Simulating Responses of Rice Yield and Nitrogen Fates to Ground Cover Rice Production System under Different Types of Precipitation Years

doi:10.1016/j.rsci.2024.06.004

Abstract

Abstract:

The Ground Cover Rice Production System (GCRPS) has considerable potential for securing rice production in hilly areas. However, its impact on yields and nitrogen (N) fates remains uncertain under varying rainfall conditions. A two-year field experiment (2021-2022) was conducted in Ziyang, Sichuan Province, located in the hilly areas of Southwest China. The experiment included two cultivation methods: conventional flooding paddy (Paddy, W1) and GCRPS (W2). These methods were combined with three N management practices: N1 (no-N fertilizer), N2 (135 kg/hm² urea as a base fertilizer in both W1 and W2), and N3 (135 kg/hm² urea with split application for W1 and 67.5 kg/hm² urea and chicken manure separately for W2). The WHCNS (Soil Water Heat Carbon Nitrogen Simulator) model was calibrated and validated to simulate ponding water depth, soil water storage, soil mineral N content, leaf area index, aboveground dry matter, crop N uptake, and rice yield. Subsequently, this model was used to simulate the responses of rice yield and N fates to GCRPS under different types of precipitation years using meteorological data from 1980 to 2018. The results indicated that the WHCNS model performed well in simulating crop growth and N fates for both Paddy and GCRPS. Compared with Paddy, GCRPS reduced N leaching (35.1%-54.9%), ammonia volatilization (0.7%-13.6%), N runoff (71.1%-83.5%), denitrification (3.8%-6.7%), and total N loss (33.8%-56.9%) for all precipitation year types. However, GCRPS reduced crop N uptake and yield during wet years, while increasing crop N uptake and yield during dry and normal years. Fertilizer application reduced the stability and sustainability of rice yield in wet years, but increased the stability and sustainability of rice yield in dry and normal years. In conclusion, GCRPS is more suitable for normal and dry years in the study region, leading to increased rice yield and reduced N loss.

Key words: precipitation year type, ground cover rice production system, rice yield, nitrogen fate, model simulation

Ren Jian, Hu Kelin, Feng Puyu, William D. Batchelor, Liu Haitao, Lü Shihua. Simulating Responses of Rice Yield and Nitrogen Fates to Ground Cover Rice Production System under Different Types of Precipitation Years[J]. Rice Science, 2024, 31(6): 725-739.

Figures/Tables 6

Fig. 1. Relationships of simulated and measured ponding water depth (A), soil water storage (B), soil mineral nitrogen (N) content (C), leaf area index (LAI, D), aboveground dry matter (E), crop N uptake (F), and yield (G). The fitted equation is derived from linear regression analysis with an intercept of zero. R2 is the coefficient of determination.

Fig. 2. Rice yield for different types of precipitation years. W1, Conventional flooding paddy; W2, Ground Cover Rice Production System; N1, No nitrogen (N) fertilizer; N2, 135 kg/hm2 urea as a base fertilizer; N3, 135 kg/hm2 urea with split application for W1 and 67.5 kg/hm2 of urea and chicken manure separately for W2. The pentagram and horizontal line in the box diagram are the mean and median, respectively.

Fig. 3. Response of nitrogen (N) fates to Ground Cover Rice Production System (GCRPS) under different types of precipitation years. A, Crop N uptake; B, N leaching; C, Ammonia volatilization; D, N runoff; E, Denitrification; F, Total N loss.W1, Conventional flooding paddy; W2, GCRPS; N1, No-N fertilizer; N2, 135 kg/hm2 urea as a base fertilizer; N3, 135 kg/hm2 urea with split application for W1 and 67.5 kg/hm2 of urea and chicken manure separately for W2. The pentagram and horizontal line in the box diagram are the mean and median, respectively.

Fig. 4. Proportions of nitrogen (N) loss terms for different precipitation year types. W1, Conventional flooding paddy; W2, Ground Cover Rice Production System.

Fig. 5. Correlation analysis between meteorological factors and the rate of yield increase in Ground Cover Rice Production System (GCRPS). R, Rate of yield increasing in GCRPS; P, Precipitation; T, Air temperature; H, Humidity; W, Wind speed; S, Sunshine hours. * or **, Significant at 0.05 or 0.01 probability levels, respectively.

Fig. 6. Rate of yield change in Ground Cover Rice Production System (GCRPS) within 6 d after heavy rainfall at different development stages in wet years.

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