Rice yield, nitrogen utilization and ammonia volatilization as influenced by modified rice cultivation at varying nitrogen rates

Field experiments were conducted in 2006 to investigate the impacts of modified rice cultivation systems on: grain yield, N uptake, ammonia volatilization from rice soil and N use efficiency (ANUE, agronomic N use efficiency; and PFP, partial factor productivity of applied N). The trials compared rice production using modified methods of irrigation, planting, weeding and nutrient management (the system of rice intensification, SRI) with traditional flooding (TF). The effects of different N application rates (0, 80, 160, 240 kg ha) and of N rates interacting with cultivation methods were also evaluated. Grain yields ranged from 5.6 to 6.9 t ha with SRI, and from 4.0 to 6.1 t ha under TF management. On average, grain yields under SRI were 24% higher than that with TF. Ammonia volatilization was increased significantly under SRI compared with TF and the average total amount of ammonia volatilization loss during the rice growth stage under SRI was 22% higher than TF. With increases in application rate, N uptake by rice increased, and the ratio of N in the seed to total N in the plant decreased. Furthermore, results showed that higher ANUE was achieved at a relatively low N fertilizer rate (80 kg ha N) with SRI. Results of these studies suggest that SRI increased rice yield and N uptake and improved ammonia volatilization loss from rice soil compared with TF. Moreover, there were significant interactions between N application rates and cultivation methods. We conclude that it was the most important to adjust the amount of N application under SRI, such as reducing the amount of N application. Research on effects of N fertilizer on rice yield and environmental pollution under SRI may be worth further studying.