Abstract
Microwave (MW) soil heating has been shown to deplete the soil weed seedbank and increase crop productivity. However, the impact of MW soil heating on the nutritive value of crops is unknown. In this study, two field trials were conducted to evaluate the effect of pre-sowing MW soil treatment with a duration of 60 s and an untreated control, which were assigned in a randomized complete block design with five replicates at two locations, on the yield and nitrogen (N) accumulation pattern of rice crops. At Jerilderie site, soil heating at up to 70–75 °C significantly (p ˂ 0.09) increased the rice biomass yield by 43.03% compared with rice biomass yield in untreated soils, while at Dookie site no significant increase in biomass yield was detected. Dry matter digestibility (DMD), ash, and N% did not change, whereas the N accumulation in dry biomass was significantly (p ˂ 0.09) higher at both sites (8.2% at Dookie and 43.4% at Jerilderie) and N use efficiency (10–40%) increased in response to MW soil treatment. The current study suggests that MW soil treatment can potentially enhance the crop productivity and N accumulation in dry biomass under field conditions. Future research is needed to understand the impact of MW soil heating on the productivity and nutritive value of different fodder crops under field conditions.
Highlights
The incorporation of new technologies in the agriculture industry can help in sustaining food production [1]
The current study suggests that MW soil treatment can potentially enhance the crop productivity and N accumulation in dry biomass under field conditions
Future research is needed to understand the impact of MW soil heating on the productivity and nutritive value of different fodder crops under field conditions
Summary
The incorporation of new technologies in the agriculture industry can help in sustaining food production [1] To this end, pre-sowing microwave (MW) soil heating (i.e., 70–80 ◦ C) has been shown to control weed infestations [2,3,4,5], kill the weeds’ reproductive parts, and their seeds to a depth of 6 cm [6]. In Australia, a prototype has been developed to apply the MW energy between crop rows to suppress post-emergence weeds (normally at 3–5 leaves stage) and this prototype has been employed to sterilize soil’s weed seed banks before crop sowing It has four independently controlled 2-kW MW generators, operating at 2.45 GHz [9]. The rapid increase in soil temperature distinguishes MW technology from the numerous thermal technologies and this characteristic of MW technology (i.e., real time heating) has benefitted the technology adaptation for soil sterilization under field conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
