Effect of Irrigation Regimes and Soil Texture on the Potassium Utilization Efficiency of Rice

Yousef Alhaj Hamoud,Rangjian Qiu,Mohammed Elbashier,Mohamed Sheteiwy,Hiba Shaghaleh,Zhenchang Wang,Xiangping Guo,Sheng Chen

doi:10.3390/agronomy9020100

Abstract

Understanding the effects of irrigation regime and soil texture on potassium-use efficiency (KUE) of rice (Oryza sativa. L) is essential for improving rice productivity. In this regard, experiments were conducted from July to October in 2016 and 2017 by using a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement with four replications. The rice plants were grown in three soils, with clay contents of 40%, 50%, and 60%, which were marked as S (40%), S (50%), and S (60%), respectively. For each soil type, irrigation regimes, namely, R (F, S100%), R (F, S90%), and R (F, S70%), were established by setting the lower limit of irrigation to 100%, 90%, and 70% of saturated soil water content, respectively, and the upper limit of irrigation with 30 mm of flooding water above the soil surface for all irrigation regimes. Results showed that the responses of the roots and shoots and the potassium accumulation (KA) and KUE of rice were significantly affected by the water regime and soil texture. In the same irrigation regime, increasing the soil clay content improved the K utilization of rice. Under the same soil type, R (F, S100%) was the optimal water management practice for growing rice. The R (F, S100%) S (60%) treatment presented the highest KUE, which was 56.4% in 2016 and 68.1% in 2017. The R (F, S70%) S (40%) treatment showed the lowest KUE, which was 13.8% in 2016 and 14.9% in 2017. These results enrich knowledge regarding the relationship among soil, water, and rice, and provide valuable insights on the effect of irrigation regime and soil texture on the KA and KUE of rice.

Highlights

Agriculture is facing the challenge of providing sufficient food for the rapidly growing population
Crack network intensity was significantly affected by soil water content at the low limit of the irrigation regime and soil clay content (Figure 2)
The saturated-flooded irrigation regime is preferred over the aerobic-flooded irrigation regime for obtaining high biomass production and potassium utilization of rice

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is facing the challenge of providing sufficient food for the rapidly growing population. Rice is one of the most important cereal crops, feeding more than 60% of the Chinese population [1] and 40% of the global population [2]. China has scarce water resources, and rice farming uses nearly 65% of Chinese freshwater resources [3]. As a result of the changing climate, increasing population, and water shortage, Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation has been implemented widely in China [4]. In AWD, alternating flood and non-flood conditions are practiced in the field [5,6].

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Conclusion