Crop Science | 2019
Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Improved Lodging Resistance and Potassium and Silicon Uptake of Direct-Seeded Rice
Abstract
Lodging is a severe problem for rice (Oryza sativa L.) because it interferes with mechanical harvesting, and potentially results total crop loss. This study investigated whether a controlledrelease urea (CRU) could reduce lodging, improve the uptake of K and Si, and yields of direct-seeded rice. The 2-yr field experiment included four rates of CRU (120, 180, 240, and 360 kg N ha−1), each provided in one application; a conventional urea fertilizer provided in four applications (360 kg N ha−1 total); and a control with no N fertilizer. Results indicated that the N release rates from the CRUs were matched well to N uptakes by rice plants; hence, N use efficiencies were improved. Concentrations of K and Si in rice tissues were much higher for treatments with the full and reduced rates of CRU than for the full rate urea treatment. Lodging of rice only appeared to occur in the urea treatment. Microscopic examination revealed that cells of rice stems provided with CRU treatments were more resistant to lodging than stem cells from plants in the urea treatment. S. Zhang, Y. Yang, T. Shen, and M. Zhang, National Engineering Lab. for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources and National Engineering & Technology Research Center for Slow and Controlled Release Fertilizers, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural Univ., Taian, Shandong 271018, China; S. Zhang, Z. Tong, and Y.C. Li, Dep. of Soil and Water Sciences, Tropical Research and Education Center, IFAS, Univ. of Florida, Homestead, FL 33031, USA; S. Zhang and Y. Yang, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Univ. of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; W. Zhai, Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab. of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang Univ., Hangzhou 310058, China; G.C. Sigua, Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, USDAARS, Florence, SC, 29501, USA; J. Chen, State Key Lab, of Nutrition Resources Integrated Utilization, Kingenta Ecological Engineering Group Company, Linshu, Shandong 276700, China; F. Ding, Key Lab. of Humic Acid Fertilizer of Ministry of Agriculture, Shandong Agricultural Univ. Fertilizer Technology Company, Feicheng, Shandong 271600, China. Received 26 Dec. 2018. Accepted 6 June 2019. *Corresponding author ([email protected]). Assigned to Associate Editor Qingwu Xue. Abbreviations: BM, bending moment; CRF, controlled-release fertilizer; CRU, controlled-release urea. Published in Crop Sci. 59:2733–2740 (2019). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2018.12.0765 © 2019 The Author(s). Re-use requires permission from the publisher.