Puddled Research Articles

Self-propelled puddler for rice (Oryza sativa) crop and its evaluation

Rice is the most important food crop of India which is grown in about 43.86 million hectare. In India the production touches 112 MT milled rice used to feed 0.8 billion peoples that is 65% of the population.Rice is grown by manual transplanting of young rice seedlings in the puddled field in bending and squatting posture, which is very drudgerious operation. Prior to transplanting, puddling is done to prepare a soft seedbed for maintain water level in the field. Generally, animal drawn puddler, tractor’s cage wheel and power tiller operated rotary tiller were used for puddling operation.A self-propelled puddler developed at IIT Kharagpur for rice crop was tested in sandy loam soil of Kharagpur district in India. The average value of puddling index and the puddle depth was found to be above 78 % and 107 mm, respectively. The puddling with self-propelled puddled was found to be at par with that of rotary tiller.

Qualitative response of super basmati rice to different nitrogen levels under varying rice ecosystem

Planting methods and nitrogen rates play pivotal role in the production and quality of fine grain rice. A field experiment was carried out at Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku, Pakistan during 2015 and 2016 using four planting methods namely drilling of dry seed in well prepared dry soil (DSR-drill), ridges made after broadcast of dry seed in dry soil (DSR-ridge), broadcast of dry seed in well prepared dry soil (DSR-broadcast), followed by irrigation and Puddled transplanted rice (PTR)-conventional transplanting. Four nitrogen levels viz. N0: control, N1: 133 kg N ha-1 (recommended), N2: 166 kg N ha-1 and N3: 199 kg N ha-1 were compared for a fine grain rice variety Super basmati. Data were collected on quality parameters namely brown rice (BR) %, total milled rice (TMR) %, head rice (HR) %, average grain length (AGL), length width ratio (LWR), cooked grain length (CGL) mm, bursting (%), elongation ratio (ER), amylose content %, protein content % and grain yield (t ha-1). Results indicated that planting methods behaved the same with respect to the parameters BR %, TMR %, AGL, LWR, amylose and protein content %. However, HR % was the highest in DSR-ridge sowing as compared to other planting methods. AGL, CGL, and ER were more in PTR-conventional transplanting followed by DSR-ridge sowing and bursting % was more in DSR broadcast method. Nitrogen affected positively all the parameters under study up to maximum level of its application. So it can be concluded that PTR-conventional transplanting and DSR ridge sowing with nitrogen at the rate of 199 kg ha-1 gave better quality compared to other DSR methods and nitrogen doses. Key words: Grain quality, Nitrogen levels, rice (Oryza sativa L.), sowing methods.

Review of precision rice hill-drop drilling technology and machine for paddy

Mechanized rice direct seeding is a cost-effective and efficient approach for rice cultivation. Recently, the use of rice direct seeding has been increasing rapidly owing to rural labour shortages and continuous increases in agricultural production costs. This article reviews the research and application progress of mechanized rice direct seeding including direct seeding technologies, precision rice seeding, precision rice seed-metering devices, key supporting agronomy technologies for mechanized rice direct seeding. South China Agricultural University developed precision rice hill-drop drilling (PRHDD) with synchronous furrowing and ridging technology and series machines for paddy that affords remarkable advantages in terms of saving time and labour, higher yield, and higher efficiency. In this approach, pre-germinated seeds are uniformly hill-dropped in the expected positions in puddled soil. It significantly improved the crop growth population and effectively solved the problems of high frequency of disease and pests caused by the irregular distribution of rice seeds with manual broadcasting, and generally reduces seed usage and increases the yield. Therefore, this technology has broad application prospects and great potential for promoting the development of mechanized rice direct seeding in China. Keywords: rice, precision rice seeder, hill-drop drilling for paddy rice, mechanical direct seeding DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181103.4249 Citation: Zhang M H, Wang Z M, Luo X W, Zang Y, Yang W W, Xing H, et al. Review of precision rice hill-drop drilling technology and machine for paddy. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(3): 1–11.

Ambient temperature and humidity along with urine-puddling for Ceracris kiangsu , the yellow-spined bamboo locust

To better understand the role of water uptake in the urine-puddling behavior of an important bamboo pest, Ceracris kiangsu (Orthoptera: Oedipodidae), the yellow-spined bamboo locust, in southern China, ambient temperature and humidity at different times of the day were examined and analyzed for their effects on water content of the body in adults and on the urine-puddling behavior. Puddling behavior of the yellow-spined bamboo locust was observed with a camera recording system, and C. kiangsu adults were trapped by toxic bais with human urine fermented for 30 d mixed with 18% bisultap in bamboo forest. Simultaneously, ambient temperature and humidity were monitored at the same experimental sites in Hunan province. Results showed that the change of water content in the body for females and males was similar, and was influenced obviously by ambient temperature and humidity. Observations showed that the most visits [ (428.00 ± 44.24) bouts] over a whole day were observed from 12:30-14:00 with onset time of the first visit to the bait being the shortest [ (410.8 ± 52.6) s]. Trap experiments showed that 140.00 ± 20.64 were killed from 12:30-14:00, more than any other period (One-way ANOVA analysis, P < 0.05). Also the sex-ratio of adults trapped by the bait indicated that the urine-puddling behavior mainly occurred with female C. kiangsu adults (t test, P < 0.05). Implications were that ambient temperature and humidity strongly affected the urine-puddling behavior of C. kiangsu adults, and the methods of trapping adults with toxic bait were effective in a hot and dry weather.

Band tillage with fertilizer application for unpuddled transplanting rice in northeast of China

Many technological innovations have been developed in agriculture for rice cultivation. Farmers still rely on intensive soil tillage, broadcasting fertilizer, excess irrigation water and labor for rice production. Rice cultivation under unpuddled condition in band-tillage (BT) is a new alternative rice cultivation system in the regions where rainfall, fresh water resources, fertilizers and labors are limited. Therefore, the concept of inter-row BT (T-shaped) with row fertilizer application in soils for unpuddled transplanted rice cultivation (T1) was carried out at Fangzheng, Harbin in the northeast of China. The improved system (T1) was compared with traditional practices (T2) in randomized complete block design with three replications. T2 was done with removal of crop residue, full tillage, broadcasting fertilizer and puddled soils by using the conventional machine. Test results showed that all parameters were satisfied and met the requirements of agronomic performances. The variations of fertilizing stability and evenness were 1.84% and 1.72%, respectively. Soil cone penetration resistance was less in T1 than T2 after tillage. Irrigation water was saved by 26.3% in treatment T1 as compared with T2 for wet land preparation, and wet soil resistance depth had no significant difference. Planting depth was significantly different between the treatments which was affected by intensive tillage and puddling in T2 as compared with T1. Soil temperature was nearly similar, but comparatively 0.23°C (on average) higher than traditional system throughout the crop growing season. Crop growth rate and grain yield increased by 8.5% and 5.3%, respectively in band till with fertilizer placed compared to conventional practices of puddled transplanting. The unit production cost (￥/kg of grain yield) was found lower by 12.3% in treatment T1 than T2. The output-input ratio was marginally greater in treatment T1 (1.51) as compared to T2 (1.32). Short-term findings suggest that inter-row BT system with row fertilizer application could be used in unpuddled rice farming system instead of traditional puddled rice cultivation. Keywords: conservation agriculture, tillage system, unpuddled rice, irrigation, water saving, economics DOI: 10.3965/j.ijabe.20160904.1673 Citation: Sarker K K, Xu C L, Wang X Y, Li M J, Li L H, Liu G M. Band tillage with fertilizer application for unpuddled transplanting rice in northeast of China. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2016; 9(4): 73－83.

Economic Analysis of Different Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Technologies in Rice-Wheat Cropping System of the Indo-Gangetic Plains

To reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from rice and wheat cultivation several mitigation options have been suggested. However, economic impact of these technologies has been poorly documented. In the present study economic analysis of some emerging GHG mitigation technologies for rice-wheat system of the Indo-Gangetic Plains has been carried out. The experiment consisted of six combinations of wheat- rice crop rotation using eight treatments, including conventionally tilled wheat (CTW), zero tilled wheat (ZTW), transplanted puddled rice (TPR), dry direct seeded rice (DSR), intermittent wetting and drying (IWD), application of rice straw (RS) with ZTW and use of neem oil-coated urea (NOCU) in TPR and ZTW. Cost of various inputs and income from grain and straw were used for computing the benefit to cost (B : C) ratio in the different treatments. ZTW showed higher yield and B : C ratio compared to CTW along with reduction in fuel consumption during tillage operation. In spite of lower yield under DSR and IWD, saving of water, labour and energy in these treatments lowered the cost of cultivation and enhanced B : C ratio similar to TPR. Application of rice straw and NOCU also showed positive impact on crop yield. B : C ratio of rice-wheat system ranged from 1.62 to 1.86 in the first year and from 1.86 to 2.16 in the second year. B : C ratio was significantly higher in all the treatments in the experimented rice-wheat system compared to conventional system, i.e. CTW-TPR. The ZTW + RR - DSR (WR5) showed highest B : C ratio followed by ZTW + DSR (WR4) in both the seasons.

Growth Analysis of Rice Plants Cultivated without Puddling and Levelling

水田で無代かきで栽培した水稲について慣行の代かき栽培と比較し，生育特性，収量および生育後半の根の生理的活性として出液速度を比較した．その結果，無代かき栽培では前半の生育が旺盛になりやすく，さらに，生育後半の出液速度が高く，根の生理的活性が高く維持されていたと考えられた．しかし，収量は，慣行の代かき栽培を下回ったことから，収量が多く，品質が常に安定する栽植密度・施肥等の栽培条件と前半の適正な生育量を把握することが課題と考えられた．

Physical, chemical and microbiological properties of an Andisol as related to land use and tillage practice

The effects of land use and management practice on soil physical, chemical and microbiological properties may provide essential information for assessing sustainability and environmental impact. This study compared the effects of 41 years of no-tillage (NT) with continuous apple orchard, with those of conventional tillage (CT) with wheat–soybean rotation and another of puddling (PD) with continuous rice on the characteristics of a pumice Andisol in a temperate region of northern Japan. Higher values for bulk density, penetration resistance, pH, C/N ratio, exchangeable Na (X-Na), Fe, and Mn were observed for PD than NT and CT. On the other hand, organic matter, EC, N, exchangeable K (X-K), exchangeable Ca (X-Ca) and Cu were significantly higher for NT than CT and PD. Highest content of Zn was found in CT compared to other practices. The three-phase composition at pF 2.0 was significantly affected by land use and tillage practices. The solid phase and liquid phase were greater under PD than under NT and CT, while air phase was greater under CT than under NT and PD. Significantly higher values for saturated hydraulic conductivity was found in CT than NT and PD. Total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and PLFA for bacteria, aerobes and cyanobacteria were remarkably higher in NT than CT and PD, regardless of depth. On the other hand, PLFA for methane-oxidizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and mycorrhizae were significantly higher in CT than NT and PD. PLFA for fungi was significantly higher in surface (0–10 cm) soils than subsurface (10–20 cm) soils regardless of treatments. Highest bacterial and fungal diversity evaluated by DNA band number in DGGE analysis based on PCR amplification of 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA fragments, respectively, were observed in surface soil of PD. The result suggests a linkage between microbial community and tillage practices in temperate Andisol. This study also justifies the need of measuring soil characteristics based on soil microbial communities.

Subsoil compaction to improve water use efficiency and yields of rainfed lowland rice in coarse-textured soils

Field experiments during the 1992 and 1993 wet seasons examined in situ water conservation in rainfed lowland rice ( Oryza sativa L.) grown on a loamy sand by comparing subsoil compaction (C) with puddling (PUD), a plastic sheet barrier at 40 cm depth (PLS), and dry tillage (DT). Soil was compacted with six (C6) or nine (C9) passes of a 12-ton road roller over the soil surface with (+V) or without (- V) roller vibration. After compaction, soil was tilled to 20 cm depth. All plots except DT were puddled manually to 15 cm depth. Rice seedlings (Cultivar KDML105) were transplanted in all plots. Degree and depth of compaction increased with number of passes and with vibration of the roller. Treatment C9 + V compacted soil to at least 60 cm depth. Percolation decreased from 11.8 mm d −1 in DT and 6.3 mm d −1 in PUD plots to 1.4 mm d −1 in C9 + V plots. Compaction increased total days with surface water accumulation from 44 days in DT and 68 days in PUD plots to 90 days in C9 + V. Rice in plots with subsoil compaction had nearly twice the root length and root mass densities in the 0–20 cm soil layer and significantly increased shoot growth as compared with rice in DT and PUD plots. As compared with PUD, the standard tillage practice of farmers, treatment C9 + V increased grain yield by 1.48 Mg ha −1 (59%) in 1992 and by 0.98 Mg ha −1 (88%) in 1993, with 1.6 times greater water use efficiency (WUE) in 1992 and 1.9 times greater WUE in 1993. Treatment PLS yielded more grain than PUD, but less than C9 + V. We conclude that subsoil compaction technology is applicable at a field scale for rainfed rice grown in coarse-textured soils.