Paddy Fields Research Articles

Comparison of plant microbiota in diseased and healthy rice reveals methylobacteria as health signatures with biocontrol capabilities

IntroductionRice (Oryza sativa) is a staple food worldwide, but its production is under constant pressure from both abiotic and biotic stresses, resulting in high use of agrochemicals. The plant microbiome harbours microorganisms that can benefit plant health and provide alternatives to the use of agrochemicals. The composition of plant microbiomes depends on many factors (soil composition, age, and health) and is considered a primary driver of future plant health. To identify plant microbiomes that protect against disease, we hypothesised that asymptomatic rice plants in fields under high pathogen pressure (i.e., healthy islands of plants among predominantly diseased plants) might harbour a microbiota that protects them from disease.Material and MethodsWe sampled healthy and leaf-diseased plants in rice fields with high disease incidence in Cambodia and profiled their microbiota at leaf, root, and rhizosphere levels using 16S V3V4 and 18S V4 amplicon barcoding sequencing.ResultsComparison of amplicon sequence variants (ASV) of the microbiota of healthy and diseased samples revealed both disease and healthy signatures (significant enrichment or depletion at ASV/species/genus level) in both fields. The genera Methylobacterium and Methylorubrum were identified health taxa signatures with several species significantly enriched in healthy leaf samples (Methylobacterium indicum, Methylobacterium komagatae, Methylobacterium aerolatum, and Methylorubrum rhodinum). A cultivation approach on rice samples led to the isolation of bacterial strains of these two genera, which were further tested as bioinoculants on rice leaves under controlled conditions, showing for some of them a significant reduction (up to 77%) in symptoms induced by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae infection.DiscussionWe validated the hypothesis that healthy plants in fields under high disease occurrence can host specific microbiota with biocontrol capacities. This strategy could help identify new microbes with biocontrol potential for sustainable rice production.

A Trp-574-Leu mutation in acetolactate synthase confers imazamox resistance in barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) from China

Abstract Barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.] is increasingly infesting imidazolinone-tolerant (IMI-T) rice fields in China, imazamox resistance of E. crus-galli has become the major concern for weed management in IMI-T rice fields. In this study, the susceptible population JLGY-3 (S) and the suspected resistant population JHXY-2 (R) collected from IMI-T rice fields were used as research subjects. When treated with imazamox, JHXY-2 (R) population showed a high level of herbicide resistance with a resistance index (RI) of 31.2. JHXY-2 (R) was cross-resistant to all five acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors from different chemical families, but sensitive to herbicides inhibiting acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase). In order to understand the reason why JHXY-2 (R) was resistant to imazamox, we performed experiments to characterize potential TSR and NTSR mechanisms. A trp-574-leu amino acid mutation in ALS and low imazamox ALS sensitivity were the main mechanism underlying imazamox resistance in this JHXY-2 (R) population. There was no significant difference in ALS gene expression and ALS protein abundance between R and S populations. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed enhanced metabolism of imazamox in JHXY-2 (R), which was in contrast to the results of pretreatment with a metabolic enzyme inhibitor. Treatments with the P450/GST inhibitors did not alter the resistance level of JHXY-2 (R) against imazamox. To further clarify the NTSR mechanism of JHXY-2 (R), transcriptome sequencing showed that there was almost no significant difference in the expression of P450 and GST metabolic enzyme genes between R and S populations, and only GST-U1 showed a significant induction in R population. In conclusion, amino acid mutation and higher enzyme activity of ALS are the main causes of imazamox resistance in JHXY-2 (R). However, given the differences in imazamox residues in the leaves of the E. crus-galli, there may still be undetectable NTSR that are causing imazamox resistance in the R population.

Setting Up Methane Mitigation Measures for Indian Rice Fields: Representative Emissions and New Interpretations

AbstractRice cultivation produces methane (CH4) due to anaerobic conditions induced by flood irrigation, significantly contributing to global warming. While most studies use national emission factors (EFs), our study synthesized 726 published measurements across India (the second largest methane emitter after China) to develop district‐level water regime‐specific EFs for estimating district‐scale emissions and warming potential. CH4 emissions from Indian rice fields increased from 3.7 (3.4–4.1) Tg to 4.8 (4.4–5.3) Tg during 1966–2017, driven by rice area and water‐regime variations. Meanwhile, district‐level emissions increased by ∼930%, influenced by management practices such as animal manure, fertilizer application, and water input, accurately reflecting regional variations compared to previous estimates. Employing a novel muti‐output random forest mitigation model (R2 ∼ 0.9), we found that a 25% warming reduction at the district‐level requires curtailing animal manure, nitrogen fertilizer, and water input by 8.5%, 12.9%, and 10.9%, respectively. These curtailments nearly double for a 50% mitigation scenario. Comparing our emissions with previous bottom‐up studies (used as inputs in global climate models) revealed discrepancies in prior national figures. With top‐down estimates, our emissions correlated positively, suggesting higher reliability. Including our new regionally validated data in global climate models may provide more accurate climate projections at the Indian and global scales.

Eyes on nature: Embedded vision cameras for terrestrial biodiversity monitoring

Abstract We need comprehensive information to manage and protect biodiversity in the face of global environmental challenges, and artificial intelligence is required to generate that information from vast amounts of biodiversity data. Currently, vision‐based monitoring methods are heterogenous; they poorly cover spatial and temporal dimensions, overly depend on humans, and are not reactive enough for adaptive management. To mitigate these issues, we present a portable, modular, affordable and low‐power device with embedded vision for biodiversity monitoring of a wide range of terrestrial taxa. Our camera uses interchangeable lenses to resolve barely visible and remote targets, as well as customisable algorithms for blob detection, region‐of‐interest classification and object detection to automatically identify them. We showcase our system in six use cases from ethology, landscape ecology, agronomy, pollination ecology, conservation biology and phenology disciplines. Using the same devices with different setups, we discovered bats feeding on durian tree flowers, monitored flying bats and their insect prey, identified nocturnal insect pests in paddy fields, detected bees visiting rapeseed crop flowers, triggered real‐time alerts for waterfowl and tracked flower phenology over months. We measured classification accuracies (i.e. F1‐scores) between 55% and 95% in our field surveys and used them to standardise observations over highly resolved time scales. Our cameras are amenable to situations where automated vision‐based monitoring is required off the grid, in natural and agricultural ecosystems, and in particular for quantifying species interactions. Embedded vision devices such as this will help addressing global biodiversity challenges and facilitate a technology‐aided agricultural systems transformation.

A novel electrochemical sensor based on ꞵ-cyclodextrin/bismuth oxybromide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode with in situ addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide for the simultaneous detection and degradation of tebuconazole.

A novel electrochemical sensor-based glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated and appliedtosimultaneous detection and degradation of tebuconazole (TBZ) for the first time.TheGCE was consecutively modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr), ꞵ-cyclodextrin (ꞵ-CD), and in situ addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr). The detection was based on the decreasing of Bi signal at its anodic potential (Epa) of 0.05V. Under the optimum conditions, the modified electrode exhibited a linear response to TBZ in the concentration range 1-100μg L-1 with a detection limit of 0.9μg L-1. TBZ was firstly adsorbed on the surface of the modified electrode through host-guest molecule interactions of the ꞵ-CD. The adsorption was further enhanced by the large surface area of BiOBr and MWCNTs. The adsorbed TBZ on the electrode surface hindered the electron transfer of Bi, thus decreasing the oxidation of Bi. In addition, the in situ addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) enriched TBZ via electrostatic interactions, increasing its detection sensitivity. The fabricated electrochemical sensor was applied to determine TBZ in water and soil samples from rice fields with recoveries of 80.5-100.5% and 87.6-112%, respectively. Furthermore, the degradation of TBZ on the modified electrode was studied under a solar light simulator. The degradation percentage (100%) of TBZ (50µg L-1) was achieved in5min owing to the excellent photocatalytic properties of BiOBr.

Isolation of Heavy Metal-Tolerant and Anti-Phytopathogenic Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria from Soils.

In this study, by isolating multifunctional soil bacteria that can promote plant development, resist heavy metals, exhibit anti-phytopathogenic action against plant diseases, and produce extracellular enzymes, we hope to improve the effectiveness of phytoremediation techniques. To isolate multifunctional soil bacteria, we used soils with diverse characteristics as isolation sources. To look into the diversity and structural traits of the bacterial communities, We conducted amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene on five types of soils and predicted functional genes using Tax4Fun2. The isolated bacteria were evaluated for their multifunctional capabilities, including heavy metal tolerance, plant growth promotion, anti-phytopathogenic activity, and extracellular enzyme activity. The genes related to plant growth promotion and anti-phytopathogenic activity were most abundant in forest and paddy soils. Burkholderia sp. FZ3 and FZ5 demonstrated excellent heavy metal resistance (≤ 1 mM Cd and ≤ 10 mM Zn), Pantoea sp. FC24 exhibited the highest protease activity (24.90 μmol tyrosine·g-DCW-1·h-1), and Enterobacter sp. PC20 showed superior plant growth promotion, especially in siderophore production. The multifunctional bacteria isolated using traditional methods included three strains (FC24, FZ3, and FZ5) from the forest and one strain (PC20) from paddy field soil. These results indicate that, for the isolation of beneficial soil microorganisms, utilizing target gene information obtained from isolation sources and subsequently exploring target microorganisms is a valuable strategy.

Differential effects of pH on cadmium accumulation in Artemisia argyi growing in low and moderately cadmium-contaminated paddy soils

BackgroundPhytoremediation is affected by physical and chemical properties of the soil such as soil pH, moisture, and nutrient content. Soil pH is a key element influencing Cd bioavailability and can be easily adjusted in agricultural practices. The soil pH level may relate to the effectiveness of phytoremediation; however, this has not been extensively investigated. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of Cd contamination level (0.56 and 0.92 mg/kg) and soil pH (5, 6, and 7) on Cd accumulation and allocation in Artemisia argyi, a fast-growing perennial crop.ResultsOur results indicated that higher soil Cd concentrations reduce A. argyi biomass, and the loss of the root mass was particularly significant. Higher soil pH decreased Cd content in stems and roots of A. argyi cultivated in moderately Cd-polluted soil, and increased Cd content in stems and roots of the plant grown in low Cd-polluted soil. Higher soil pH decreased the percentage of Cd distributed in the soluble fraction and cell walls and increased the percentage of Cd in the organelles of leaf cells for moderate soil Cd levels. The bioconcentration and translocation factor exceeded 4.0 and 1.0, respectively, across all tested treatments, indicating that A. argyi is a promising candidate for phytoremediation. Notably, the effects of soil pH on Cd accumulation and subcellular distribution in A. argyi differed between low and moderately Cd-contaminated soils.ConclusionAdjustments to soil pH based on the degree of Cd contamination can enhance Cd extraction by A. argyi, thereby reducing the overall remediation cycle of cadmium-polluted paddy fields of South China.Graphical

The Assessment of Peak Discharge Increment Due to Land Use Change in the Serang Welahan Drainage 1 (SWD 1) River, Central Java Province, Semarang

SWD1 River is located in one of those flood-prone areas in Central Java that generates flood hazards causing high risk to the surrounding rice fields and communities. However, a comprehensive study of flood hazards in SWD1 River has never been conducted. Nowadays, previous comprehensive flood studies in Indonesia only available for several very developed areas, such as the Jakarta Flood [1] – [5], Bandung Flood and Solo Flood , or new iconic area for mangrove conservation such as Langsa City . Most previous studies conclude that flood hazards in Indonesia are commonly generated by rain runoff, tides, and dam break flows, or a combination of these generators . Existing conditions show that SWD 1 is unable to accommodate runoff from the Wulan River, causing flooding. Based on rainfall data from BMKG, the maximum rainfall per month for a year reaches 323 mm. This study is an effort to analyze the impact of land use change.The research method used analysis of the influence of changes in CN (Curve Number) due to changes in land use on flood discharge as shown through changes in the Soil Conservation Service (SCS-CN) hydrograph on discharge and runoff volume. The selection of the SCS-CN method is due to its widespread adoption in various regions, its extensive use in numerous analytical studies, and its suitability for the characteristics of the watershed under review.The analysis results show that there has been a change in flood discharge from 2019 and 2022 with values of 366.920 and 371.154 m3/second. The discharge values did not change significantly because the CN values were as follows, 83.25 and 83.36. Through analysis, it can be seen that an increase in discharge of 1.14% from 2011 to 2022.The several alternatives are needed to reduce flooding, such as watershed conservation upstream, minimizing land use changes and building flood mitigation infrastructure downstream.

Surface water mapping in rice paddies and wetlands using SENTINEL-1 data, random forests, and texture features

Surface water mapping in rice paddies and wetlands using SENTINEL-1 data, random forests, and texture features

Interplay mechanism of exogenous hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide in modulating ascorbate–glutathione cycle under nickel-induced oxidative stress in two paddy field cyanobacteria

Interplay mechanism of exogenous hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide in modulating ascorbate–glutathione cycle under nickel-induced oxidative stress in two paddy field cyanobacteria

Prevalence and Characterization of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes Existing in RD41 Rice Fields in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, with Emphasis on Hirschmanniella mucronata and Meloidogyne graminicola

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are one of the most destructive pests affecting rice growth worldwide. In this study, populations of PPNs associated with RD41 rice fields in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand, were surveyed and the dominant PPNs found in the fields were identified using a combination of morphological and molecular traits. A total of 105 soil or root samples were taken from 21 paddy fields in 7 districts of Pathum Thani, and nematode extraction was processed in a laboratory. In all sampled rice fields, 6 nematode genera, namely Hirschmanniella sp., Meloidogyne sp., Pratylenchus sp., Tylenchorhynchus sp., Helicotylenchus sp., and Tylenchus sp., were extracted. Of these 6 nematode genera, Hirschmanniella sp. was the most prevalent in both soil and root samples (66.7 - 100 % occurrence observed), followed by Meloidogyne sp., which was found in only 4 districts of the province (0.2 to 8.7 % occurrence observed). The species of these predominant PPNs were morphologically and molecularly characterized. The identification results remained consistent across morphological features and molecular techniques, confirming the presence of Hirschmanniella mucronata and Meloidogyne graminicola in the studied rice fields. The results of this study provide useful baseline data of the occurrence of PPNs in Thailand's rice fields. The incidence of some PPNs found in this study is likely to become a significant factor limiting rice production yields if they are not better managed. HIGHLIGHTS Plant-parasitic nematode (PPN) populations in RD41 rice fields located in Pathum Thani province, Thailand were examined Six PPN genera were extracted from soil and root samples The predominant PPNs were characterized using morphological and molecular traits The main PPNs were identified as mucronata and M. graminicola This study provides useful baseline data of PPNs found in Thailand's rice fields GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Can eDNA Present in Aquatic Environments of Rural Areas Help Identify Species Diversity in the Order Anura?

Paddy fields are classified as wetland environments, and they comprise freshwater ecosystems. They are ecologically important habitats and breeding grounds for many aquatic insects, amphibians, and reptiles. However, paddy field ecosystems are constantly threatened by climate change and the indiscriminate use of pesticides. The metabarcode analysis of eDNA (environmental DNA) method is highly effective at accumulating information on many organisms that inhabit paddy field ecosystems. It can indirectly identify the existence of taxa that are no longer found in the target ecosystem due to behavioral characteristics, such as those exhibited by amphibians. In the metabarcoding results of this study, genes of five species of frogs were found, but it was impossible to confirm all of the frogs’ taxa, morphological pictures, and croak sounds. On the other hand, some frog taxa were only found in the metabarcoding analysis. The eDNA of the frogs found only in the metabarcoding analysis is estimated to have been introduced from nearby areas inhabited by frogs rather than the target region. Due to the powerful analytical resolution of eDNA metabarcoding, this eDNA-based paddy field search is expected to help investigate the biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems.

Model Lanskap Permukiman Tradisional Masyarakat Adat Rejang Provinsi Bengkulu Berbasis Budaya Lokal

Rejang is one of the original tribes of Bengkulu Province. This tribe mostly lives in the Bukit Barisan area. Some of their settlements are undergoing changes due to the rapidly growing flow of information and communication today. Conservation efforts need to be made, especially about their traditional settlement landscape model. The purpose of this study is to identify and analyze the character of traditional settlement landscapes and their constituent elements and compile a model of traditional settlement landscapes of the indigenous Rejang people. This research uses a descriptive method through a literature study approach, interviews, and field observations. The analysis was carried out descriptively and spatially. The landscape character of the indigenous Rejang tribe settlement is in the form of hilly landforms with land cover in the form of forests, gardens, and terraced rice fields, with the valley floor in the form of small and medium rivers. Traditional settlements stretch over ridges to mountain peaks. The character-forming features of landscapes include both natural and artificial features. Natural features consist of the elements of hills, forests, and rivers. Artificial features consist of terraced rice fields, gardens/fields, and settlements. The settlement itself includes traditional houses (including traditional chiefs' houses), circulation paths, public open spaces, and tombs. The elements that make up the Residential Garden include residential houses, rice barns (tangkiang), kitchens, fence plants, vegetable and flower plants, trees, yards, mortar (places to pound rice). Traditional ceremonial activities are held inside and outside the home, as well as communal activities such as planting and harvesting rice held in rice fields. The landscape model of the traditional settlement of the indigenous people of Rejang Lebong is linear with the center of the settlement along the main road on the ridge. The settlement is surrounded by gardens/fields and rice fields. The forest is on the outside away from settlements.

Telaah Hubungan Tongkonan dan Lanskap Budaya Toraja: Analisis Sistem Aktivitas dan Ekspresi Sistem Setting

Tongkonan, as vernacular architecture, cannot be dissociated from its cultural landscape. Tongkonan and its cultural landscape form a holistic entity that constitutes Toraja culture as a whole. However, most current research focuses solely on Tongkonan’s architectural and structural aspects. There are still few studies that explore Tongkonan’s vernacular architecture in connection with its cultural landscape, including its relationship to the culture of its people and its geographical context. This research is a desk study with the aim of formulating aspects related to further examining the relationship between Tongkonan as vernacular architecture and its cultural landscape based on theory of systems of activity and systems of setting. In addition, this paper contributes to fulfilling the 11th SDGs, covering four pillars -social, economic, ecology, and cultural. The method used is qualitative-descriptive with content analysis to analyze data obtained from the literature study. The analysis is supported by empirical studies in Kete' Kesu village in North Toraja Regency. The chosen location is an ancient village with a fairly complete cultural landscape and good accessibility. The findings show that the systems of activity for Toraja people in Tongkonan and its cultural landscape include domestic, religius, ecology and socio-economic activities. The systems of setting for Tongkonan and its cultural landscape encompass Tongkonan itself, alang, grazing area, puya, rante, saroan, paddy field, forest/kombong, farm, lantang, middle yard, Tongkonan surrounding, penanian, territory/liliq, area diamben, area ma'dika, area renge direnge, bridge, villages, settlement, pasar, graveyard, parampa.

Exploring the effect of fertilizer application on yield and decoding CO2 flux under flooded paddy conditions towards sustainable agriculture

The impact of organic and inorganic nutrient management on the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), soil properties such as available nutrients, microbial population and soil organic carbon (SOC) were investigated in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) field (at 8o 46’ N Latitude and 77o 42?’ E Longitude) under flooded condition during late pishanam season in 2023-2024. The treatments were designed to observe the effects of applying fertilizer based on the soil test crop response (100 % STCR-based NPK) that had been modified by organic amendments, which include absolute control (unfertilized), inorganic fertilizers, sole application of organic amendments (Farm yard manure, Green leaf manure, Vermicompost and Poultry manure) and combined these organic amendments with inorganic fertilizers. The main objective of this study is to understand the intricate relationship between fertilizers and carbon flux in paddy soils, which is crucial for developing sustainable agricultural practices that minimize environmental harm while ensuring food security. The observation of the experimental field study reported that the combined application of poultry manure at the rate of 5 tonnes per hectare with 100% STCR-based inorganic fertilizer recorded maximum yield and yield attributes. The treatment combination of poultry manure + inorganic fertilizer enhanced in sequestrating the soil organic carbon (0.67%) resulted in higher grain yield (5972 kg ha-1) and also observed that this combination will limit the emission of CO2 to the atmosphere. Therefore, it could be a better choice for carbon storage and higher productivity in a sustainable rice cropping system.

Fine-tuning GAN Models with Unpaired Aerial Images for RGB to NDVI Translation in Vegetation Index Estimation

Calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) requires expensive multispectral cameras, posing challenges such as high costs and the need for technical expertise. This research aims to develop a method to transform RGB images obtained from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) into NDVI images. Our proposed method leverages the CycleGAN model, an unsupervised image-to-image translation framework, to learn the intricate mapping between RGB values and NDVI. The model was trained on unpaired datasets of RGB and NDVI images, sourced from paddy fields located in Gresik and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. This process successfully encapsulated the complex correlation between these two modalities. Various training strategies were systematically investigated, including weight initialization schemes, fine-tuning procedures, and learning rate policies, to optimize the model's performance. The fine-tuned CycleGAN demonstrated superior performance in creating synthetic NDVI images from unpaired dataset, surpassing other methods in terms of fidelity, quality, and structural coherence. The results were impressive, with a Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) of 0.327, a Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of 16.330, an Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) score of 0.859, and a Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of 0.757. The best performing CycleGAN model was then deployed on a low-spec microcomputer device, specifically the Raspberry Pi 4B with an average computation time of 21.0077 seconds. Raspberry Pi 4B was chosen for its lightweight, compact dimensions, and compatibility with efficient battery power connections, making it suitable for drone deployment.

Analisis Karakteristik Fisik Lahan Kawasan Perumahan di Dusun Jering VI, Desa Sidorejo, Kecamatan Godean, Kabupaten Sleman

Land characteristics include land factors that can be measured or estimated in size such as slope, rainfall, soil texture, available water and so on. The study was conducted at a housing location in Jering VI Hamlet, Sidorejo Village, Godean District, Sleman Regency which is located on Mount Wungkal. The condition of Mount Wungkal before being used as housing had dense vegetation, but with the large-scale opening of housing land, there were changes that occurred on Mount Wungkal. The opening of the land caused several impacts on the environment so it is important to know the physical characteristics of the land in the area. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the physical characteristics of the land in the research area. The method used is the survey and mapping method in data collection and descriptive analysis. The results of the study obtained are the physical characteristics of the land of the Godean Jogja Hills housing area, there are several criteria that are appropriate and inappropriate. The criteria that are not appropriate are slope gradient, area of green open space, drainage infrastructure capacity, not located in a disaster-prone area (landslides, floods, erosion, and abrasion), not located in an agricultural/buffer cultivation area, distance to educational facilities, health facilities and trade and commerce facilities and the appropriate criteria are the area for building houses, water availability, not located in the border area of rivers/coasts/reservoirs/lakes/springs/irrigation channels/railways and safe flight areas, not located in protected areas, avoiding technical irrigation rice fields, wastewater disposal systems and garbage disposal systems

Evaluation of moisture migration and microstructure of quick-frozen wet rice flour after freeze-thaw cycles and changes in texture, cooking, and sensory properties.

This study investigated the quality changes of quick-frozen wet rice flour before and after freeze-thaw cycles. As the freeze-thaw cycle was prolonged, the water mobility of quick-frozen wet rice flour decreased and the pore size and porosity of the microstructure increased. As a result, the hardness, cooking loss, water absorption, and water precipitation of the rice flour increased, while the sensory score and viscosity decreased. Correlation analysis showed that porosity was positively correlated with the hardness and water absorption of rice flour, and negatively correlated with structural properties such as shearing work and resilience. Water absorption and water precipitation rate were positively related to cooking loss. Thus, moisture migration in rice flour induced microstructural changes to cause alterations in texture, cooking, and sensory properties. Interestingly, quick-frozen wet rice flour still possessed good texture, cooking, and sensory qualities after two freeze-thaw cycles. This study laid the foundation for the development of high-quality quick-frozen wet rice flour.

Temporal variations of N and P losses via surface runoff from Chinese farmland after fertilisation

The loss of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) via surface runoff induced by fertilisation leads to water pollution and aggravates water scarcity. Studies estimating N and P losses from farmland have focused on the efficacy of agricultural management actions at reducing the amount of N and P lost. However, a gap remains in understanding the dynamics of N and P losses from farmland, especially differences among types of farmland, crop and fertiliser. Thus, the temporal variations of N and P losses via surface runoff from farmland induced by fertilisation were estimated using 5530 groups of paired observations collected in China. The results showed that N and P losses via surface runoff from paddy fields associated with fertilisation were greater than losses from upland fields. However, after > 90 days post-fertilisation, the effects of fertilisation on N and P loss from paddy fields were non-significant, while the effects of fertilisation on N and P losses from upland fields remained significant. Organic fertilisation decreased N losses from upland and paddy fields, but at more than 60 days post-fertilisation, N and P losses from upland fields were greater with organic than chemical or combined fertilisation. Increasing the fertilisation rate led to higher N and P losses from upland and paddy fields and extended the occurrence time of N and P loss from paddy fields. Overall, this study demonstrates the dynamic processes associated with fertilisation underlying N and P losses from farmland via surface runoff.

Postharvest Rice Value Chain in Arequipa, Peru: Insights into Farmers’ Storage Decisions

We examined the postharvest rice value chain among farmers in the Arequipa region of Peru, focusing on the stages of value creation after harvest. Our study is complemented by an economic analysis that provides insights into farmers’ decisions on whether or not to store rice after harvest. We found that farmers produced, on average, 65 tons of paddy rice on a 5 ha farm. Most farmers (over 85%) milled their paddy rice immediately after harvest, usually by paying a fee to a private mill. Milled rice was then sold to intermediaries (wholesalers and retailers). Approximately 13% and less than 1% of farmers stored their paddy rice before and after milling, respectively. Storage provided minimal financial benefits once grain preservation costs and price arbitrage were considered. Our findings offer guidance for policymakers and investment partners to enhance the efficiency of the postharvest rice value chain and to improve outcomes for farmers in Peru and other developing countries.