Effects of Different Cultivation Methods and Straw Incorporation on Grain Yield and Nutrition Quality of Rice

Abstract

Plastic film mulching cultivation (PFMC) under non-flooded condition has been considered as a new water-saving technique in rice production, while yield decline from continuous cropping of aerobic rice is a constraint to the widespread adoption of PFMC. Rice straw incorporation has been proposed to counter this negative effect in recent decades. This study examined the effects of three cultivation methods and rice straw incorporation on rice grain yield and quality using Liangyoupeijiu (an indica hybrid). The three cultivation treatments were: conventional flooding cultivation (CFC); non-flooded plastic film mulching cultivation (PFMC); no mulching cultivation in non-flooded condition (NMC). Compared with that under CFC, average rice grain yield under PFMC from 2008 to 2010 was significantly improved by 8.0%, while total amino acids content was decreased by 3.5%, no obvious effect was observed on rice protein, Fe and Zn concentrations in rice; under NMC, the reduction in yield, protein, total amino acids and Fe concentrations were 5.1%, 4.4%, 9.3%, and 11.8%, respectively. With rice straw incorporation, grain yield was improved by 113.6, 142.6, and 522.1 kg ha 1 under CFC, NMC, and PFMC, respectively. Average rice grain yield, Fe and Zn contents in brown rice were significantly improved by 3.3%, 3.1%, and 6.4% with rice straw incorporation. The results of the three years showed the same trend in rice grain yield and nutrition quality. The results indicated that PFMC could improve not only grain yield, but also part of rice nutrition quality. Rice straw incorporation could significantly improved rice grain yield as well as Fe and Zn concentrations in brown rice, which would be a good method to overcome grain yield decline under long term PFMC.