvest. Transpiration efficiency was negatively associated with SLA after the completion of stress treatment (r² = 0.15) and Δ¹³C in leaves (r² = 0.13) and positively associated with SCMR during stress (r² = 0.17). These associations, all fairly weak, were significant only in 2004. None of these relationships was found in 2005. Although the heritability of SCMR during 2005 was relatively higher than that of TE, and although SCMR has previously been used to identify contrasting germplasm for TE, the stress-dependence of the relationship with TE, and the poor regression coefficients (r²) with that RIL population, do not confer that these surrogates are adequately robust enough in that population. Though more time consuming, a direct gravimetric evaluation for TE appeared to be more reliable.     

Recycling of rice straw to improve wheat yield and soil fertility and reduce atmospheric pollution

Burning of rice straw is a common practice in northwest India, where rice–wheat cropping system is extensively followed. The practice results in loss of nutrients, atmospheric pollution and emission of greenhouse gases. A field experiment was conducted at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during the rabi season (November to April) of 2002–2003 to evaluate the efficacy of the various modes of rice straw recycling in soil in improving yield and soil fertility and reducing not only carbon dioxide emission but also nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission. The treatment with no rice straw incorporation and application of recommended doses of fertilizer (120, 26 and 50 kg N, P and K ha⁻¹, respectively), gave the highest yield of wheat. Treatments with the incorporation of rice straw at 5 Mg ha⁻¹ with additional amount of inorganic N (60 kg N ha⁻¹) or inoculation of microbial culture had similar grain yields to that of the treatment with no straw incorporation. The lowest yield was recorded in the plots where rice straw was incorporated in soil without additional inorganic N and with manure application. All the treatments with rice straw incorporation had larger soil organic C despite the effect on the mineralisation of soil organic matter. Emission of N₂O was more when additional N was added with rice straw and secondary when straw was added to the soil because of higher microbial activity. The study showed that burning of rice straw could be avoided without affecting yield of wheat crop by incorporating rice straw in soil with an additional dose of inorganic N or microbial inoculation. However, the reduction of N₂O emission due to avoiding burning is in part counterbalanced by an increase in emission during the subsequent wheat cultivation.     

麦/稻秸秆还田氮在后茬稻/麦植株中的分配去向探析

为探究秸秆还田氮在后茬稻/麦中的有效性及其去向,运用¹⁵N同位素示踪技术,设置秸秆直接还田、秸秆添加腐熟剂还田两个处理,采用大田微区试验连续种植一季冬小麦和一季水稻,分析¹⁵N标记的水稻和小麦秸秆氮在后茬小麦、水稻不同生育时期植株各器官的分配及去向特征。结果表明,秸秆直接还田处理与秸秆添加腐熟剂还田处理下,稻田中小麦还田秸秆的当季腐解率分别为72.71%和80.18%,麦田中水稻还田秸秆的当季腐解率分别为58.53%和68.90%,水稻季显著高于小麦季;小麦季和水稻季植株吸收的氮素中,来自还田前茬秸秆¹⁵N 氮的比例不同,其中小麦季分别为3.13%~3.36%和3.72%~3.85%,水稻季分别为3.19%~3.84%和3.60%~4.20%,水稻季略高于小麦季。与秸秆直接还田处理相比,秸秆添加腐熟剂还田处理能显著促进秸秆腐解,增加小麦和水稻各时期植株对还田秸秆¹⁵N 氮的利用率,并提高还田标记¹⁵N 氮在土壤中的残留率,抑制还田秸秆中¹⁵N 氮的损失率,即采用秸秆添加腐熟剂还田能提高秸秆氮素转化率和有效性。     

A model for simulating plant N accumulation,growth and yield of diverse rice genotypes grown under different soil and climatic conditions

The objective of this study was to develop a whole-process model for explaining genotypic and environmental variations in the growth and yield of irrigated rice by incorporating a newly developed sub-model for plant nitrogen (N) uptake into a previously reported model for simulating growth and yield based on measured plant N. The N-uptake process model was developed based on two hypotheses: (1) the rate of root system development in the horizontal direction is proportional to the rate of leaf area index (LAI) development, and (2) root N-absorption activity depends on the amount of carbohydrate allocated to roots. The model employed two empirical soil parameters characterizing indigenous N supply and N loss. Calibration of the N-uptake process sub-model and validation of the whole-process model were made using plant N accumulation, and growth and yield data obtained from a cross-locational experiment on nine rice genotypes at seven locations in Asia, respectively. Calibration of the N-uptake process sub-model indicated that a large genotypic difference exists in the proportionality constant between rate of root system development and that of LAI development during early growth stages. The whole-process model simultaneously explained the observed genotypic and environmental variation in the dynamics of plant N accumulation (R² = 0.91 for the entire dataset), above-ground biomass growth (R² = 0.94), LAI development (R² = 0.78) and leaf N content (R² = 0.79), and spikelet number per unit area (R² = 0.78) and rough grain yield (R² = 0.81). The estimated value of the site (field)-specific soil parameter representing the rate of N loss was negatively correlated with cation exchange capacity of the soil and was approximated by a logarithmic function of cation exchange capacity for seven sites (R² = 0.95). Large yearly and locational variations were estimated in the soil parameter for representing the rate of indigenous N supply at 25 °C. With the use of these two soil parameters, the whole-system model explained the observed genotypic and environmental variations in plant N accumulation, growth and yield of rice in Asia.     

Identification of traits to improve the nitrogen-use efficiency of wheat genotypes

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer represents a significant cost for the grower and may also have environmental impacts through nitrate leaching and N₂O (a greenhouse gas) emissions associated with denitrification. The objectives of this study were to analyze the genetic variability in N-use efficiency (grain dry matter (DM) yield per unit N available from soil and fertilizer; NUE) in winter wheat and identify traits for improved NUE for application in breeding. Fourteen UK and French cultivars and two French advanced breeding lines were tested in a 2 year/four site network comprising different locations in France and in the UK. Detailed growth analysis was conducted at anthesis and harvest in experiments including DM and N partitioning. Senescence of either the flag leaf or the whole leaf canopy was assessed from a visual score every 3-4 days from anthesis to complete canopy senescence. The senescence score was fitted against thermal time using a five parameters monomolecular-logistic equation allowing the estimation of the timing of the onset and the rate of post-anthesis senescence. In each experiment, grain yield was reduced under low N (LN), with an average reduction of 2.2 t ha⁻¹ (29%). Significant N × genotype level interaction was observed for NUE. Crop N uptake at harvest on average was reduced from 227 kg N ha⁻¹ under high N (HN) to 109 kg N ha⁻¹ under LN conditions while N-utilization efficiency (grain DM yield per unit crop N uptake at harvest; NUtE) increased from 34.0 to 52.1 kg DM kg⁻¹ N. Overall genetic variability in NUE under LN related mainly to differences in NUtE rather than N-uptake efficiency (crop N uptake at harvest per unit N available from soil and fertilizer; NUpE). However, at one site there was also a positive correlation between NUpE and NUE at LN in both years. Moreover, across the 2 year/four site network, the N × genotype effect for NUpE partly explained the N × genotype effect for grain yield and NUE. Averaging across the 16 genotypes, the timing of onset of senescence explained 86% of the variation in NUtE amongst site-season-N treatment combinations. The linear regression of onset of senescence on NutE amongst genoytpes was not significant under HN, but at three of the four sites was significant under LN explaining 32-70% of the phenotypic variation amongst genotypes in NutE. Onset of senescence amongst genotypes was negatively correlated with the efficiency with which above-ground N at anthesis was remobilized to the grain under LN. It is concluded that delaying the onset of post-anthesis senescence may be an important trait for increasing grain yield of wheat grown under low N supply.     

Simulation of the effects of genotype and N availability on rice growth and yield response to an elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration

The objective of this study was to identify physiological processes that result in genotypic and N fertilization effects on rice yield response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]). This study conducted growth and yield simulations for 9 rice genotypes grown at 4 climatically different sites in Asia, assuming the current atmospheric [CO₂] (360 ppm) and elevated [CO₂] (700 ppm) using 5 levels of N fertilizer (4, 8, 12, 16, 20 g m⁻² N fertilizer). A rice growth model that was developed and already validated for 9 different genotypes grown under 7 sites in Asia was used for the simulation, integrating additional components into the model to explain the direct effect of [CO₂] on several physiological processes. The model predicted that the relative yield response to elevated [CO₂] (RY, the ratio of yield under 700 ppm [CO₂] to that under 360 ppm [CO₂]) increased with increasing N fertilizer, ranging from 1.12 at 4 g m⁻² N fertilizer to 1.22 at 20 g m⁻² N fertilizer, averaged overall genotypes and locations. The model also predicted a large genotypic variation in RY at the 20 g N treatment, ranging from 1.08 for ‘WAB450-I-B-P-38-HB’ to 1.41 for ‘Takanari’ averaged overall locations. Combining all genotypes grown at the 5N fertilization conditions, a close 1:1 relationship was predicted between RY and the relative [CO₂] response in spikelet number for crops with a small number of spikelets (less than 30,000 m⁻²) under the current atmospheric [CO₂] (n = 18, r = 0.89^***). In contrast, crops with a large number of spikelets under the current atmospheric [CO₂] showed a significantly larger RY than the relative [CO₂] response for spikelet number per unit area. The model predicted that crops with a larger number of spikelets under the current atmospheric [CO₂] derived great benefit from elevated [CO₂] by directly allocating increased carbohydrate to their large, vacant sink, whereas crops with a smaller number of spikelets primarily required an increased spikelet number to use the increased carbohydrate to fill grains. The simulation analyses suggested that rice with a larger sink capacity relative to source availability under the current atmospheric [CO₂] showed a larger yield response to elevated [CO₂], irrespective of whether genotype or N availability was the major factor for the large sink capacity under the current [CO₂]. The model predicted that the RY response to nitrogen was brought about through the N effects on spikelet number and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation. The genotypic variation in RY was related to differences in spikelet differentiation efficiency per unit plant N content. Further model validation about the effects of [CO₂] on growth processes is required to confirm these findings considering data from experimental studies.     

Response of lowland rice to agronomic management under different hydrological regimes in an inland valley of Ivory Coast

A large proportion of the rice in West Africa is produced in rainfed lowland ecosystems, mainly in inland valleys. The hydrological conditions (duration and intensity of flooding) vary with the toposequence position between the fringe and the centre of the valley. Production methods tend to evolve from the currently predominant unbunded plots without external input use, to input-intensive production in bunded plots. Agronomic management interventions co-evolve and may include varietal choice, herbicide use, and mineral N fertilizer application. The response of rice and the associated weeds to such interventions is likely to vary with the prevailing hydrological regime. A 2-year field experiment was conducted in northern Ivory Coast to determine the impact of water regime (plot position in the valley, presence of bunds) and input use (mineral N fertilizer and herbicide) on the productivity (yield and N use efficiency) of traditional and modern rainfed lowland rice cultivars and the biomass and composition of the associated weeds. Installing field bunds reduced seasonal variations in ponded water depth and resulted in a mean increase in rice grain yield of 30–40% (p < 0.005). This increase was associated with a 25% lower cumulative weed biomass and a several-fold increase in the agronomic use efficiency of applied mineral N in bunded than unbunded plots. Under low input management, traditional varieties tended to out-yield modern varieties in unbunded plots. Improved crop management such as herbicide and fertilizer application, and the construction of field bunds was more effective to increase the yield and N use efficiency in the flooded valley centre than in the drought-prone valley fringes. There is a need for site-specific targeting of modern cultivars, land development and improved production methods in the inland valleys of the West African savanna zone.     

Analysis of yield attributes and crop physiological traits of Liangyoupeijiu,a hybrid rice recently bred in China

Crop physiological traits of Liangyoupeijiu, a “super” hybrid rice variety recently bred in China, were compared with those of Takanari and Nipponbare in 2003 and 2004 in Kyoto, Japan. Liangyoupeijiu showed a significantly higher grain yield than Nipponbare in both years, and achieved a grain yield of 11.8 t ha⁻¹ in 2004, which is the highest yield observed under environmental conditions in Kyoto. Liangyoupeijiu had longer growth duration and larger leaf area duration (LAD) before heading, causing larger biomass accumulation before heading than the other two varieties. Liangyoupeijiu had a large number of grains and translocated a large amount of carbohydrates from the vegetative organ to the panicle during the grain filling period. The three yield components measured were panicle weight at heading (P₀), the amount of carbohydrates translocated from the leaf and stem to the panicle during the grain filling period (ΔT), and the newly assimilated carbohydrates during grain filling (ΔW). It was found that the sum of P₀ and ΔT were strongly correlated with grain yield when all the data (n = 8) were combined (r = 0.876**). However, there was no significant difference in the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of the whole growth period between Liangyoupeijiu and Nipponbare for both years. Even though the growth duration was shorter, Takanari, an indica/japonica cross-bred variety, showed a similar yield to Liangyoupeijiu in both years. The mean RUE of the whole growth period was significantly higher in Takanari, 1.60 and 1.64 g MJ⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively, than in Liangyoupeijiu, which had a RUE of 1.46 and 1.52 g MJ⁻¹ in 2003 and 2004, respectively. The high grain yield of Takanari was mainly due to its high RUE compared with Liangyoupeijiu and its large P₀ and ΔT. Our result showed that the high grain yield of Liangyoupeijiu was due to its large biomass accumulation before heading, which resulted from its large LAD rather than its RUE.     

Forage soybean yield and quality response to water use

Forages could be used to diversify reduced and no-till dryland cropping systems from the traditional wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-fallow system in the semiarid central Great Plains. Forages present an attractive alternative to grain and seed crops because of greater water use efficiency and less susceptibility to potentially devastating yield reductions due to severe water stress during critical growth stages. However, farmers need a simple tool to evaluate forage productivity under widely varying precipitation conditions. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the relationship between crop water use and dry matter (DM) yield for soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill), (2) evaluate changes in forage quality that occur as harvest date is delayed, and (3) determine the range and distribution of expected DM yields in the central Great Plains based on historical precipitation records. Forage soybean was grown under a line-source gradient irrigation system to impose a range of water availability conditions at Akron, CO. Dry matter production was linearly correlated with water use resulting in a production function slope of 21.2 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹. The slope was much lower than previously reported for forage production functions for triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) and millet (Setaria italic L. Beauv.), and only slightly lower than slopes previously reported for corn (Zea mays L.) and pea (Pisum sativa L.) forage. Forage quality was relatively stable during the last four weeks of growth, with small declines in crude protein (CP) concentration. Values of CP concentration and relative feed value indicated that forage soybean was of sufficient quality to be used for dairy feed. A standard seed variety of maturity group VII was found to be similar (in both productivity and quality) to a variety designated as a forage type. The probability of obtaining a break-even yield of at least 4256 kg ha⁻¹ was 90% as determined from long-term precipitation records used with the production function. The average estimated DM yield was 5890 kg ha⁻¹ and ranged from 2437 to 9432 kg ha⁻¹. Regional estimates of mean forage soybean DM yield ranged from 4770 kg ha⁻¹ at Fort Morgan, CO to 6911 kg ha⁻¹ at Colby, KS. Forage soybean should be considered a viable alternative crop for dryland cropping systems in the central Great Plains.     

Characteristics of Nitrogen Uptake,Use and Transfer in a Wheat-Maize-Soybean Relay Intercropping System

Abstract

Intercropping and relay intercropping systems, which significantly improve land use efficiency, are used worldwide to increase crops yield. The wheat-maize-soybean relay intercropping system has been widely employed by famers in Southwestern China for years, but the detailed mechanisms through which the nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency reach the high level in this system remain unclear. In the present study, two separate pot experiments were performed by ¹⁵ N isotope dilution (ID) labeling and direct ¹⁵N foliar feeding (FF) assays, and a solid barrier was employed to prevent the roots intergrowth and N movement among crops in the first experiment, using no barrier as the control. The results showed that, under the no-barrier condition, the grain yields, ¹⁵N uptake and ¹⁵N recovery efficiency of wheat and maize were significantly increased, but those measures in soybean were decreased compared to the solid barrier condition. Furthermore, bi-directional N transfer was detected during the co-growing stage of crops, the amount (Ntransfer) and percentage (%NT) of ¹⁵N transferred varied significantly with the fertilizer-N rate, and the maximum reached at 150 – 300 kg N ha^–1 level. The Ntransfer from maize to wheat was 16.1% – 163.0% higher than that from wheat to maize; the Ntransfer from soybean to maize was 1.7 – 6.0 times higher than those from maize to soybean, while the %NT from soybean to maize were 6.7 – 22.2 times higher than those from maize to soybean. Conclusively, this study revealed that the interaction of the roots among crops significantly increased the uptake efficiency and recovery efficiency, and further, the positive N competition and bi-directional N transfer of each crops were the main contributors to improve the N use efficiency in the wheat-maize-soybean relay intercropping system.