Rice straw mulching and nitrogen response of no-till wheat following rice in Bangladesh

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in no-till soil of a postrice harvest field utilizes residual soil moisture and reduces the time period from rice harvest to wheat seeding in intensive rice-wheat cropping systems. Some of the major constraints in no-till wheat production are high weed infestation, poor stand establishment due to rapid drying of topsoil and low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of the Wheat Research Centre, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, for two consecutive years to overcome those constraints, to evaluate rice straw as mulch, and to determine the optimum application rate of nitrogen (N) for no-till wheat. The treatments included 12 factorial combinations of three levels of mulching: no mulch (M₀), surface application of rice straw mulch at 4.0 Mg ha⁻¹ that was withdrawn at 20 days after sowing (M₁), the same level of mulch as M₁ but allowed to be retained on the soil surface (M₂), and four nitrogen levels (control 80, 120 and 160 kg ha⁻¹). Rice straw mulching had a significant effect on conserving initial soil moisture and reducing weed growth. Root length density and root weight density of wheat were positively influenced both by straw mulching and N levels. N uptake and apparent nitrogen recovery of applied N fertilizer were higher in mulch treatments M₁ and M₂ as compared to M₀. Also mulch treatment of M₁ and M₂ were equally effective at conserving soil moisture, suppressing growth of weed flora, promoting root development and thereby improved grain yield of no-till wheat. N application of 120 kg ha⁻¹ with straw mulch was found to be suitable for no-till wheat in experimental field condition.     

Interactions between non-flooded mulching cultivation and varying nitrogen inputs in rice–wheat rotations

A 3-year field experiment examined the effects of non-flooded mulching cultivation and traditional flooding and four fertilizer N application rates (0, 75, 150 and 225 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and 0, 60,120, and 180 kg N ha⁻¹ for wheat) on grain yield, N uptake, residual soil N_min and the net N balance in a rice–wheat rotation on Chengdu flood plain, southwest China. There were significant grain yield responses to N fertilizer. Nitrogen applications of >150 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and >120 kg ha⁻¹ for wheat gave no increase in crop yield but increased crop N uptake and N balance surplus in both water regimes. Average rice grain yield increased by 14% with plastic film mulching and decreased by 16% with wheat straw mulching at lower N inputs compared with traditional flooding. Rice grain yields under SM were comparable to those under PM and TF at higher N inputs. Plastic film mulching of preceding rice did not affect the yield of succeeding wheat but straw mulching had a residual effect on succeeding wheat. As a result, there was 17–18% higher wheat yield under N0 in SM than those in PM and TF. Combined rice and wheat grain yields under plastic mulching was similar to that of flooding and higher than that of straw mulching across N treatments. Soil mineral N (top 60 cm) after the rice harvest ranged from 50 to 65 kg ha⁻¹ and was unaffected by non-flooded mulching cultivation and N rate. After the wheat harvest, soil N_min ranged from 66 to 88 kg N ha⁻¹ and increased with increasing fertilizer N rate. High N inputs led to a positive N balance (160–621 kg ha⁻¹), but low N inputs resulted in a negative balance (−85 to −360 kg ha⁻¹). Across N treatments, the net N balances of SM were highest among the three cultivations systems, resulting from additional applied wheat straw (79 kg ha⁻¹) as mulching materials. There was not clear trend found in net N balance between PM and TF. Results from this study indicate non-flooded mulching cultivation may be utilized as an alternative option for saving water, using efficiently straw and maintaining or improving crop yield in rice–wheat rotation systems. There is the need to evaluate the long-term environmental risks of non-flooded mulching cultivation and improve system productivity (especially with straw mulching) by integrated resource management.     

山区旱地间套种春玉米的覆盖效果研究

3年定位试验结果表明,栏肥、秸秆、地膜和杂草覆盖对山区旱地间套种春玉米具有显著的增产增效作用,增产幅度18.1%～36.4%,其中以秸秆覆盖最为明显,且以前作秸秆全部覆盖最好.栏肥、秸秆和杂草覆盖保水效果好,具增降温的双重功效,并能明显提高土壤肥力,而地膜覆盖保水抗旱效果差,又耗地力,不利于山区旱地的可持续生产。     

Effects of clear plastic film mulch on yield of spring wheat

This paper explores the possibility of improving yields of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) by using plastic film mulching. Field experiments compared three mulching treatments viz. for 20 d (M1), 40 d (M2), and 60 d (M3) after sowing (DAS), with a non-mulch control (CK). Mulching increased temperature and moisture in the upper 5 cm of soil, and shoots emerged 8 d earlier than in CK. Mulching also increased number of tillers, length of the growing period, spikelet and grain numbers per spike, and the duration from flowering to harvest. In the mulched treatments, photosynthesis rate and soluble sugar content were higher in the vegetative period, but soluble sugar content was lower in the grain filling period relative to CK. Grain yield following 20 d mulching was greatest (8207 kg ha⁻¹), and decreased gradually as the mulching period increased (7847 and 6702 kg ha⁻¹ for M2 and M3, respectively). Plastic film removed after 20 d maximizes yield and minimizes soil pollution.     

Maximizing yields in rice–groundnut cropping sequence through integrated nutrient management

Integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers can improve crop productivity and sustain soil health and fertility. The present research was conducted to study the effects of application of green manures [sesbania (Sesbania aculeate Poiret) and crotalaria (Crotalaria juncea L.)] and farmyard manure on productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and its residual effects on subsequent groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) crop. Rice and groundnut crops were grown in sequence during rainy and post-rainy seasons with and without green manure in combination with different fertilizer and spacing treatments under irrigated conditions. The results showed that application of green manures sesbania and crotalaria at 10 t ha⁻¹ to rice compared to no green manure application significantly increased grain yield of rice by 1.6 and 1.1 t ha⁻¹, and pod yields of groundnut crop succeeding rice by 0.25 and 0.16 t ha⁻¹, respectively. There was no significant difference between the application of crotalaria or farmyard manure at 10 t ha⁻¹ on grain yields of rice, but pod yields of subsequent groundnut crop were greater with application of green manure. There was no significant effect of different spacing 20×15,15×15,15×10 cm² (333 000; 444 000; 666 000 plant ha⁻¹, respectively) on grain yield of rice. Pod yields of groundnut were significantly greater with closer spacing 15×15 cm² (444 000 plants ha⁻¹) as compared to spacing of 30×10 cm² (333 000 plants ha⁻¹). Maximum grain of rice was obtained by application of 120:26:37 kg NPK ha⁻¹ in combination with green manures, whereas maximum pod yield of groundnut was obtained by residual effect of green manure applied to rice and application of 30:26:33 kg NPK ha⁻¹ in combination with gypsum applied to groundnut crop.     

不同覆盖物对红壤旱坡地土壤环境和花生生长的影响

以种植花生的红壤旱坡地为对象,研究液态地膜覆盖(LFM)、塑料地膜覆盖(PFM)、稻草覆盖(SM)和无覆盖(NM)对土壤环境和花生生长效应的影响。结果表明:有覆盖物可以显著增加土壤含水量,调节土壤温度,加快花生光合作用,使花生干物质的分配更合理,且提高花生产量;不同覆盖物对土壤和花生生长等各项指标的综合效应不同,表现为稻草覆盖塑料地膜液态地膜无覆盖。     

Effects of straw mulch on mungbean yield in rice fields with strongly compacted soils

In rice-based lowland areas in the Mekong region, the lack of full irrigation water availability for post-rice legume crops and the poor soil physical and chemical conditions are major constraints for development of sound rice/legume double cropping system. In order to improve legume productivity, use of rice straw mulch and various crop establishment methods were examined in two series of mungbean experiments in Cambodia where soils were coarse and strongly compacted. In one set of experiments conducted at four locations in the first year the effect of straw mulch, planting method (manual vs seed drill) and tillage method (conventional vs no-till) was examined. Another set of experiments were conducted in the second year at three locations with four levels of mulch under two planting densities. On average in year 1, mulching of rice straw at 1.5 t/ha increased mungbean crop establishment from 72 to 83%, reduced weed biomass from 164 to 123 kg/ha and increased yield from 228 to 332 kg/ha. Mulch was effective in conserving soil moisture, and even at maturity the mulched area had on average 1% higher soil moisture content. The amount of mulch between 1 and 2 t/ha did not show consistent effects in year 2, partly because some mulch treatments resulted in excessive soil moisture content and were not effective. Rice straw mulch had a significant effect on mungbean yield in 6 out of the 7 experiments conducted in two years, and mean yield increase was 35%. This yield advantage was attributed to better crop establishment, improved growth and reduced weed pressure, but in some cases only one or two of these factors were effective. On the other hand, planting method, tillage method and planting density had only small effects on mungbean yield in most experiments. Only in one location out of four tested, the no-till treatment produced significantly higher yield than the conventional method. Seed drill produced similar mungbean establishment and grain yield to the manual planting suggesting that the planter can be used to save the labour cost which is increasing rapidly in the Mekong region. Maximum root depth varied little with mulch or planting density, and was shallow (<20 cm) in all three locations where this character was determined. It is concluded that while rice straw mulch increased yield of mungbean following rice, the inability of mungbean roots to penetrate the hard pan is a major constraint for development of a sound rice/mungbean cropping system in the lowlands with compacted soils.     

Salicylate and biomass yield,and leaf phenolics of dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia Salisb.) clones under different cultivation methods after the second cultivation cycle

Willow based herbal products containing salicin and its derivatives can be used to alleviate aches and fevers. To guarantee the high quality of the willow drugs and moderate low cultivation and transportation costs, the willows with high salicylate concentrations are recommended for herbal production. Dark-leaved willow (Salix myrsinifolia Salisb.) with its high salicylate content is a promising source of herbal drugs. In the present study, seven dark-leaved willow clones were cultivated under short-rotation system with a two-year cultivation cycle. The yields of salicylates and biomass, and the concentrations of foliar phenolics were determined after the second cultivation cycle. Willow clones were treated by different cultivation methods, i.e. combinations of mulching (black polythene vs. cutter chip) and fertilisation (0, 25, 150 kg ha^?1, N), with the objective of evaluating the most productive clone and cultivation method for herbal willow production. Furthermore, we compared our results to those obtained after the first cultivation cycle. Results showed that the yields of salicylates and biomass, and the concentrations of all foliar phenolic metabolites varied significantly amongst the clones. Biomass yields and salicylate yield were increased by polythene mulching, but the level of response varied between clones. Fertilisation (only the highest rate) caused an increase in yields, but the effect of fertilisation was smaller than that of mulching. Salicylate yield of most clones was higher than that had been during the previous rotation. Phenolic analyses showed that the concentrations of chlorogenic acid, total p-OH-cinnamic acids and soluble condensed tannins were higher in the willows grown in polythene mulch plots than in willows grown on cutter chip mulched plots. Furthermore, the concentrations of diglucoside of SaOH, salicin, disalicortin 1, disalicortin 2, chlorogenic acid, total chlorogenic acids and total flavonoids were higher in fertilized than in unfertilized willows. Salicortin, which was the most abundant salicylate, and total salicylates were not affected by fertilisation and mulching. The effects of fertilisation and mulching on several phenolics were clone-dependent. In conclusion, after two cultivation cycles, the cultivation methods were not effective in increasing the foliar total salicylate concentration, but rather increased the salicylate yield by enhancing the biomass of the synthesising tissues. Since biomass production was increased by the second cultivation cycle, the cultivation of herbal willows under a two-year cycle is recommended. The highly variable responses of the clones to treatments indicate that profitable willow cultivation for herbal industry is based on the right clone selection.     

Soil quality responses to alfalfa watered with a field micro-catchment technique in the Loess Plateau of China

This paper explores the soil responses to alfalfa that is established using a field micro-catchment technique to harvest water under semiarid conditions. The field micro-catchment technique involved setting up ridges and furrows alternately on the flat land. The ridges served as the rainfall harvesting zone and the furrows as the planting zone. Five treatments were set up in this study: (1) conventional cultivation in a flat plot without mulch (CK), (2) plastic mulched ridge with 30 cm width of ridge and furrow (M30), (3) plastic mulched ridge with 60 cm width of ridge and furrow (M60), (4) bare ridge with 30 cm width of ridge and furrow (B30), (5) bare ridge with 60 cm width of ridge and furrow (B60). The mulching treatments increased the productivity of seeded alfalfa and significantly (p < 0.05) increased water use efficiency, causing the soil organic carbon (SOC), total soil nitrogen (TSN) and C/N ratio to increase. We also found that the alfalfa root system was very good at breaking up the plowing pan created by many years of tillage. In the M30 and M60 treatments, the total forage yield during the 3 years was higher than in CK by 10.7% and 40.3% respectively, whereas the total forage yield over the 3 years in the B30 and B60 treatments were lower than in the CK treatment by 14.2% and 28.3%, respectively. The water use efficiency in the mulching treatment was significantly higher than in the other treatments. After 3 years (2001–2003), the SOC content in ridge and furrow treatments (M30, M60, B30 and B60) was increased by 7.4%, 14.2%, 4.5% and 1.8%, respectively, contrasting with a decrease of 3.5% in the CK treatment. The increase in SOC positively correlated (R² = 0.6257) with the forage yield of alfalfa in the ridge and furrow treatments. The TSN for CK, M30, M60, B30 and B60 increased by 0.35%, 1.70%, 2.30%, 0.75% and 0.64%, respectively by the end of the 3 years. However, we found that the available phosphorus (P) in the mulch treatments during the 3-year period decreased rapidly indicating that it is necessary to apply P fertilizer to alfalfa-cultivated land under these management conditions. In conclusion, the ridge and furrow with mulch treatments, especially M60 treatments, proved to be a better pattern for alfalfa establishment, soil quality and nutrient cycling under semiarid conditions.     

Incombustibility,physico-mechanical properties and TVOC emission behavior of the gypsum–rice husk boards for wall and ceiling materials for construction

Rice husk is a by-product of rice milling process, and a great resource as a raw biomass material for manufacturing value-added composite products. One of the potential applications is to use rice husk as filler for manufacturing gypsum–rice husk boards for wall and ceiling materials for construction. We investigated the effect of rice husk, addition on selected physico-mechanical properties, total volatile organic compound (TVOC), and incombustibility, on the gypsum board. With increasing rice husk contents, water and moisture absorption was decreased. Because of the replacement of pore between gypsum particles by rice husk, the moisture absorption was decreased as rice husk adding contents. By rice husk adding, MOR of the gypsum–rice husk boards were increased up to 9.8 MPa at 30 wt%. However, MOR was decreased more than 40 wt% of adding contents. The modulus of elasticity (MOE) showed similar behavior with MOR. However, internal bonding strength (IB) was slightly increased as rice husk adding contents up to 20 wt%, 0.5 MPa and decreased over 20 wt%. The incombustibility of the gypsum–rice husk boards decreased on increasing the rice husk adding content. However, up to 30 wt% of rice husk adding contents board samples was of incombustibility first class. Gypsum particle can be replaced up to 30 wt% by rice husk with incombustibility first class for housing materials. In all cases, TVOC emission factor and formaldehyde emission remained under the ‘Excellent’ grade as defined by Korean Air Clean Association (KACA).     

Seed oil extraction using a solar powered screw press

An efficient and economical oil expression system that can operate on solar power in rural areas of underdeveloped and developing countries is needed. Recent improvements in both oil extraction and solar energy technologies have indicated the possibilities for fabricating oil extraction equipment. Thus, the objective of our study was to develop a simple oil expression unit capable of producing high quality oil based on solar energy in remote rural areas. A photovoltaic (PV), batch operated, low-pressure oil press, using a 190 W, 12 V dc motor, was designed, fabricated, and tested using coconut and groundnut as the raw material. Samples used in the study were ground to particle size between 500 μm and 2 mm and were pressed at 12 ± 1% moisture content. The press was evaluated based on the oil extraction efficiency (OEE), power consumption, and oil quality. The press had an average OEE of 73% for coconuts and 70% for groundnuts after 12 min of pressing. The oil expression efficiency was characterized by three main stages namely delayed, rapid, and retarded. The power consumption was affected greatly by the pressing time, with power consumption increasing with an increase in the pressing time. The specific energy consumption was found to increase significantly after 8 min of pressing and correlated with the compaction of the cake, which resulted in more power being required to express the entrapped oil. The expressed oil was fresh, free from foots, and of high quality with an average moisture content of 0.015% for coconut oil and 0.019% for groundnut. Analyses showed that the viscosities were 42.1 MPa s (coconut oil) and 59.1 MPa s (groundnut oil), at 25 °C. Overall, the press performed well and was comparable in performance to other types of presses.     

Drought,pod yield,pre-harvest Aspergillus infection and aflatoxin contamination on peanut in Niger

Soil moisture and soil temperature affect pre-harvest infection with Aspergillus flavus and production of aflatoxin. The objectives of our field research in Niger, West Africa, were to: (i) examine the effects of sowing date and irrigation treatments on pod yield, infection with A. flavus and aflatoxin concentration; and (ii) to quantify relations between infection, aflatoxin concentration and soil moisture stress. Seed of an aflatoxin susceptible peanut cv. JL24 was sown at two to four different sowing dates under four irrigation treatments (rainfed and irrigation at 7, 14 and 21 days intervals) between 1991 and 1994, giving 40 different ‘environments’. Average air and soil temperatures of 28–34 °C were favourable for aflatoxin contamination. CROPGRO-peanut model was used to simulate the occurrence of moisture stress. The model was able to simulate yields of peanut well over the 40 environments (r² = 0.67). In general, early sowing produced greater pod yields, as well as less infection and lower aflatoxin concentration. There were negative linear relations between infection (r² = 0.62) and the average simulated fraction of extractable soil water (FESW) between flowering and harvest, and between aflatoxin concentration (r² = 0.54) and FESW in the last 25 days of pod-filling. This field study confirms that infection and aflatoxin concentration in peanut can be related to the occurrence of soil moisture stress during pod-filling when soil temperatures are near optimal for A. flavus. These relations could form the basis of a decision-support system to predict the risk of aflatoxin contamination in peanuts in similar environments.     

Performance of aerobic rice varieties under irrigated conditions in North China

In Northern China, high-yielding aerobic rice varieties are released to farmers to grow rice as a supplementary-irrigated upland crop to cope with water scarcity. If the key factors contributing to the high yield of these varieties are understood, rapid advancements can be made in developing aerobic rice varieties for water-scarce environments in other parts of Asia. In 2001–2002, we conducted experiments with aerobic varieties HD502 and HD297 and lowland variety JD305 under aerobic and flooded conditions. Five irrigation treatments were implemented in aerobic soil to create different soil moisture regimes. Under flooded conditions, all three varieties had comparable radiation use (RUE) efficiencies of 2.09–2.26 g dry matter (DM) MJ⁻¹ in 2001 and 2.40–2.53 g DM MJ⁻¹ in 2002, and harvest indices (HI) of 0.38–0.40 in both years. Differences in yield among the varieties are explained by differences in growth duration. Under aerobic conditions, mean RUE over water treatments dropped to 1.70–1.72 g DM MJ⁻¹ for all three varieties in 2001, and to 1.62 for HD502, 1.71 for HD297 and 1.86 for JD305 in 2002. With increasing dryness of the soil, the amount of intercepted light decreased at about the same rate for all varieties, but RUE decreased faster in the lowland than in the two aerobic varieties. The HI of JD305 decreased dramatically with increasing soil dryness and reached values of 0.19–0.21 in 2002. In contrast, the HI of both aerobic varieties remained relatively high under aerobic conditions, with lowest values of 0.27–0.28 for HD297 and 0.34–0.35 for HD502 in 2002. The relatively high HI of the aerobic varieties compensated for their relatively short growth duration so that their yields were higher than that of JD305 in all treatments. A high percentage filled grains is a key factor contributing to the high HI of the aerobic varieties under aerobic conditions.     

Water balance and rice growth responses to direct seeding,deep tillage,and landscape placement: Findings from a valley terrace in Nepal

For maximizing water retention and attaining high yields, transplanting into puddled soil (TPR) is often considered the optimal method of rice (Orzya sativa L.) establishment. Alternative management techniques like direct seeding (DSR) and deep tillage have been proposed as mechanisms to improve soil physical properties for subsequent dry-season crops, but the risks to rice are uncertain. In this full factorial study on a valley terrace in Nepal, the influence of tillage (shallow—T₁, deep chisel—T₂, deep chisel + moldboard plough—T₃) and establishment practice (TPR, DSR) on the field water balance and rice performance were evaluated in two adjacent landscape settings (terrace edge “upland”, central terrace “lowland”). Although deep tillage had only modest influences on seepage and percolation (SP) rates in both years (Y₁, Y₂), landscape placement and establishment practice had significant implications for the water balance (e.g. Y₂ SP cm day⁻¹: TPR-lowland = 1.6, DSR-lowland = 2.3, TPR-upland = 4.1, DSR-upland = 6.1). During low rainfall periods, however, soil water potential and drought vulnerability were governed solely by landscape placement. Despite water balance differences, there was little evidence that rice rooting behavior was substantially modified by landscape or establishment method. Weed biomass was higher in DSR, but was uncorrelated with water balance and productivity trends. In Y₁, lower SP rates and more days with continuous flooding were positively associated with rice productivity. DSR yields were significantly lower than TPR in both landscape positions, with the lowland outperforming the upland (Y₁ mt ha⁻¹: TPR-lowland = 6.4, DSR-lowland = 5.2, TPR-upland = 5.7, DSR-upland = 4.7). To determine if N dynamics were contributing to productivity differences, fertilizer nitrogen was increased from 120 to 150 kg N ha⁻¹ in Y₂. Results suggest that DSR performance is comparable – and landscape less important – if nitrogen is non-limiting (Y₂ mt ha⁻¹: TPR-lowland = 6.9, DSR-lowland = 6.5, TPR-upland = 7.0, DSR-upland = 6.5); no aspect of the field water balance was associated with yield variability in Y₂. For direct seeding in N-deficient farming systems, landscape criteria may prove useful for minimizing production risks by identifying field areas with lower SP rates.     

Interspecific competition,N use and interference with weeds in pea–barley intercropping

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were intercropped and sole cropped to compare the effects of crop diversity on productivity and use of N sources on a soil with a high weed pressure. ¹⁵N enrichment techniques were used to determine the pea–barley–weed-N dynamics. The pea–barley intercrop yielded 4.6 t grain ha⁻¹, which was significantly greater than the yields of pea and barley in sole cropping. Calculation of land equivalent ratios showed that plant growth factors were used from 25 to 38% more efficiently by the intercrop than by the sole crops. Barley sole crops accumulated 65 kg soil N ha⁻¹ in aboveground plant parts, which was similar to 73 kg soil N ha⁻¹ in the pea–barley intercrop and significantly greater than 15 kg soil N ha⁻¹ in the pea sole crop. The weeds accumulated 57 kg soil N ha⁻¹ in aboveground plant parts during the growing season in the pea sole crops. Intercropped barley accumulated 71 kg N ha⁻¹. Pea relied on N₂ fixation with 90–95% of aboveground N accumulation derived from N₂ fixation independent of cropping system. Pea grown in intercrop with barley instead of sole crop had greater competitive ability towards weeds and soil inorganic N was consequently used for barley grain production instead of weed biomass. There was no indication of a greater inorganic N content after pea compared to barley or pea–barley. However, 46 days after emergence there was about 30 kg N ha⁻¹ inorganic N more under the pea sole crop than under the other two crops. Such greater inorganic N levels during early growth phases was assumed to induce aggressive weed populations and interspecific competition. Pea–barley intercropping seems to be a promising practice of protein production in cropping systems with high weed pressures and low levels of available N.     

秸秆带状覆盖对旱地冬小麦产量及土壤水分的影响

为探讨西北半干旱雨养条件下秸秆带状覆盖麦田水分利用特征和增产效果,通过田间试验,以露地条播为对照(CK),研究了3种不同覆盖处理[秸秆带状覆盖常规条播(SM1)、秸秆带状覆盖宽幅条播(SM2)和全膜覆土穴播(PM)]对旱地冬小麦田土壤含水量、小麦产量和水分利用效率的影响。结果表明,秸秆带状覆盖和全膜覆土穴播均可显著改善小麦全生育期0~20cm以及开花前20~90cm土壤墒情,但开花后20~90cm以及全生育期90~200cm土壤墒情普遍不如CK。3种覆盖处理均能促进冬小麦对土壤贮水的利用,显著提高开花至成熟阶段的耗水量及其占总耗水量的比例。秸秆带状覆盖和全膜覆土穴播生育期耗水量分别比CK增加4.6%和7.6%。秸秆带状覆盖在孕穗前0~200cm土壤墒情与全膜覆土穴播无显著差异,孕穗期开始则好于全膜覆土穴播;全膜覆土穴播0~200cm土壤贮水消耗量显著高于秸秆带状覆盖,而开花至成熟阶段的耗水量及其占总耗水量的比例则略低于秸秆带状覆盖。3种覆盖处理均显著提高产量和水分利用效率,PM、SM1和SM2较CK分别增产36.8%、29.7%和27.5%,水分利用效率分别提高27.3%、23.9%和22.7%。产量与生育期耗水量呈显著正相关(r=0.97*)。覆盖处理中,全膜覆土穴播产量虽最高,但从产量、水分利用效率和经济效益角度综合考虑,秸秆带状覆盖优于全膜覆土穴播。因此认为,秸秆带状覆盖是一种更加高产高效、适宜在西北半干旱雨养区推广的覆盖种植方式。     

Mixing groundnut residues and rice straw to improve rice yield and N use efficiency

Groundnut as a pre-rice crop is usually harvested 1–2 months before rice transplanting. During this lag phase much of N in groundnut residues could be lost due to rapid N mineralization. Mixing of abundantly available rice straw with groundnut residues may be a means for reducing N and improve subsequent crop yields. The objectives of this experiment were to investigate the effect of mixing groundnut residues and rice straw in different proportions on (a) growth and yield of succeeding rice, (b) groundnut residue N use efficiency and (c) N lost (¹⁵N balance) from the plant–soil system and fate of residue N in soil fractions. The experiment consisted of six treatments: (i) control (no residues), (ii) NPK (at recommended rate, 38 kg N ha⁻¹), (iii) groundnut residues 5 Mg ha⁻¹ (120 kg N ha⁻¹), (iv) rice straw 5 Mg ha⁻¹ (25 kg N ha⁻¹), (v) 1:0.5 mixed (groundnut residues 5 Mg: rice straw 2.5 Mg ha⁻¹), and (vi) 1:1 mixed (groundnut residues 5 Mg: rice straw 5 Mg ha⁻¹). After rice transplanting, samples of the lowland rice cultivar KDML 105 were periodically collected to determine growth and nutrient uptake. At final harvest, dry weight, nutrient contents and ¹⁵N recovery of labeled groundnut residues were evaluated.     

Long-term effects of inorganic and organic fertilizer sources on yield and nutrient accumulation of lowland rice

Deceleration in rice (Oryza sativa L.) yield over time under fixed management conditions is a concern for countries like Bangladesh, where rice is the primary source of calories for the human population. Field experiments were conducted from 1990 to 1999 on a Chhiata clay loam soil (Hyperthermic Vertic Endoaquept) in Bangladesh, to determine the effect of different doses of chemical fertilizers alone or in combination with cow dung (CD) and rice husk ash (ash) on yield of lowland rice. Two rice crops—dry season rice (December–May) and wet season rice (July–November) were grown in each year. Six treatments—absolute control (T₁), one-third of recommended fertilizer doses (T₂), two-thirds of recommended fertilizer doses (T₃), full doses of recommended fertilizers (T₄), T₂+5 t CD and 2.5 t ash ha⁻¹ (T₅) and T₃+5 t CD and 2.5 t ash ha⁻¹ (T₆) were compared. The CD and ash were applied on dry season rice only. The 10-year mean grain yield of rice with T₁ was 5.33 t ha⁻¹ per year, while the yield with T₂ was 6.86 t ha⁻¹ per year. Increased fertilizer doses with T₃ increased the grain yield to 8.07 t ha⁻¹ per year, while the application of recommended chemical fertilizer doses (T₄) gave 8.87 t ha⁻¹ per year. The application of CD and ash (T₅ and T₆) increased rice yield by about 1 t ha⁻¹ per year over that obtained with chemical fertilizer alone (T₂ and T₃, respectively). Over 10 years, the grain yield trend with the control plots was negative, but not significantly, both in the dry and wet seasons. Under T₃ through T₆, the yield trend was significantly positive in the dry season, but no significant trend was observed in the wet season. The treatments, which showed positive yield trend, also showed positive total P uptake trend. Positive yield trends were attributed to the increasing P supplying power of the soil.     

东北玉米带秸秆覆盖免耕对土壤性状的影响

研究玉米秸秆全覆盖免耕对土壤性质的影响及在东北春玉米种植区的应用。结果表明,在播种前后,免耕较常规垄作可增加30%～78%土壤含水量,显著降低耕层土壤温度,增加表层0～20 cm土壤容重;秸秆全覆盖免耕较常规垄作极显著增加单位面积土壤内蚯蚓的数量和重量;免耕5年后,土壤有机质变化主要集中在表层,在0～5 cm,秸秆全覆盖免耕土壤有机质含量5年间增加了29.1%。实施秸秆全覆盖免耕可以达到土壤可持续发展,积温较低区域采取此耕作方式可适当降低秸秆覆盖量。     

Evapotranspiration,yield, and water-use efficiency responses of Lesquerella fendleri at different growth stages

Lesquerella fendleri (Gray) Wats. is a potential new oilseed crop for the arid southwestern United States. Lesquerella seed oil with similar properties as castor oil is being considered as a domestic replacement for the imported castor oil. Development of new crops with low irrigation needs is of high priority. Because the most critical stage of sensitivity to moisture deficits has not been determined in Lesquerella species, the objectives of this study were: (i) to identify the most critical stage or stages for moisture deficit and, (ii) to determine the effect of moisture deficit on yield, yield components, oil and fatty acid composition. Two-year field studies were conducted at the New Mexico State University, Leyendecker Plant Science Research Center. The experimental design was a randomized complete block. The treatments consisted of (a) T1: Continuous favorable soil moisture [irrigated at 50% soil water depletion (SWD)]. (b) T2: Moisture stress (75% SWD) from establishment to initial flowering with no stress from flowering to final harvest (50% SWD). (c) T3: No stress imposed from establishment to initial flowering (50% SWD) followed by stress to final harvest (75% SWD). (d) T4: Moisture stress (75% SWD) from establishment to final harvest. The amount of water applied ranged from 810 to 729 mm for the first year, and 810 to 625 mm for the second year. Seed weight per plant and number of pods per plant were generally higher when water availability was maintained at or above 50% SWD throughout the growing season. Neither seed number per pod nor seed size was influenced by irrigation treatments. Lesquerella was more sensitive to water availability during flowering and seed development as a greater loss in seed yield occurred when irrigation was delayed to 75% SWD during that stage of development. Seed yield and dry matter production from the 2 year field studies were closely related to the seasonal cumulative evapotranspiration. For each millimeter of evapotranspiration, seed yield increased from 1.8 kg ha⁻¹ mm in 1994–1995 to 1.3 kg ha⁻¹ mm for 1995–1996. The dry matter production increased 13.4 kg ha⁻¹ for each mm increase in seasonal evapotranspiration during 1994–1995. This relationship was a second order polynomial with an R² of 0.86 during 1995–1996. The WUE_gr and WUE_dm were highest under the most favorable water availability conditions for growth and seed development. Delaying irrigation to 75% SWD throughout the crop growth period resulted in the lowest oil content. Lesquerolic acid content was not affected by irrigation during both the growing seasons.