Rice Research Articles

Simultaneous knockout of cytosolic and plastidial disproportionating enzymes disrupts grain setting and filling in rice.

Rice (Oryza sativa) plants contain plastidial and cytosolic disproportionating enzymes (DPE1 and DPE2). Our previous studies showed that DPE2 acts on maltose, the major product of starch degradation in pollens, releasing one glucose to fuel pollen tube growth and fertilization, whereas DPE1 participates in endosperm starch synthesis by transferring maltooligosyl groups from amylose to amylopectin, and removing excess short maltooligosaccharides. However, little is known about their integrated function. Here, we report that the coordinated actions of DPE1 and DPE2 contribute to grain setting and filling in rice. The dpe1dpe2 mutants could not be isolated from the progeny of heterozygous parental plants but were obtained via anther culture. Unlike that reported in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and potato (Solanum tuberosum), the dpe1dpe2 rice plants grew normally but only yielded a small number of empty, unfilled seeds. In the dpe1dpe2 seeds, nutrient accumulation was substantially reduced, and dorsal vascular bundles were also severely malnourished. Zymogram analyses showed that changes in activities of the major starch-synthesizing enzymes matched well with various endosperm phenotypes of mutant seeds. Mechanistically, DPE1 deficiency allowed normal starch mobilization in leaves and pollens but affected starch synthesis in endosperm, while DPE2 deficiency blocked starch degradation, resulting in substantially decreased levels of the sugars available for pollen tube growth and grain filling. Overall, our results demonstrate the great potential of DPE1-DPE2 as an important regulatory module to realize higher crop yields and present a promising target for regulating nutrient accumulation in cereal crop endosperm.

Histopathological Alterations in Nilaparvata lugens (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) after Exposure to Cordyceps javanica.

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål, 1854), is a pest of rice plants worldwide. Cordyceps javanica is a destructive entomopathogenic fungus known to attack leafhoppers or BPHs specifically. Live adult BPH samples were inoculated with isolated C. javanica PSUC002, and their interaction was morpho-histologically examined from 0 to 120 h post-inoculation (pi). We observed that the mortality of BPH continuously increased until 120 h pi (Day 5). Tissue alterations in the host were examined after infection using morphological and histological methods, including the Grocott Methenamine Silver stain test (GMS). Filamentous fungi were first found on the external integument at 12 h pi, and fungal conidia attached to the integument at 24 h pi. However, the initial degeneration of BPHs was identified by histology at 6 h pi especially in the integument and adipose tissue. We identified the degeneration and loss of integument and adipose tissue of infected BPHs at 12 h pi, and their necrosis was completed at 96 h pi. The enzymatic index of the sampled fungi (chitinase and protease) peaked at 7 days of incubation. This study demonstrated that C. javanica PSUC002 is useful to control the BPHs as an eco-friendly practice and will possibly be applied in agriculture.

Phytoavailability, translocation, and accompanying isotopic fractionation of cadmium in soil and rice plants in paddy fields

Rice consumption is a major pathway for human cadmium (Cd) exposure. Understanding Cd behavior in the soil-rice system, especially under field conditions, is pivotal for controlling Cd accumulation. This study analyzed Cd concentrations and isotope compositions (δ114/110Cd) in rice plants and surface soil sampled at different times, along with urinary Cd of residents from typical Cd-contaminated paddy fields in Youxian, Hunan, China. Soil water-soluble Cd concentrations varied across sampling times, with δ114/110Cdwater lighter under drained than flooded conditions, suggesting supplementation of water-soluble Cd by isotopically lighter Cd pools, increasing Cd phytoavailability. Both water-soluble Cd and atmospheric deposition contributed to rice Cd accumulation. Water-soluble Cd’s contribution increased from 28‐52% under flooded to 58‐87% under drained conditions due to increased soil Cd phytoavailability. Atmospheric deposition’s contribution (12‐72%) increased with potential atmospheric deposition flux among sampling areas. The enrichment of heavy Cd isotopes occurred from root-stem-grain to prevent rice Cd accumulation. The different extent of enrichment of heavy isotopes in urine indicated different Cd exposure sources. These findings provide valuable insights into the speciation and phytoavailability changes of Cd in the soil-rice system and highlight the potential application of Cd isotopic fingerprinting in understanding the environmental fate of Cd.

Effect of phosphorus and zinc application on zinc transformation and phyto-availability of zinc fraction in rice soil

Application of high dose of phosphorus (P) changes the soil chemical properties which may lead to redistribution of Zn fractions in soil. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of added zinc (Zn) and P on Zn transformations in a New Alluvial soil (Aeric Haplaquept), together with dry matter yield and Zn uptake by rice plants. The treatments included four levels of P (0, 40, 60, and 80 kg ha−1) and three levels of Zn (0, 5, and 10 kg ha−1). Although P application increased the dry matter yield of rice, Zn concentration and uptake was decreased significantly at higher dose of P application. Application of P caused a decrease in all the fractions of soil Zn except amorphous and crystalline Fe-oxide bound zinc. The order of preponderance of different zinc fractions followed the order, water soluble plus exchangeable (WE-Zn) < carbonate bound (Car-Zn) < organically bound (Org-Zn) < manganese oxide (MnOx-Zn) < crystalline sesquioxide (CFeOx-Zn) < amorphous sesquioxide (AFeOx-Zn) < residual Zn (Res-Zn). Residual Zn was the most dominant form of Zn, contributing about 69.07% to total Zn. Correlation data indicated that those fractions are in a state of dynamic equilibrium among different fractions and governs the plant-available Zn in soil. Path coefficient analysis of different Zn-fractions with Zn-uptake in rice plant showed that among the all pools of Zn, Org-Zn fraction plays the most vital role in contributing to Zn uptake by plants.

Synthesis of calcium-based nanofertilizer and its efficacy towards reduction of oxidative stress and fluoride uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The phytotoxicity of fluoride and its build-up in agricultural plants and subsequently the entry into the food chain is a serious threat to human health. The present study highlighted the green synthesis of calcium oxide nanoparticles (CaO NPs) and characterization using UV-Vis spectrophotometer, TEM, SEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR. Further, synthesized CaO NPs (0, 10, and 50 mg/L) were applied on fluoride-stressed (10 mg/L) rice seedlings to check its possible ameliorative effects towards growth and fluoride accumulation in different parts of rice seedlings. Characterization revealed that nanoparticles were crystalline (46.72 %) and spherical in shape, with an average diameter of 20–25 nm. Results of the seedling growth analysis revealed that CaO NPs inhibited the translocation of fluoride in rice plants, which in turn decreased the phytotoxicity caused by fluoride, including lipid peroxidation and chlorosis, and enhanced the overall growth of seedlings. The co-exposure of CaO NPs with fluoride also showed a reduction in the fluoride-induced oxidative stress, as demonstrated by lower MDA, O2•- contents, and activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, SOD, and POD) as compared to fluoride treatment alone. The application of CaO NPs also restored potassium content in seedlings grown under fluoride stress. Furthermore, the highest reduction of fluoride accumulation by 65 and 76 % in roots and shoots was recorded at 50 mg/L of CaO NPs treatment, respectively. Therefore, the present study clearly indicated the ameliorative potential of CaO NPs towards fluoride stress in rice. However, a field study is needed to establish the social acceptance of this valuable nanofertilizer in fluoride-contaminated areas.

Nematicidal Activity of Volatiles against the Rice Root-Knot Nematode and Environmental Safety in Comparison to Traditional Nematicides.

The rice root-knot nematode (RRKN), Meloidogyne graminicola Golden and Birchfield 1965, is a dangerous crop pest that affects rice production on a global scale. The largest rice-producing countries struggle with the impacts of RRKN infestation, namely, underdeveloped plants and a reduction in rice grain that can reach up to 70% of crop yield. In addition, the shift to strategies of sustainable pest management is leading to a withdrawal of some of the most effective pesticides, given the dangers they pose to the environment and human health. Volatile metabolites produced by plants can offer safer alternatives. The present study characterized the nematicidal activity of volatile phytochemicals against the RRKN and compared the most active with commercial nematicides concerning their safety to the environment and human health. Rice plants were used to grow large numbers of RRKNs for direct-contact bioassays. Mortality induced by the volatiles was followed for four days on RRKN second-stage juveniles. Of the 18 volatiles tested, carvacrol, eugenol, geraniol, and methyl salicylate showed the highest mortalities (100%) and were compared to traditional nematicides using (eco)toxicological parameters reported on freely available databases. While methyl salicylate had a faster activity, carvacrol had more lasting effects. When compared to synthetic nematicides, these volatile phytochemicals were reported to have higher thresholds of toxicity and beneficial ecotoxicological parameters. Ultimately, finding safer alternatives to traditional pesticides can lower the use of damaging chemicals in farming and leverage the transition to agricultural practices with a lower impact on biodiversity.

Effect of microbial consortium application on growth and yield of Oryza sativa L.

A group of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes) working together to perform a specific task is called a consortium. This study aims to study and determine the growth and yield response of rice plants to the application of a consortium of phyllosphere microbes Fm48 and rhizosphere microbes R15. This research has been conducted since from August to November 2021 in the rice fields of Boya Baliase Village, Marawola District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. This study used a one-factor randomized block design method with grouping based on plot height. The treatment that was tried consisted of four levels, that is: Control = Without applied microbes, Fm48 = Applied a consortium of phyllosphere microbes Fm48, R15 = Applied a consortium of rhizosphere microbes R15 and Fm48R15= Applied a consortium of phyllosphere microbes Fm48 and rhizosphere microbes R15. To determine the effect of the treatment being tested, a variance analysis was carried out. Analysis of variance which showed a significant effect, further test was carried out for LSD α = 0.5. The results showed that the treatment of various consortiums of phyllosphere microbes Fm48 and R15 rhizosphere microbes had no significant effect on growth parameters but had a significant effect on the number of hollow grains and grain weight per 1000 rice grains. The consortium of phyllosphere microbes Fm48 and rhizosphere microbes R15 gave the best results for the lowest number of hollow grains and the highest grain weight per 1000 rice grains.

Genetic Validation of Advanced Backcross-derived Rice Lines for Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) Resistance via SSR Markers

Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), referred to as the brown planthopper (BPH), is a serious threat to paddy cultivation. It inflicts damage by feeding on rice plants and serves as a vector for the rice ragged stunt virus and the rice grassy stunt virus, both of which contribute to significant yield losses. The research was conducted during kharif-2021 at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Warangal. SSR markers RM 3766 (for the Bph3 gene) and RM 586 (for the Bph4 gene) were used for molecular confirmation of resistance in BPH. The study revealed the presence of resistance genes in all resistant and moderately resistant lines, except Siddhi-BC2F6 BPH-BL-24, which was heterozygous (partial resistance) for Bph3, and Siddhi-BC2F6 BPH-BL-11 and Siddhi-BC2F6 BPH-BL-52, which were heterozygous (partial resistance) for Bph4. This genetic validation using SSR markers not only confirms the successful introgression of resistance traits but also enhances the efficiency of breeding programs aimed at developing durable BPH-resistant rice cultivars.

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce cell type-dependent secondary wall reinforcement in rice (Oryza sativa) roots and reduce root hydraulic conductivity

Nanoplastics (NPs) have been demonstrated the ability to penetrate plant roots and cause stress. However, the extent of NPs penetration into various root tissues and the corresponding plant defense mechanisms remain unclear. This study examined the penetration and accumulation patterns of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in different cell types within rice roots, and explored how the roots quickly modify their cell wall structure in response. The findings showed that fully developed sclerenchyma cells in rice roots effectively prevented the invasion of PS-NPs. Meanwhile, PS-NPs triggered the accumulation of lignin and suberin in specific cells such as the exodermis, sclerenchyma, and xylem vessels. PS-NPs at a concentration of 50 mg L−1 increased cell wall thickness by 18.6 %, 21.1 %, and 22.4 % in epidermis, exodermis, and sclerenchyma cells, respectively, and decreased root hydraulic conductivity by 14.8 %. qPCR analysis revealed that PS-NPs influenced the cell wall synthesis pathway, promoting the deposition of lignin and suberin monomers on the secondary wall through the up-regulation of genes such as OsLAC and OsABCG. These results demonstrate that PS-NPs can induce cell type-specific strengthening of secondary walls and barrier formation in rice roots, suggesting the potential role of plant secondary wall development in mitigating NPs contamination risks in crops.

Deciphering the alleviation potential of nitric oxide, for low temperature and chromium stress via maintaining photosynthetic capacity, antioxidant defence, and redox homeostasis in rice (Oryza sativa)

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is a potent nitric oxide (NO) donor that enhances plant tolerance to various abiotic stresses. This research aims to assess the effect of SNP application on rice seedlings subjected to individual and combined exposure to two abiotic stresses viz., low-temperature (LT) and chromium (Cr). Exposure to LT, Cr, and LT+Cr caused severe oxidative damage by stimulating greater production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to lipid peroxidation and cell membrane instability. The combined LT+CR stress more intensly increased the cellular oxidative stress and excessive Cr uptake that in turn deteriorated the chlorophyll pigments and photosynthesis, as well as effected the level of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in rice plants. The reduction in rice seedling growth was more obvious under LT+Cr treatment than their individual effects. The exogenous application of SNP diminished the toxic impact of LT and Cr stress. This was attributed to the positive role of SNP in regulating the endogenous NO levels, free amino acids (FAAs) contents, tetrapyrrole biosynthesis and antioxidants. Consequently, SNP-induced NO decreased photorespiration, ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage. Moreover, exogenous SNP diminished the Cr uptake and accumulation by modulating the ionic homeostasis and strengthening the heavy metals detoxification mechanism, thus improving plant height, biomass and photosynthetic indexes. Essentially, SNP boosts plant tolerance to LT and Cr stress by regulating antioxidants, detoxification mechanism, and the plant's physio-biochemical. Hence, applying SNP is an effective method for boosting rice plant resilience and productivity in the face of escalating environmental stresses and pollutants.

Drought Stress Tolerance in Rice: Physiological and Biochemical Insights

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), an important food crop, necessitates more water to complete its life cycle than other crops. Therefore, there is a serious risk to rice output due to water-related stress. Drought stress results in morphological changes, including the inhibition of seed germination, reduced seeding growth, leaf area index, flag leaf area, increased leaf rolling, as well as the decrement of yield traits, such as plant height, plant biomass, number of tillers, and 1000-grain yield. Stress also causes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as O2−, H2O2, and OH−, which promote oxidative stress in plants and cause oxidative damage. The process of oxidative degradation owing to water stress produces cell damage and a reduction in nutrient intake, photosynthetic rate, leaf area, RWC, WUE, and stomatal closure, which may be responsible for the decrement of the transpiration rate and plant dry matter under decreasing soil moisture. Plants have the ability to produce antioxidant species that can either be enzymatic (SOD, POD, CAT, GPX, APX) or non-enzymatic (AsA, GSH) in nature to overcome oxidative stress. During drought, several biochemical osmoprotectants, like proline, polyamines, and sugars, can be accumulated, which can enhance drought tolerance in rice. To meet the demands of an ever-growing population with diminishing water resources, it is necessary to have crop varieties that are highly adapted to dry environments, and it may also involve adopting some mitigation strategies. This study aims to assess the varying morphological, physiological, and biochemical responses of the rice plant to drought, and the various methods for alleviating drought stress.

Transfer learning by VGG-16 with convolutional neural network for paddy leaf disease classification

ABSTRACT One of the most recent areas of research in agriculture is the detection along with classification of diseases from plant leaf images. Since rice is the most widely consumed staple food worldwide, it is crucial to increase paddy production’s quality and quantity. In the production of paddy, early detection of pests and diseases at various growth stages is very important. Utilising image processing scheme to spot diseases of agricultural plants will lessen the need for farmers to safeguard agricultural products. The use of VGG-16 along with a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) for the classification and recognition of paddy leaf diseases is proposed in this work. The rice plant leaves images taken from the kaggle dataset is utilised for the purpose of image acquisition. The Gaussian filter is used in pre-processing. The clustering technique is utilised for the segmentation of the diseased part, the normal part, and the surroundings. The proposed model is then utilised for disease classification. This study classifies 10 categories of paddy images. VGG16, InceptionV3, MobileNetV2, and ResNet-152, among other transfer learning methods, are evaluated and contrasted with the experimental results. The outcome accuracy of the proposed model achieves of nearly 99.9%.

Cr(VI) behaves differently than Cr(III) in the uptake, translocation and detoxification in rice roots

Excessive accumulation of chromium (Cr) causes severe damage to both physiological and biochemical processes and consequently growth repression in plants. Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]-elicited alterations in plants have been widely elucidated at either physiological or molecular level, whereas little is known about trivalent chromium [Cr(III)]. Here, we found that both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) significantly inhibited root growth in rice plants. However, rice plants under Cr(VI) showed significantly less inhibition in root growth than those under Cr(III) at low levels, which might be attributed to the different hormetic effects of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) on rice plants. It was unexpected that Cr(III) could be actively taken up by rice roots similarly to Cr(VI); whereas they exhibited different kinetic uptake patterns. Furthermore, root-to-shoot Cr translocation under Cr(VI) was much lower than that under Cr(III). These results indicate that the uptake, translocation, and toxicity of Cr(III) differed greatly from those of Cr(VI). Transcriptome profiling of rice roots revealed that a series of gene families involved in detoxification, including ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, multidrug and toxic compound extrusion proteins (MATEs), and Tau class glutathione S-transferases (GSTUs), were significantly associated with Cr accumulation and detoxification in rice roots. In addition, much more members of these gene families were upregulated by Cr(VI) compared to Cr(III), suggesting their vital roles in Cr uptake, translocation, and detoxification, especially under Cr(VI) stress. Further comparison of gstu9 and gstu10/50 mutants with their wild type confirmed that GSTUs play complex roles in the intracellular Cr transport and redox homeostasis during Cr(III) or Cr(VI) stress. Taken together, our findings provides new insights into the differential behaviors of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in rice roots, as well as new candidate genes such as OsABCs and OsGSTUs, to further elucidate the mechanisms of the uptake, translocation, and detoxification of Cr(III) and Cr(VI).

Simultaneously inhibit cadmium and arsenic uptake in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by Selenium enhanced iron plaque: Performance and mechanism

Selenium (Se) fortification is witnessed to simultaneously inhibit absorbing Cadmium (Cd) and Arsenic (As) by rice plants, but the mechanism is unclear. Here, the effects of Se on the root morphology, iron plaque (IP) content, soil Fe2+ content, radial oxygen loss (ROL), and enzyme activities of the rice plants in the soil contaminated by Cd and As were intensively investigated through the hydroponic and soil experiments. Se effectively alleviated the toxic effects of Cd and As on the plants and the dry weight, root length, and root width were increased by 203.18%, 33.41%, and 52.81%, respectively. It also elucidated that ROL was one of the key factors to elevate IP formation by Se and the specific pathways of Se enhancing ROL were identified. ROL of the plants in the experiment group treated by Se was increased 36.76%, and correspondingly IP was magnified 50.37%, compared to the groups with Cd and As. It was owing to Se significantly increased the root porosity (62.11%), facilitating O2 transport to the roots. Additionally, Se enhanced the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to promote the catalytic degradation of ROS induced by Cd and As stress. It indirectly increased O2 release in the rhizosphere, which benefit to form more robust IP serve as stronger barrier to Cd and As. The results of our study provide a novel molecular level insight for Se promoting root IP to block Cd and As uptake by the rice plants.

Exploring the Correlation between Morpho-physiological Traits and Growth Attributes Associated with Yield Characteristics in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

This study aimed to identify the morpho-physiological and growth attributes, and yield associated with yield in rice genotypes. The experiment included 120 rice genotypes and 3 checks, conducted in an alpha lattice design with two replications at the Research Cum Instructional Farm in the Department of Plant Physiology, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishawavidyalaya, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, during the two consecutive Kharif seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23. Conventional spacing of 15 x 20 cm and recommended cultural practices were employed. The objective is to improve the overall efficiency and productivity of rice cultivation to meet the needs of a growing population. It is crucial to emphasize the comprehension and enhancement of the fundamental features associated with canopy structure and growth attributes. Improving these morpho-physiological traits is pivotal for boosting rice yield. By studying and refining the arrangement and growth of the rice plant's leaf canopy, the goal is to enhance the efficiency and productivity of rice cultivation. The results indicated that productive tillers (0.335**) and flag leaf area (0.213*) were positively correlated with higher yields. While leaf angles, specific leaf area, and days to panicle initiation showed negative correlations with yield. The leaf area index at flowering was positively correlated with specific leaf area (0.382***) but negatively with grain yield (-0.199*). Specific leaf weight was positively correlated with yield per hectare (0.178*). Understanding these relationships can guide the selection and breeding of rice genotypes with optimal traits for enhanced grain yield and crop performance.

Investigating the Impact of Microplastics Type of Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene on Seed Germination and Early Growth of Rice Plants

ABSTRACTMicroplastics (MPs), which are emerging pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems, could potentially impact plant growth. One of the least explored aspects of crop development is seed germination, a crucial stage in the plant's lifecycle. This study conducted soil cultivation trials to investigate the effects of 1% (w/w) concentrations of polyethylene (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) MPs on rice growth over a 15‐day period. Parameters such as fresh weight, shoot height, root length, chlorophyll levels, and MPs identification in the roots were observed. The findings revealed the accumulation of 6–9 MP items in the roots. PET MPs inhibited root elongation (15%–20%), reduced shoot height (15%–30%), and decreased rice fresh weight (12%–37%). MPs PET, PP, and PS contamination reduced the content of chlorophyll a (15%–43%), b (21%–41%), and total (11%–40%) in rice leaves. This study enhances our understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of these three types of MPs on rice. The utilization of this data will further inform our understanding of MPs' behavior in soil vegetation and provide valuable insights into their land‐based impacts.

Relationship of Land Cover Heterogeneity and Insecticide Use with Arthropod Community Structure in Rice Agroecosystems

Rice agroecosystems generally experience two kinds of environmental stresses, i.e., a decrease in the heterogeneity of land vegetation types due to the development of settlements in the border zone and the excessive use of insecticides. Both of these factors are known to affect the structure of the arthropod community in rice agroecosystems. However, studies related to the effects of these two stresses in shaping the structure of arthropod communities have not been widely carried out, especially during the planting period in the rainy season. This study aims toanalyze the relationship between land cover heterogeneity and insecticide use with the taxonomic and functional diversity of arthropods in thealpha, beta, and gamma dimensions. The study was conducted during the rainy season (October–March) on four rice agroecosystem sites in Bandung, West Java. Data was collected 30 and 50 days after planting (DAP). Arthropod samples were identified, and their taxonomic andfunctional diversity was calculated using the Shannon entropy formula (D). In general, land cover heterogeneity was positively correlated withthe value of arthropod taxonomic and functional diversity, especially in the early vegetative phase of rice plants (30 DAP). In con- trast,insecticides (g/m2) were negatively correlated with the value of arthropod diversity. The composition of arthropod species locally was relativelythe same except in the rice agroecosystem with the lowest land cover heterogeneity and the highest use of insecticides. Additionally, thecoefficient value of the insecticide variable has more influence on the value of arthropod diversity than the variable coefficient of land coverheterogeneity.

SORGHUM AND ECO-FRIENDLY AGRICULTURE IN INDONESIA

Purpose: This paper reviews the research results on sorghum plants that use organic fertilizer to increase production. Theoretical reference: Sorghum plants also need to be fertilized to increase productivity. The use of chemical fertilizers in plants will have a broad impact on the environment and human health, so it is necessary to have an alternative organic fertilizer that is safe and leads to environmentally friendly agriculture, in addition to being a source of nutrients and to improve the properties of infertile soil. Methods: This research is supported and studied with a descriptive qualitative method. All information is collected through document analysis. The literature taken is the most recent year (the last 10 years). The productivity resulting from applying organic fertilizers is compared to the productivity without applying organic fertilizers. Then see the increase in results. In addition to productivity, the results of research on the quality of sorghum seeds are also seen. Results: According to various research results, applying organic fertilizers increases productivity ranging from 5.66% to 71.28% with an average of 20.96% compared to without organic fertilizers. Conclusions: Indonesia is one of the countries with the potential for the development of sorghum which can be done by environmentally friendly cultivation and the use of organic fertilizers because it is proven to increase productivity and improve the quality of sorghum seeds. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) planting can sustainably meet more food needs because sorghum plants have a higher protein content than corn and rice plants.

Identifying rice field weeds from unmanned aerial vehicle remote sensing imagery using deep learning

BackgroundRice field weed object detection can provide key information on weed species and locations for precise spraying, which is of great significance in actual agricultural production. However, facing the complex and changing real farm environments, traditional object detection methods still have difficulties in identifying small-sized, occluded and densely distributed weed instances. To address these problems, this paper proposes a multi-scale feature enhanced DETR network, named RMS-DETR. By adding multi-scale feature extraction branches on top of DETR, this model fully utilizes the information from different semantic feature layers to improve recognition capability for rice field weeds in real-world scenarios.MethodsIntroducing multi-scale feature layers on the basis of the DETR model, we conduct a differentiated design for different semantic feature layers. The high-level semantic feature layer adopts Transformer structure to extract contextual information between barnyard grass and rice plants. The low-level semantic feature layer uses CNN structure to extract local detail features of barnyard grass. Introducing multi-scale feature layers inevitably leads to increased model computation, thus lowering model inference speed. Therefore, we employ a new type of Pconv (Partial convolution) to replace traditional standard convolutions in the model.ResultsCompared to the original DETR model, our proposed RMS-DETR model achieved an average recognition accuracy improvement of 3.6% and 4.4% on our constructed rice field weeds dataset and the DOTA public dataset, respectively. The average recognition accuracies reached 0.792 and 0.851, respectively. The RMS-DETR model size is 40.8 M with inference time of 0.0081 s. Compared with three classical DETR models (Deformable DETR, Anchor DETR and DAB-DETR), the RMS-DETR model respectively improved average precision by 2.1%, 4.9% and 2.4%.DiscussionThis model is capable of accurately identifying rice field weeds in complex real-world scenarios, thus providing key technical support for precision spraying and management of variable-rate spraying systems.

Effect of Zinc and Silica Solubilizing Microbial Consortia on Soil and Plant Nutrient Status in Paddy

Effect of zinc and silica solubilizing bacteria and their consortia on paddy was studied under pot culture conditions at Agricultural Research Station, Janagamaheswarapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India. Thirteen treatments were assessed for availability of nutrients viz., Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and Silica in soil and concentration of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in plant at 45, 90 and 120 days after sowing (DAS). Significantly highest nitrogen (189.3, 249.4 and 239.7 kg ha-1), available phosphorus (34.6, 61.8 and 38.5 kg ha-1), potassium (214.2, 347.9 and 232.1 kg ha-1), zinc (0.78, 0.99 and 0.86 ppm) and silica (60.1, 90.8 and 78.4 ppm) were recorded in T13 (RDF + ZnKJJ-4 &amp; ZnPGG-1 + SiKPP-1 &amp; SiPYY-3) at 45, 90 and 120DAS. In plant, nitrogen (0.79, 0.99 and 0.89 %), phosphorus (0.37, 0.58 and 0.49 %) and potassium (1.78, 2.18 and 1.89 %) were significantly highest in T13. There was increase in available nutrient content upto 90 DAS which then decreased at 120DAS. It is inferred that consortia of two zinc solubilizing and two silica solubilizing microorganisms (T13) is useful for increased availability of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Zinc and Silica in soil and increased uptake of NPK by rice plant.