Parts Of Rice Plants Research Articles

Difference of Bleeding Intensity in Different Parts of Rice Plant and Its Relationship with Grain Plumpness

This study aimed to illustrate the mechanism of inferior grain plumpness in rice. A field experiment with 0, 90 and 180 kg ha1 N spike fertilizer application in the stage of rice young ear differentiation was carried out in 2005 and 2006 on the farm of Henan Agricultural University, Henan Province, China. Two varieties (indica and japonica rice) were used to study the periodical changes of basal and neck internode bleeding intensity, soluble sucrose in bleeding, daily change of bleeding intensity and the relationship between the bleeding intensity and soluble sucrose of neck internode with grain plumpness in the grain filling stage. The results showed that the changes of bleeding intensity between the basal and neck internodes were obviously different. The bleeding intensity in the basal internode reached the maximum value in the fifth day after anthesis and presented the drop tendency afterwards. The bleeding intensity of the neck internode appeared two peak values in the fifth and seventeenth days after anthesis. There was a valley value in the eleventh day after anthesis on average. The average bleeding intensity in the neck internode was higher under zero N lever than high N level. The daily change of bleeding intensity in the neck internode was low in the daytime and high at night, which reduced with rising N fertilizer application. Correlation analysis showed that there existed significantly positive correlation or highly signification between inferior grain plumpness and the bleeding intensity of neck internode in the 10, 15, 25, and 35 days after anthesis for the japonica, but not for the indica rice. The relationship between solublesucrose in the bleeding of neck internode and inferior grain plumpness showed highly significantly positive correlation, while that of the basal internode was not notable. It indicated that the relationship between bleeding in the neck internode and the inferior grain plumpness is close. The bleeding intensity of neck internode can be used as a index for measuring inferior grain plumpness. Therefore, increasing the bleeding intensity of neck internode by regulating N application can improve the inferior grain plumpness.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF RICE RESIDUES AS AFFECTED BY VARIETY AND CLIMATIC AND CULTIVATION ONDITIONS IN THREE CONTINENTS

Rice husk and straw are by-products of rice cultivation and processing industry and can be used as an energy source. Proper understanding of the physical properties of rice residues is necessary for utilizing them in thermochemical conversion processes such as gasification and combustion. The physical properties (moisture content, particle size, bulk density and porosity) of rice husks and straws obtained from three countries (Egypt, Cuba and China) were evaluated in this study. The moisture contents of rice husks and straws were in the ranges of 4.60-6.07% and 6.58-6.92%, respectively. For all rice varieties tested, the moisture content of the straws was higher than these of the husks. The particle sizes of rice husks and straws were in the ranges of 0.212-0.850 mm and 0-0.710 mm, respectively. All the rice husk varieties had a normal distribution of particle size around the main value of 0.6 mm while the particle size distribution for the rice straws showed a decreasing trend, the larger the particle size the higher was the weight percentage. The bulk density of rice husks and straws were in the ranges of 331.59-380.54 kg m-3 and 162.03-194.48 kg m-3, respectively. The bulk density values of rice straws were lower than those of rice husks. A negative linear relationship between the bulk density and the average particle size was observed for rice husks and straws. The porosity of rice husks and straws were in the ranges of 63.64-68.94% and 71.21-85.28%, respectively. A positive linear relationship between the porosity and the average particle size was observed for rice husks and straws. Also, a negative linear relationship between the porosity and the bulk density was observed. The results obtained from this study showed significant differences in the physical properties of the rice husks and straws collected from different countries (located in three different continents). These differences may be due to variations in climatic conditions, soil type, methods of cultivation and type of fertilizer used. The results also indicated that different parts of rice plant (straw and husk) had different physical properties. Also, significant differences were observed among rice varieties even though they were grown under the same climatic conditions using same soil type and cultivation method as in the case of the long and short grain rice variety of Egypt.

In vitro assessment on the impact of soil arsenic in the eight rice varieties of West Bengal, India

Rice is an efficient accumulator of arsenic and thus irrigation with arsenic-contaminated groundwater and soil may induce human health hazard via water–soil–plant–human pathway. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted on three high yielding, one hybrid and four local rice varieties to investigate the uptake, distribution and phytotoxicity of arsenic in rice plant. 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40mgkg−1 dry weights arsenic dosing was applied in pot soil and the results were compared with the control samples. All the studied high yielding and hybrid varieties (Ratna, IET 4094, IR 50 and Gangakaveri) were found to be higher accumulator of arsenic as compared to all but one local rice variety, Kerala Sundari. In these five rice varieties accumulation of arsenic in grain exceeded the WHO permissible limit (1.0mgkg−1) at 20mgkg−1 arsenic dosing. Irrespective of variety, arsenic accumulation in different parts of rice plant was found to increase with increasing arsenic doses, but not at the same rate. A consistent negative correlation was established between soil arsenic and chlorophyll contents while carbohydrate accumulation depicted consistent positive correlation with increasing arsenic toxicity in rice plant.

Selenium in Soil Inhibits Mercury Uptake and Translocation in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A great number of studies have confirmed that mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) antagonism is a widespread phenomenon in microorganisms, fish, poultry, humans, and other mammals. However, by comparison, little attention has been paid to plants. To investigate the influence of Se on the uptake and translocation of methylHg/inorganic Hg (MeHg/IHg) in the rice-soil system, we determined the levels of Se, IHg, and MeHg in different parts of rice plants (including the root, stem, leaf, husk, and grain (brown rice)) and corresponding soils of root zones collected from a Hg mined area, where Hg and Se co-occur due to historic Hg mining and retorting activities. The results showed that, in general, the Se levels were inversely related to the levels of both IHg and MeHg in the grains. In addition, a consistent reduction in translocation of both IHg and MeHg in the aerial shoots (i.e., the stem, leaf, husk, and grain) with increasing Se levels in the soils was observed. Furthermore, the Se levels were positively correlated with the IHg levels in the soils and the roots. These results suggest that Se may play an important role in limiting the bioaccessibility, absorption, and translocation/bioaccumulation of both IHg and MeHg in the aerial rice plant, which may be related to the formation of an Hg-Se insoluble complex in the rhizospheres and/or roots.

Inorganic mercury accumulation in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

To investigate the source and process of inorganic mercury (IHg) accumulation in rice, we monitored the concentrations of IHg in tissues of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) from four experimental plantation plots. Biweekly during the rice-growing season, tissues of rice plants, corresponding soil, precipitation, and irrigation water samples were collected. The sampling data support the following: (1) the atmosphere is the principal source of IHg to the aboveground parts of the rice plant; (2) both the atmosphere and soil contribute to IHg content in stalks, but the former source tends to be more important; and (3) soil is the major source of root IHg content. These observations and the fact that the gradually increasing concentration and mass of IHg in stalks and leaves during the rice-growing season suggested that atmospheric Hg could be absorbed by and incorporated into the aboveground parts of the rice plant and that limited or no Hg emission to the air or translocation to the soil occurred after deposition of atmospheric Hg. The root surface acted as a potential Hg barrier and consequently reduced the translocation of Hg ion mass through the root system to the aboveground parts. Accumulated IHg in aboveground parts of rice plants cannot be transported to seeds, which is completely different from the case of methylmercury.

The effects of biochars from rice residue on the formation of iron plaque and the accumulation of Cd, Zn, Pb, As in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings

A historically multi-metal contaminated soil was amended with biochars produced from different parts of rice plants (straw, husk and bran) to investigate how biochar can influence the mobility of Cd, Zn, Pb and As in rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.). Rice shoot concentrations of Cd, Zn and Pb decreased by up to 98%, 83% and 72%, respectively, due to biochar amendment, though that of As increased by up to 327%. Biochar amendments significantly decreased pore water concentrations (Cpw) of Cd and Zn and increased that of As. For Pb it depended on the amendment. Porewater pH, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved phosphorus, silicon in pore water and iron plaque formation on root surfaces all increased significantly after the amendments. The proportions of Cd and Pb in iron plaque increased by factors 1.8–5.7 and 1.4–2.8, respectively; no increase was observed for As and Zn. Straw-char application significantly and noticeably decreased the plant transfer coefficients of Cd and Pb. This study, the first to investigate changes in metal mobility and iron plaque formation in rice plants due to amending a historically contaminated soil with biochar, indicates that biochar has a potential to decrease Cd, Zn and Pb accumulations in rice shoot but increase that of As. The main cause is likely biochar decreasing the Cpw of Cd and Zn, increasing the Cpw of As, and increasing the iron plaque blocking capacity for Cd and Pb.

Metaproteogenomic analysis of microbial communities in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere of rice

The above- and below-ground parts of rice plants create specific habitats for various microorganisms. In this study, we characterized the phyllosphere and rhizosphere microbiota of rice cultivars using a metaproteogenomic approach to get insight into the physiology of the bacteria and archaea that live in association with rice. The metaproteomic datasets gave rise to a total of about 4600 identified proteins and indicated the presence of one-carbon conversion processes in the rhizosphere as well as in the phyllosphere. Proteins involved in methanogenesis and methanotrophy were found in the rhizosphere, whereas methanol-based methylotrophy linked to the genus Methylobacterium dominated within the protein repertoire of the phyllosphere microbiota. Further, physiological traits of differential importance in phyllosphere versus rhizosphere bacteria included transport processes and stress responses, which were more conspicuous in the phyllosphere samples. In contrast, dinitrogenase reductase was exclusively identified in the rhizosphere, despite the presence of nifH genes also in diverse phyllosphere bacteria.

Chromium Bioaccumulation in Rice Grown in Contaminated Soil and Irrigated Mine Wastewater—A Case Study at South Kaliapani Chromite Mine Area, Orissa, India

The level of chromium (Cr) contamination in soils and irrigated mine wastewater at South Kaliapani chromite mine region of Orissa, (India) were investigated. Chromium bioaccumulation in rice plants (Oryza sativa L. cv. Khandagiri) irrigated with Cr+6 contaminated mine wastewater was analyzed along with its attenuation from mine wastewater. The levels of Cr+6 in irrigated mine wastewaters in successive rice grown plots were analyzed on 75 days and 100 days after transplantation of seedlings. Total chromium content in different parts of rice plants and soil samples from different plots was analyzed during harvesting stage (125 days after transplantation). Cr accumulation was significantly high in surface soils (0–20 cm) with a mean value of 11,170 mg kg−1, but it decreased significantly after the crop harvest. About 70% to 90% reduction of Cr+6 levels was observed in irrigated mine wastewater when passed through successive rice plots. High bio-concentration of Cr in leaves with values ranging from 125–498 mg kg−1 as compared to stem (25–400 mg kg−1) and grain (5–23 mg kg−1) was noticed. The reduction of Cr+6 levels is related to plant age, high biomass and area of water passage and was attributed to rhizofiltration technique.

Accumulation of heavy metals in soil and paddy crop (Oryza sativa), irrigated with water of Ramgarh Lake, Gorakhpur, UP, India

Heavy metals, a highly polluting group of constituents known to exert adverse effects, tend to accumulate in living organisms. The objective of this study was to determine the accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in soil and in paddy crop irrigated with lake water compared to soil and paddy crop irrigated with bore-well water. The quantities of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg) were determined in different parts of rice plants (Oryza sativa). Results revealed that the mean levels of soil Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg in experimental soil and in different parts of rice plant (root, straw, and grain) were higher than the control except for Cu. The content of eight toxic metals was significantly higher in root than in aerial parts of the rice (straw and grains). Rice roots were enriched in Cd, As, Hg, and Pb from the soil, while Cr, Cu, Zn, and Mn were hardly taken by the roots. Bioaccumulation factor for Hg was significantly higher than other heavy metals. Metal transfer factors from soil to rice plants were significant for Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mn, and Hg. The concentrations of metals in lake water were found to be within the permissible limit of Indian standard prescribed by Central Pollution Control Board (2000), except for Hg and As, which were higher than the limit of Indian standard. However, the concentrations of heavy metals in soil and rice grains were still below the maximal levels, as stipulated by Indian Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA, 1954) and World Health Organization (WHO, 1993) guidelines.

Resíduos de azevém na superfície de um Planossolo alagado e seus efeitos na concentração de nutrientes na solução do solo e em plantas de arroz

A incorporação de resíduos de culturas ao solo em lavouras de arroz irrigado tem o potencial de melhorar as características físicas, químicas e biológicas do solo e acelerar as reações de oxirredução durante o alagamento, proporcionando maior disponibilidade de nutrientes para as plantas, que respondem com maior crescimento e maior absorção de nutrientes. Com o objetivo de determinar a concentração de nutrientes na solução do solo e quantificar a absorção de nutrientes e o crescimento de plantas de arroz submetidas a quantidades crescentes de resíduos de azevém aplicadas na superfície do solo, foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação. O experimento foi delineado em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições, sendo utilizadas como tratamentos doses de resíduos de azevém (0,0; 1,25; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 e 10,0Mg ha-1) aplicadas na superfície de um Planossolo. Sementes de arroz pré-germinadas da cultivar 'BRS 7 Taim' foram semeadas na superfície do solo, que foi alagado 15 dias após, e as plantas foram cultivadas por um período de 45 dias. Nas plantas de arroz, foram avaliados a massa seca da parte aérea e os teores dos nutrientes: N, K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu e Zn. Na solução do solo, foram avaliados o potencial redox (Eh), o pH e as concentrações de Mn, Fe, K, Ca e Mg. Os resultados mostraram que a adição de doses crescentes de resíduos de azevém na superfície do solo alagado, até a dose máxima de 10Mg ha-1, intensificou o processo de oxirredução do solo, aumentando a concentração de Mn, Fe, Ca, Mg e K na solução do solo, aumentou os teores de K e Fe na parte aérea das plantas de arroz e aumentou a massa seca de arroz.

Accumulation of arsenic and its distribution in rice plant (Oryza sativa L.) in Gangetic West Bengal, India

The presence of arsenic in irrigation water and in paddy field soil were investigated to assess the accumulation of arsenic and its distribution in the various parts (root, straw, husk, and grain) of rice plant from an arsenic effected area of West Bengal. Results showed that the level of arsenic in irrigation water (0.05–0.70 mg l−1) was much above the WHO recommended arsenic limit of 0.01 mg l−1 for drinking water. The paddy soil gets contaminated from the irrigation water and thus enhancing the bioaccumulation of arsenic in rice plants. The total soil arsenic concentrations ranged from 1.34 to 14.09 mg kg−1. Soil organic carbon showed positive correlation with arsenic accumulation in rice plant, while soil pH showed strong negative correlation. Higher accumulation of arsenic was noticed in the root (6.92 ± 0.241–28.63 ± 0.225 mg kg−1) as compared to the straw (1.18 ± 0.002–2.13 ± 0.009 mg kg−1), husk (0.40 ± 0.004–1.05 ± 0.006 mg kg−1), and grain (0.16 ± 0.001–0.58 ± 0.003 mg kg−1) parts of the rice plant. However, the accumulation of arsenic in the rice grain of all the studied samples was found to be between 0.16 ± 0.001 and 0.58 ± 0.003 mg kg−1 dry weights of arsenic, which did not exceed the permissible limit in rice (1.0 mg kg−1 according to WHO recommendation). Two rice plant varieties, one high yielding (Red Minikit) and another local (Megi) had been chosen for the study of arsenic translocation. Higher translocation of arsenic was seen in the high yielding variety (0.194–0.393) compared to that by the local rice variety (0.099–0.161). An appreciable high efficiency in translocation of arsenic from shoot to grain (0.099–0.393) was observed in both the rice varieties compared to the translocation from root to shoot (0.040–0.108).

Nitrogen Budget and Ammonia Volatilization in Paddy Fields Fertilized With Liquid Cattle Waste

A study was conducted to determine nitrogen budget and ammonia volatilization in Japanese paddy fields supplemented with liquid cattle waste (LCW). A series of four, 2 × 10 m experimental plots was established in a paddy field with silty clay soil planted with forage rice (Oryza sativa L.). In addition to 195 kg N ha−1 of chemical or compost-based basal fertilizer, LCW was applied as an additional fertilizer at total nitrogen rates of 0, 255, 255, and 405 kg N ha−1 to the four plots C195, T450-1, T450-2, and T600, respectively. The mass balance showed that after application of LCW, 32–39% of total input nitrogen was assimilated into aboveground parts of rice plants, 11–15% leached downward, 2.5–4.0% was lost via ammonia volatilization, 1.6–5.1% was retained in roots or was adsorbed onto soil, and approximately 30–40% was lost via denitrification. Compared to animal waste slurries applied to unsaturated soils, nitrogen loss via ammonia volatilization was relatively lower, probably due to the dilution effect of floodwater. Nitrogen loss via denitrification was markedly higher in areas where LCW was applied compared to areas without LCW application. On the other hand, nitrogen leaching downwards represented a substantial loss and may be an environmental concern. However, after LCW application only, the ammonium ion was detected, at a maximum nitrogen concentration of 11.4 mg L−1. In this system, therefore, nitrogen has a different fate to that in animal waste slurries applied to unsaturated soil. In that situation, the major nitrogen form in leaching water is nitrate nitrogen, which moves readily into groundwater.

Uptake and Distribution of Iodine in Rice Plants

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were cultivated in an experimental field and separated at harvest into different components, including polished rice, rice bran, hull, straw, and root. The contents of iodine in these components and the soil were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and radiochemical neutron activation analysis, respectively. Iodine content varied by more than three orders of magnitude among the plant components. Mean concentration of iodine in the entire plants was 20 mg kg(-1) dry weight, and the concentration of iodine in the surface soil (0-20 cm depth) was 48 mg kg(-1). The highest concentration of iodine (53 mg kg(-1) dry weight) was measured in root and the lowest concentration (0.034 mg kg(-1) dry weight) in polished rice. While the edible component (polished rice) accounted for 32% of the total dry weight, it contained only 0.055% of iodine found in the entire rice plants. Atmospheric gaseous iodine (5.9 ng m(-3)) was estimated to contribute <0.2% of the total iodine content in the biomass of rice plants; therefore nearly all of the iodine in the rice plants was a result of the uptake of iodine from the soil. The content of iodine in the aboveground part of rice plants was 16 mg kg(-1) dry weight and the percentage of iodine transferred per cropping from the soil into the aboveground biomass corresponded to 0.27% (20 mg m(-2)) of the upper soil layer content.

Evaluation of genetic diversity and plant growth promoting activities of nitrogen-fixing bacilli isolated from rice fields in South Brazil

Several strains of bacilli, mainly species of the genera Bacillus and Paenibacillus, displaying important plant growth promoting (PGP) characteristics were isolated from seven distinct rice production zones of the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Of 296 isolates, 155 were from rhizospheric soil and 141 from bulk soil. In order to evaluate the diversity among the isolates of each bacterial population the Shannon index was used on a 70% similarity basis. Diversity indices varying from 2.27 to 5.51 were obtained. Using principal coordinate analysis (PCA) to correlate bacterial diversity with soil parameters, it was found that soil pH was the characteristic most closely related to bacilli diversity. The bacilli isolated were also analyzed for some PGP activities. Of those 296 isolates, 94 and 148 produced between 0.1 and 30 μg of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) ml −1 in vitro after 72 and 144 h of incubation, respectively. Twenty-two isolates were able to solubilize phosphate and 32 isolates produced siderophores. Paenibacillus and Bacillus genera were the most prominent groups in the rhizosphere and soil populations analyzed. Paenibacillus borealis was the most frequent species in both locations. The isolate SVPR30, identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as a strain of Bacillus sp., was chosen for in vivo greenhouse experiments and proved to be very efficient in promoting a significant increase in the roots and shoot parts of rice plants. The identification and isolation of PGP bacilli from temperate and subtropical soils, which combine the ability to fix nitrogen with the production of substances capable to promote the plant growth, could significantly increase productivity of grain crops in Brazil.

Uptake of Toxic Heavy Metals by Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivated in the Agricultural Soil near Zhengzhou City, People’s Republic of China

Higher accumulation of toxic heavy metals in rice grown in agricultural soil may lead to health disorder. A field experiment was carried out to investigate uptake and translocation of Cd, Cr, Pb, As, and Hg by different parts of rice plant in various irrigation regions. The results showed the rice grain contained significantly lower amounts of five metals than straw and root in all sampling sites. Rice root accumulated Cd, As, and Hg from the paddy soil. Moreover, the rice plant transported As very weakly, whereas Hg was transported most easily into the straw and grain among studied heavy metals.

Distribution of Imidacloprid Residues in Different Parts of Rice Plants and Its Effect on Larvae and Adult Females of Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Distribution of Imidacloprid Residues in Different Parts of Rice Plants and Its Effect on Larvae and Adult Females of Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Conservation and Diversification of Meristem Maintenance Mechanism in Oryza sativa : Function of the FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 Gene

To elucidate the genetic mechanism that regulates meristem maintenance in monocots, here we have examined the function of the gene FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 (FON2) in Oryza sativa (rice). Mutations in FON2 cause enlargement of the floral meristem, resulting in an increase in the number of floral organs, although the vegetative and inflorescence meristems are largely normal. Molecular cloning reveals that FON2 encodes a small secreted protein, containing a CLE domain, that is closely related to CLAVATA3 in Arabidopsis thaliana. FON2 transcripts are localized at the apical region in all meristems in the aerial parts of rice plants, showing an expression pattern similar to that of Arabidopsis CLV3. Constitutive expression of FON2 causes a reduction in the number of floral organs and flowers, suggesting that both the flower and inflorescence meristems are reduced in size. This action of FON2 requires the function of FON1, an ortholog of CLV1. Constitutive expression of FON2 also causes premature termination of the shoot apical meristem in Arabidopsis, a phenotype similar to that caused by constitutive expression of CLV3. Together with our previous study of FON1, these results clearly indicate that the FON1-FON2 system in rice corresponds to the CLV signaling system in Arabidopsis and suggest that the negative regulation of stem cell identity by these systems may be principally conserved in a wide range of plants within the Angiosperms. In addition, we propose a model of the genetic regulation of meristem maintenance in rice that includes an alternative pathway independent of FON2-FON1.

Trace elements accumulation in soil and rice plants irrigated with the contaminated water

We carried out a study to see the effect of contaminated water of Nullah Dek on fine rice paddy and straw yields and trace elements accumulation in different parts of rice plants and soil. A site was selected near the bank of Nullah Dek at Kot Pindi Das in the District of Sheikhupura, Pakistan. The water of this nullah is contaminated by industrial effluents carrying different micronutrients. This water was employed to grow rice crop. Water samples were collected before transplanting and during the season with 15 days interval for analysis from 20 July to 1 November 2002 from a spot near village Shamke. Three fine rice varieties, viz. Super Basmati, Shaheen Basmati and Basmati 2000 were transplanted. These rice varieties were grown up to maturity. Paddy and straw yields data were recorded. Six composite soil samples from three random spots were collected from the experimental site before the start of the study to see the status of trace elements in soil. After the harvest of rice crop, soil, paddy and straw samples were analysed for Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn. The chemical analysis of Nullah Dek water showed that total salts concentration was greater than the safe limit, i.e. electric conductance (EC) > 1.0 dS m −1. Even sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) was very high, but there was no problem of high residual sodium carbonate (RSC). Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn were present but within safe limits. The water of Nullah Dek remained within permissible limits of irrigation from onset of rainy season till 15 October. There was an increase in EC, SAR and trace elements concentrations after 15 October but within safe limits. Soil analysis revealed its saline nature, devoid of sodicity. Among trace elements, the zinc ranged between deficiency (<0.5 mg kg −1) and adequate limits (>1.0 mg kg −1). Copper, Mn and Fe were present in adequate amounts. After the harvest of rice crop there was a slight decrease in pH, EC e and SAR at both the depths, while the concentrations of all trace elements were slightly increased with more in upper layer than the lower layer. Shaheen Basmati produced the maximum paddy yield followed by Basmati 2000 and then Super Basmati. The chemical analysis of paddy samples indicated a sufficient accumulation of zinc (1.68–1.78 mg kg −1), copper (1.38–1.45 mg kg −1), iron (6.12–6.37 mg kg −1) and manganese (2.22–2.42 mg kg −1). Analysis of rice straw also showed sufficient accumulation of zinc (27.50–28.50 mg kg −1), copper (20.0–20.50 mg kg −1), iron (270–280 mg kg −1) and manganese (2.38–2.41 mg kg −1).

Rice yield reduction by chamber enclosure: a possible effect on enhancing methane production

Major rice growth characteristics and grain yield were compared between inside and outside of a chamber coverage area after a seasonal CH4 and N2O flux measurement using a closed chamber technique. Results show that only grain yield was significantly (P 0.05) in plant height, total straw weight, spike length, and average grain weight. Temperature increase during the gas flux measurement was likely the major cause for the observed grain yield decrease by sterilizing rice reproductive organs. Methane flux rates from rice fields were likely overestimated by using closed chamber technique because decreasing grain yield by chamber enclosure may result in more plant photosynthesis products released into soils to enhance CH4 production. Analyzing CH4 and CO2 emission ratio from the rice field, after cutting the above-water part of rice plants, indicated that CH4–C emission accounted for approximately 13% of the total CO2 and CH4–C emission during the major rice growing season.

Soil nitrogen supply and nitrogen uptake for local rice grown in unfertilized acid sulfate soil in South Kalimantan

Most of acid sulfate soil areas in South Kalimantan are recommended for growing rice. Due to unfavourable soil conditions such as low pH and unpredictable water level, farmers grow local rice varieties. The farmers use a multiple transplanting system not only to multiply the seedling population but also to cope with the conditions. In addition, most farmers do not apply fertilizer after the last transplanting, but the yield level is not low. Nutrient (particularly nitrogen, N) availability and utilization by the rice crop are the key for this, but N balance in the local multiple transplanting system has been poorly understood. We therefore studied the balance between soil N supply from the mineralization and crop N uptake in the local transplanting system in South Kalimantan. The experiment took place in Tambaksirang Baru (03°26’31”S, 114°35’29”E), Gambut District South Kalimantan. Two farmers, paddocks separated by a village road were chosen for the study. The N mineralisation measurements were carried out on a monthly basis after the planting. At each sampling date, above and belowground parts of rice plants were collected for biomass and N content determination. At the end of the growing season, we observed that the biomass, N uptake and release from the soil were 9.5 and 7.1 Mg DM ha-1; 36.0 and 27.8 kg N ha-1; and 13.37 and 8.32 kg N ha-1 for plot 1 and 2 respectively. The higher N in the crop than that supplied by soil indicates that there are other sources of N for local rice grown in acid sulfate soil.