Agrochemical-Free, Direct-Sowing Culture of a Paddy with Non-Woven Fabric Mulch – Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer –

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the amount of basal nitrogen fertilizer and topdressing with non-woven fabric mulch on a rice production system. Such characteristics as growth, dry matter production, nitrogen uptake, and grain yield were studied. During 2003, Koshihikari was grown in a field with this new method. Growth parameters such as leaf area index and crop growth rate were found to be higher for paddy plots that received topdressing treatments. Total top dry weight was slightly higher in topdressed plots, when compared to the plot with basal application. Nitrogen absorption was found to be higher in top dressing treated plots at heading time, and the nitrogen content in brown rice increased with this treatment. However, the topdressing treatment did not have an effect on leaf nitrogen percentages. In addition, we found no adverse effect (lodging) with the application of topdressing. We found that, as a result of the application of fertilizer amount and topdressing, grain yield remarkably increased. This increase occurred because such treatment produced higher values of these three features: leaf area index, crop growth rate, and number of grains. These results suggested that topdressing with non-woven fabric mulch for a direct-sowing rice production system produced effective results.