The rice production practices of high yield and high nitrogen use efficiency in Jiangsu, China

Abstract

To face the great challenges of ensuring food security and environmental sustainability, agricultural production must be improved by high yield and high resource utilization efficiency (HYHE). We recently addressed this challenge and evaluated yield potential by surveying 735 farmers in 2008–2012 and then conducting 6 rice field experiments in 2008–2013 with large demonstration areas in 2010–2013 aimed to actualize the HYHE in Jiangsu Province, China. The survey result showed that the averaged N rate, grain yield and N partial factor productivity (PFPN) of the farmers were 336.7 kg ha−1, 8131.8 kg ha−1 and 24.2 kg kg−1, respectively. Through controlling total N rates and adjusting the application timing, the yield and the PFPN of optimal N managements (OPT) were increased by 5.9% and 37.6% with 31.4% reduction in N supply amounts for 6 experimental sites, and the yield increased by 5.6% for large demonstration areas compared with farmers’ fertilizer practices (FFP), respectively. In conclusion, although the soil properties of the different regions varied, HYHE could be achieved by regulating the N management practices, thus contributing to higher rice production and lower environmental costs from intensive agriculture in Jiangsu, China.

Chlorophyll meter–based nitrogen fertilizer optimization algorithm and nitrogen nutrition index for in‐season fertilization of paddy rice

“…In this study, the validation data further showed the optimum N fertilizer rate (264 ∼ 272 kg N ha −1 ) was similar to N2 (270 kg N ha −1 ). However, local rice farmers in our study area (Jiangsu province, China) usually applied N fertilizer at levels (337 kg N ha −1 ) closer to N3 (Guo et al., ; Peng et al., ). The NFOA and NNI approaches are not superior entirely in yield, N use efficiency, and financial outcomes compared with the fixed‐time N management under fewer N conditions, but those types of easily operated and reliable N regulation methods are critical for high‐efficiency and sustainable agriculture.…”

The Potential for Improving Rice Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Smallholder Farmers: A Case Study of Jiangsu, China

“…The mean annual temperature is 15.9 • C and the mean annual precipitation varies from 781-1382 mm [33]. The properties of the top layer soil (0-20 cm) in Jiangsu are as follows: organic matter, 21.65-24.73 g kg −1 ; total N, 1.15-1.61 g kg −1 ; Olsen-P, 12.95-15.74 mg kg −1 ; NH 4 OAc-K, 89.51-141.11 mg kg −1 ; and pH, 6.54-7.46 [34].…”

“…A total of 1505 samples were selected for analysis (2008, n = 128; 2009, n = 434; 2010, n = 60; 2011, n = 301; 2012, n = 250; 2013, n = 90; 2014, n = 242). Based on the data of from 2008 to 2012 in the early stage of our laboratory [34], combined with the later survey data and literature collective data, the analysis of yield and NUE gaps is carried out in this study. Households were selected randomly in Jiangsu, China.…”

“…Grassini et al [48] believed that China's rice production has reached or exceeded 80% of production potential, thus it is hard to increase yield without incurring further economic cost and technical difficulties. However, some scholars argued that there is the potential to reduce N use and increase grain yield by rational management techniques [26,34]. For example, Fan et al [49] showed that compared with farmers' practice, improved crop management can increase rice yield of 20% with N fertilizer savings of 18%.…”

Assessment of crop growth, soil properties and crop yield in an upland acidic soil with inorganic fertilizer blended with organic amendments in summer rice cropping seasons

“…In addition, using the average yield of 2 years of experimentation, the partial factor productivity and nitrogen agronomic efficiency were calculated through the formulae given by Guo et al (2017) and yield contribution of nitrogen was calculated through the formula given by Tian et al (2017).…”