Integration of Growing Milk Vetch in Winter and Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Can Improve Rice Yield in Double-Rice Cropping System

doi:10.1016/j.rsci.2015.11.003

Abstract

Abstract:

To study whether integrative fertilization [growing milk vetch in winter and reducing the dose of chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer] can improve rice yield, and to reveal the underlying regulatory mechanisms for integrative fertilization, a three-year field trial including two treatments, milk vetch-rice-rice (MRR) and winter fallow-rice-rice (FRR), was conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Our results demonstrated that the MRR treatment could significantly improve rice yield compared with the FRR treatment, especially when the application ratio of milk vetch and chemical fertilizer was 1:2. MRR treatment increased the effective panicle number and the spikelet number per panicle. In addition, a higher tillering number, leaf area index, photosynthetic-potential and photosynthetic-potential to grain ratio were observed in MRR treatment, which could provide enough dry matter for yield formation. Moreover, in MRR treatment, we discovered a higher transportation ratio and transformation ratio of dry matter in culm and leaves, and a stronger total sink capacity and spikelet-root bleeding intensity at the heading stage and 15 d after heading. Furthermore, the MRR treatment showed higher total N, phosphorus and potassium uptakes than FRR treatment, which was associated with the higher root dry weight in each soil layers. These results suggest that growing milk vetch in winter can improve rice yield under less chemical N fertilizer application, which is due to the improvement of soil nutrient status and the increased of rice root growth and development.

Key words: milk vetch, double-rice cropping system, dry matter, sink-source circulation, yield, nitrogen, rice

Chun-huo Zhou, Zun-kang Zhao, Xiao-hua Pan, Shan Huang, Xue-ming Tan, Jian-fu Wu, Qing-hua Shi. Integration of Growing Milk Vetch in Winter and Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Can Improve Rice Yield in Double-Rice Cropping System[J]. Rice Science, 2016, 23(3): 132-143.

Figures/Tables 9

References 49

[1]	Asagi N, Ueno H.2009. Nitrogen dynamics in paddy soil applied with various 15N-labelled green manures.Plant Soil, 322: 251-262.
[2]	Ashraf M, Mahmood T, Azam F, Qureshi R M.2004. Comparative effects of applying leguminous and nonleguminous green manures and inorganic N on biomass yield and nitrogen uptake in flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.).Biol Fert Soils, 40(2): 147-152.
[3]	Belefant-Miller H.2007. Poultry litter induces tillering in rice.J Sustain Agric, 31(1): 151-160.
[4]	Bremner J M, Mulvaney C S.1982. Nitrogen-total. In: Page A L. Methods of Soil Analysis: II. Madison, Wisconsin, USA: American Society of Agronomy: 595-624.
[5]	Budhar M N, Palaniappan S P.1996. Effect of integration of fertilizer and green manure nitrogen on yield attributes, nitrogen uptake and yield of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.).J Agron Crop Sci, 176: 183-187.
[6]	Cao S Q, Zhang R X, Tang Y L, Yang T N.2002. A new index for identifying the relationship between leaf photosynthesis and grain filling in grain filling stage of rice.Acta Agron Sin, 28: 516-520. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[7]	Cassman K G, Pingali P L.1995. Extrapolating trends from long-term experiments to farmers’ fields: The case of irrigated rice system in Asia. In: Barnett V, Payne R, Steiner R. Agricultural Sustainability: Economic, Environmental and Statistical Considerations. New York, USA: John Wiley & Sons: 63-84.
[8]	Chang H L, Park K D, Jung K Y, Muhammad A A, Dokyoung L, Gutierrez J, Kim P J.2010. Effect of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) as a green manure on rice productivity and methane emission in paddy soil.Agr Ecosyst Environ, 138: 343-347.
[9]	Cherr C M, Avila L, Scholberg J M S, McSorley R.2006. Effects of green manure use on sweet corn root length density under reduced tillage conditions.Renew Agric Food Syst, 21(3): 165-173.
[10]	Clement A, Ladha J K, Chalifour F P.1998. Nitrogen dynamics of various green manure species and the relationship to lowland rice production. Agron J, 90(2): 149-155.
[11]	Deng M H, Shi X J, Tian Y H, Yin B, Zhang S L, Zhu Z L, Kimura S D.2012. Optimizing nitrogen fertilizer application for rice production in the Taihu Lake region, China.Pedosphere, 22(1): 48-57.
[12]	Dobermann A, Witt C, Dawe D, Abdulrachman S, Gines H C, Nagarajan R, Satawathananont S, Son T T, Tan P S, Wang G H, Chien N V, Thoa V T K, Phung C V, Stalin P, Muthukrishnan P, Ravi V, Babu M, Chatuporn S, Sookthongsa J, Sun Q, Fu R, Simbahan G C, Adviento M A A.2002. Site-specific nutrient management for intensive rice cropping systems in Asia.Field Crops Res, 74(1): 37-66.
[13]	Fageria N K, Baligar V C.2001. Lowland rice response to nitrogen fertilization.Commun Soil Sci Plan, 32: 1405-1429.
[14]	Fageria N K, Baligar V C, Bailey B A.2005. Role of cover crops in improving soil and row crop productivity.Commun Soil Sci Plant, 36: 2733-2757.
[15]	Fageria N K.2007. Green manuring in crop production.J Plant Nutr, 30(5): 691-719.
[16]	Gabriel J L, Quemada M.2011. Replacing bare fallow with cover crops in a maize cropping system: Yield, N uptake and fertilizer fate.Eur J Agric, 34(3): 133-143.
[17]	Gao J S, Cao W D, Dong C H, Xu M G, Zeng X B, Wen S L.2010. Effects of long-term rice-rice-green manure rotation on rice yield.Chin J Rice Sci, 24(6): 672-676. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[18]	Godfray H C J, Beddington J R, Crute I R, Haddad L, Lawrence D, Muir J F, Pretty J, Robinson S, Thomas S M, Toulmin C.2010. Food security: The challenge of feeding 9 billion people.Science, 327: 812-818.
[19]	Guo J H, Liu X J, Zhang Y, Shen J L, Han W X, Zhang W F, Christie P, Goulding K W T, Vitousek P M, Zhang F S.2010. Significant acidification in major Chinese croplands.Science, 327: 1008-1010.
[20]	Hartwig N L, Ammon H U.2002. Cover crop and living mulches.Weed Sci, 50: 688-699.
[21]	Hasanuzzaman M, Ahamed K U, Rahmatullah N M, Akhter N, Nahar K, Rahman M L.2010. Plant growth characters and productivity of wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.) as affected by application of different manures.Emir J Food Agric, 22(1): 46-58.
[22]	Huang J, Gao J S, Liu S J, Cao W D, Zhang Y Z.2013. Effect of Chinese milk vetch in winter on rice yield and its nutrient uptake.Soil Fert Sci China, 1: 88-92. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[23]	Latt Y K, Myint A K, Yamakawa T, Ogata K.2009. The effects of green manure (Sesbania rostrata) on the growth and yield of rice.J Fac Agric Kyushu Univ, 54(2): 313-319.
[24]	Lemaire G, Gastal F.1997. Nitrogen uptake and distribution in plant canopies. In: Lemaire G. Diagnosis of the Nitrogen Status in Crops. Berlin: Springer-Verlag: 3-43.
[25]	Li D Q, Tang Q Y, Zhang Y B, Qin J Q, Li H, Chen L Q, Yang S H, Zou Y B, Peng S B.2012. Effect of nitrogen regimes on grain yield, nitrogen utilization, radiation use efficiency, and sheath blight disease intensity in super hybrid rice.J Integr Agric, 11(1): 134-143.
[26]	Li S L, Li D R, Hu C, Qiao Y, Li S B, Chen Y F.2012. Impact of reducing chemical fertilizer combined with Chinese milk vetch on growth and yield of double cropping rice.Soil Fert Sci Chin, 1: 69-73. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[27]	Miao Y X, Stewart B A, Zhang F S.2011. Long-term experiments for sustainable nutrient management in China.Agron Sustain Dev, 31: 397-414.
[28]	Nziguheba G, Merckx R, Palm C A, Mutuo P.2002. Combining Tithonia diversifolia and fertilizers for maize production in a phosphorus deficient soil in Kenya.Agroforestry Syst, 55(3): 165-174.
[29]	Peng S B, Buresh R J, Huang J L, Yang J C, Zou Y B, Zhong X H, Wang G H, Zhang F S.2006. Strategies for overcoming low agronomic nitrogen use efficiency in irrigated rice systems in China.Field Crops Res, 96(1): 37-47.
[30]	Peng S B, Huang J L, Zhong X H, Yang J C, Wang G H, Zou Y B, Zhang F S, Zhu Q S, Buresh R, Witt C.2002. Research strategy in improving nitrogen use efficiency of irrigated rice in China.Sci Agric Sin, 35(9): 1095-1103. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[31]	Peng S B, Huang J L, Zhong X H, Yang J C, Wang G H, Zou Y B, Zhang F S, Zhu Q S, Buresh R, Witt C.2002. Research strategy in improving nitrogen use efficiency of irrigated rice in China.Sci Agric Sin, 35(9): 1095-1103. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[32]	Peng X L, Liu Y Y, Luo S G, Fan L C, Song T X, Guo Y W.2007. Effects of site-specific nitrogen management on yield and dry matter accumulation of rice from cold areas of northeastern China.Agric Sci China, 6(6): 715-723.
[33]	Phiri S, Rao I M, Barrios E, Singh B R.2003. Plant growth, mycorrhizal association, nutrient uptake and phosphorus dynamics in a volcanic ash soil in Colombia as affected by the establishment of Tithonia diversifolia.J Sustain Agric, 21(3): 41-59.
[34]	Sangakkara U R, Liedgens M, Soldati A, Stamp P.2004. Root and shoot growth of maize (Zea mays) as affected by incorporation of Crotalaria juncea and Tithonia diversifolia as green manures.J Agron Crop Sci, 190: 339-346.
[35]	Shahidullah S M, Musa M H, Ashrafuzzaman M, Ismail M R, Salam M A.2009. Tillering dynamics in aromatic rice genotypes.Int J Agric Biol, 11(5): 509-514.
[36]	Sharma R K, Chauhan D S, Nagarajan S.1999. Current status of crop response to fertilisers in different agro-climatic regions- experience of the all India coordinated rice improvement project.Fert News, 44: 39-43.
[37]	Sheehy J E, Dionora M J A, Mitchell P L.2001. Spikelet numbers, sink size and potential yield in rice.Field Crops Res, 71(2): 77-85.
[38]	Siavoshi M, Laware S L, Laware S L.2011. Effect of organic fertilizer on growth and yield components in rice (Oryza sativa L.).J Agric Sci, 3(3): 217.
[39]	Singh Y, Khind C S, Singh B.1991. Efficient management of leguminous green manures in wetland rice.Adv Agron, 45: 135-189.
[40]	Tilman D, Fargione J, Wolff B, D’Antonio C, Dobson A, Howarth R, Schindler D, Schlesinger W H, Simberloff D, Swackhamer D.2001. Forecasting agriculturally driven global environmental change.Science, 292: 281-284.
[41]	Walinga I, Houba V J G, Novozamsky I.1995. Plant Analysis Manual. Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publisher: 255-256.
[42]	Wang F, Zhang G P, Bai P.2005. Achievement and prospects of research on evaluation of the relationship between source and sink in rice.Chin J Rice Sci, 19(6): 556-560. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[43]	Xu G W, Yang L N, Zhang H, Wang Z Q, Liu L J, Yang J C.2008. Absorption and utilization of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in rice plants under site-specific nitrogen management and wheat-residue incorporation.Acta Agron Sin, 34(8): 1424-1434.
[44]	Yan J, Yu J, Tao G C, Vos J, Bouman B A M, Xie G H, Meinke H.2010. Yield formation and tillering dynamics of direct-seeded rice in flooded and nonflooded soils in the Huai River Basin of China.Field Crops Res, 116(3): 252-259.
[45]	Yang J C, Zhu Q S, Wang Z Q, Lang Y Z.1997. Photosynthetic characteristics, dry matter accumulation and its translocation in intersubspecific hybrid rice.Acta Agron Sin, 23(1): 82-88. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[46]	Yang Z P, Xu M G, Zheng S X, Nie J, Gao J S, Liao Y L, Xie J .2012. Effects of long-term winter planted green manure on physical properties of reddish paddy soil under a double-rice cropping system.J Integr Agric, 11(4): 655-664.
[47]	Yuan M M, Liu Q, Zhang S L, Chen W R, Yu H S.2011. Effects of biological nitrogen fixation and plow-down of green manure crop on rice yield and soil nitrogen in paddy field.Acta Pedol Sin, 48: 797-803. (in Chinese with English abstract)
[48]	Zeng X M, Han B J, Xu F S, Huang J L, Cai H M, Shi L.2012. Effects of modified fertilization technology on the grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of midseason rice.Field Crops Res, 137(20): 203-212.
[49]	Zhang Q F.2007. Strategies for developing Green Super Rice.Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 104: 16402-16409.

Treatment	2010
Treatment	N	P₂O₅	K₂O	N	P₂O₅	K₂O	N	P₂O₅	K₂O
MRR	122.7	72	180	86.7	72	180	119.6	72	180
FRR	180	72	180	180	72	180	180	72	180

Treatment	2010
Treatment	N	P₂O₅	K₂O	N	P₂O₅	K₂O	N	P₂O₅	K₂O
MRR	122.7	72	180	86.7	72	180	119.6	72	180
FRR	180	72	180	180	72	180	180	72	180

Year	Season	Sowing date	Transplanting date
Year	Season	(Month-Day)	(Month-Day)
2010	Early rice	3月27日	4月27日
	Late rice	6月26日	7月25日
2011	Early rice	3月28日	4月28日
	Late rice	6月29日	7月30日
2012	Early rice	3月25日	4月26日
	Late rice	6月25日	7月26日

Year	Season	Sowing date	Transplanting date
Year	Season	(Month-Day)	(Month-Day)
2010	Early rice	3月27日	4月27日
	Late rice	6月26日	7月25日
2011	Early rice	3月28日	4月28日
	Late rice	6月29日	7月30日
2012	Early rice	3月25日	4月26日
	Late rice	6月25日	7月26日

Year	Season	Treatment	Yield (kg/hm²)	PN (× 10⁴/hm²)	SPP	SSR (%)	TGW (g)
2010	Early rice	MRR	7 653 ± 104 a	397 ± 8.7 a	130 ± 3.2 a	77.0 ± 2.1 b	27.9 ± 0.4 a
		FRR	7 416 ± 119 a	342 ± 12.9 b	128 ± 4.9 a	87.0 ± 4.6 a	27.4 ± 2.8 a
	Late rice	MRR	7 970 ± 134 a	283 ± 9.1 a	151 ± 2.9 a	82.2 ± 1.3 a	22.2 ± 0.1 a
		FRR	7 654 ± 69 b	287 ± 5.3 a	147 ± 4.8 a	85.4 ± 2.8 a	20.4 ± 0.3 a
2011	Early rice	MRR	8 588 ± 159 a	464 ± 18.4 a	94 ± 1.7 a	93.0 ± 1.7 b	28.5 ± 0.9 a
		FRR	8 459 ± 102 a	430 ± 7.2 b	93 ± 1.8 a	96.1 ± 2.7 a	29.0 ± 3.6 a
	Late rice	MRR	9 783 ± 120 a	421 ± 3.3 a	165 ± 8.1 a	73.8 ± 0.2 b	23.5 ± 0.3 a
		FRR	9 353 ± 66 b	401 ± 5.3 b	153 ± 1.4 b	75.7 ± 1.5 a	23.6 ± 0.2 a
2012	Early rice	MRR	9 437 ± 102 a	391 ± 5.3 a	110 ± 2.1 a	84.5 ± 1.1 b	29.1 ± 0.1 a
		FRR	8 162 ± 78 b	337 ± 7.3 b	101 ± 2.1 b	88.2 ± 1.3 a	29.1 ± 0.1 a
	Late rice	MRR	10 079 ± 110 a	393 ± 4.2 a	114 ± 3.3 a	82.8 ± 2.4 b	22.9 ± 1.0 a
		FRR	8 281 ± 87 b	373 ± 8.2 b	102 ± 1.9 b	86.7 ± 1.7 a	22.4 ± 2.4 a