Rice-Based Cropping Systems and Their Development in China

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the major environmental factors, such as temperature, rainfall, soil, and population that influence crop production. Rice is grown in the tropic, subtropic, temperate, and subtemperate zones in China, and on plains, basins, hilly regions, and plateaus. Temperature is the most important environmental factor that affects rice-based cropping systems in China. Referring to natural conditions and specialties of rice production in different localities, the rice-cropping areas of China are divided into six belts. These divisions of rice belts are discussed in the chapter. Several problems in multiple-cropping systems, such as growing season stress, deterioration of soil physical and chemical properties, pest problems, and stress in labor utilization are also discussed in the chapter. High cropping intensity brought about obvious changes in insect fauna and the population dynamics of major insect pests. The yellow stem borer, striped rice stem borer, and rice plant skipper were the major insect pests of rice in China. Because these problems had occurred, readjustments of rice-based cropping systems were started in 1978. The cropping intensity in some places has been reduced and the problems have been solved to a certain extent, but grain production has also decreased.