Analysis of the Rainfall Pattern and Rainfall Utilization Efficiency during the Growth Period of Paddy Rice

Abstract

Rainfall is one of the most important water sources for rice production in China. However, its temporal and spatial variability is leading to water shortages. The present study collected a long series of historical rainfall data from research sites during the rice growth period to analyze the characteristics of rainfall distribution and the correlation with rainfall utilization efficiency, aiming to investigate its impact on rice irrigation practices. It is found that the rainfall distribution varied greatly between the different locations and growth periods. The average rainfall of the whole growth period ranges from 135.5 mm to 694.5 mm. The rainfall curve exhibits a typical unimodal pattern with variations in the intensity, duration, and timing of peak precipitation across different growth periods. During the rice growth period, the cases in southern China are more prone to waterlogging for a high probability of continuous rainfall, and the cases in northern China are more prone to drought. The rainfall utilization efficiency of all cases exhibits a significant inter-year fluctuation range, negatively influenced by the rainfall amount and rainfall inhomogeneity. The efficiency in utilizing precipitation is diminished with greater and more uneven rainfall experienced during the growth period. These findings can provide a decision-making basis for optimizing rice irrigation strategies and enhancing rainfall utilization efficiency in diverse regions across China.