N. K. Fageria

Yield Physiology of Rice

ABSTRACT Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food for more than 50% of the worlds population, including regions of high population density and rapid growth. Rice is produced under both upland and lowland ecosystems with about 76% of the global rice produced from irrigated lowland rice systems. The objective of this article is to discuss growth and formation of yield components in rice during crop growth cycles. The yield components of rice are the number of panicles per unit area, number of spikelets per panicle, weight of spikelet and spikelet sterility or filled spikelet. In addition, shoot dry weight, grain harvest index, and nitrogen (N) harvest index are also positively associated with grain yield. These yield components and yield associated parameters are formed during crop growth cycle. Growth cycle of the rice plant is divided into three stages. These stages are designated as vegetative, reproductive and spikelet filling or ripening. Yield potential of rice is formed or defined during these growth stages. Plant height, tillering (associated with panicle number), root growth, leaf area, and morphology are the main features of vegetative growth stage. In the reproductive growth stage panicle development takes place. Booting and flowering are part of the reproductive growth stage. Panicle size or spikelets per panicle are determined in the reproductive growth stage. Spikelet size or weight is determined during the spikelet filling growth stage. The reproductive growth stage is the most sensitive to biotic and abiotic stresses, followed by spikelet filling and vegetative growth stage. Recent advances in molecular linkage maps of rice and other developments of molecular biology offer new opportunities for improving rice yield components in favor of higher yield.

Role of Cover Crops in Improving Soil and Row Crop Productivity

Abstract Cover crops play an important role in improving productivity of subsequent row crops by improving soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. The objective of this article is to review recent advances in cover crops practice, in the context of potential benefits and drawbacks for annual crop production and sustained soil quality. Desirable attributes of a cover crop are the ability to establish rapidly under less than ideal conditions, provide sufficient dry matter or soil cover, fix atmospheric nitrogen (N), establish a deep root system to facilitate nutrient uptake from lower soil depths, produce organic matter with low‐residue carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and absence of phytoxic or allelopathic effects on subsequent crops. Cover crops can be leguminous or nonleguminous. Leguminous cover crops provide a substantial amount of biologically fixed N to the primary crop, as well as ease of decomposition due to their low C/N ratio. Legume cover crops also possess a strong ability to absorb low available nutrients in the soil profile and can help in increasing concentration of plant nutrients in the surface layers of soil. Some nonleguminous cover crops having high N scavenger capacity compared with leguminous crops and sometimes, the growth of these scavenging grass cover crops is limited by N deficiency, growing grass/legume mixtures appears to be the best strategy in obtaining maximum benefits from cover crops.

Green Manuring in Crop Production

ABSTRACT The positive role of green manuring in crop production has been known since ancient time. Importance of this soil ameliorating practice is increasing in recent years because of high cost of chemical fertilizers, increased risk of environmental pollution, and need of sustainable cropping systems. Green manuring can improve soil physical, chemical, and biological properties and consequently crop yields. Furthermore, potential benefits of green manuring are reduced nitrate (NO3 −) leaching risk and lower fertilizer N requirements for succeeding crops. However, its influence may vary from soil to soil, crop to crop, environmental variables, type of green manure crop used, and its management. Beneficial effects of green manuring in crop production should not be evaluated in isolation; however, in integration with chemical fertilizers. The objective of this article is to review recent advances in green manuring practice, in the context of potential benefits and drawbacks in use of this practice for annual crop production and sustain soil health and fertility.

Methodology for Evaluation of Lowland Rice Genotypes for Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Abstract Rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the worlds population. Based on land and water management practices, rice ecosystem is mainly divided into lowland, upland, and deep water or floating rice. However, major area and production at global level comes from lowland or flooded rice system. In rice growing regions nitrogen (N) is one of the most yield‐limiting nutrients for rice production. Adaptation of cultivars or genotypes with high N use efficiency is a potential strategy in optimizing N requirements of crops, lowering the cost of production and reducing the environmental pollution. The objectives of this paper are to discuss rate and timing of N application, define N‐use efficiency, discuss mechanisms involved for genotypic variation in N‐use efficiency and present experimental evidence of genotypic variations in N‐use efficiency in lowland rice. Evaluation methodology and criteria for screening N‐use efficiency are also discussed. Significant variation in N use efficiency exists in lowland rice genotypes. Nitrogen use efficiency parameters (grain yield per unit of N uptake, grain yield per unit of N applied and recovery of applied N) are useful in differentiating lowland rice genotypes into efficient and non‐efficient responders to applied N. Such an evaluation could assist in identification of elite genotypes that could be used in breeding program to produce cultivars with high N use efficiency and capable of producing high yields.

Nitrogen use efficiency in lowland rice genotypes

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most yield-limiting nutrients in lowland rice production around the world. Use of N efficient genotypes is an important complementary strategy in improving rice yield and reducing cost of production. A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the Embrapa Rice & Beans, Santo Antonio de Goiás, Brazil, with the objective to evaluate N use efficiency of eight lowland (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes. The soil used in the experiment was an Inceptisol and two N levels used were without N application (low level) and an application of 304 mg N kg−1 of soil (high level). Grain yield and yield components and N uptake parameters were significantly affected by genotype and N treatments except the N uptake in shoot. On the basis of N-use efficiency (mg grain weight/mg N accumulated in shoot and grain) and grain yield at zero N, genotypes were classified as efficient and responsive (ER), efficient and nonresponsive (ENR), nonefficient and responsive (NER), and nonefficient and nonresponsive (NENR). Genotypes Rio Formoso, CNA 7550, and CNA 7556 were classified as ER, and genotypes Javaé and CNA 6343 were classified as ENR. In the group, NER was classified genotype CNA 7857. In the group, NENR were falled genotypes CNA 8319 and CNA 8619. From a practical point of view, genotypes which produce high grain yield in a low level of N and respond well to added N are the most desirable because they are able to express their high yield potential in a wide range of N environment. Correlation analysis showed that shoot dry weight, number of panicles, number of grains per panicle, grain harvest index, N uptake in shoot and grain, N harvest index, and N use efficiency having significant positive association with grain yield.

Yield Physiology of Dry Bean

ABSTRACT Dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important food legume for the world population. However, its average yield is low worldwide. The main reasons for low yield are biotic and abiotic stresses. Maximum economic yield of a crop can be achieved with appropriate balance between plant and environmental factors during crop growth cycle. Adopting appropriate management practices in favor of high yields can modify some of these factors. Hence, knowledge of yield physiology of dry bean is important for understanding yield formation components during crop growth and development and consequently improving yield. Dry bean growth cycle is divided into vegetative and reproductive growth stages. During vegetative stage, development of roots, trifoliate, node, and branches take place. Main features of reproductive growth stage are flowering, pod and grain formation. Important plant traits associated with yield are root and shoot dry matter yield, pod number, 100 grain weight, leaf area index, grain harvest index, and nitrogen harvest index. These plant traits are genetically controlled and also influenced by soil and plant management practices. Higher yield is possible only when there is an adequate balance among various physiological processes or yield components. The objective of this review is to discuss growth and development of bean plant including yield formation process or traits during crop growth cycle and importance of these yield components in determining yield.

Physical, Chemical, and Biological Changes in the Rhizosphere and Nutrient Availability

ABSTRACT The rhizosphere is the soil zone adjacent to plant roots which is physically, chemically, and biologically different from bulk or non-rhizosphere soil. Adaptative mechanisms of plants influence physical (temperature, water availability, and structure), chemical [pH, redox potential, nutrient concentration, root exudates, aluminum (Al) detoxification and allelopathy], and biological properties (microbial association) in the rhizosphere. These changes affect nutrient solubility, transport, and uptake and ultimately plant growth. Major rhizosphere changes are synthesized and their influence on nutrient availability is discussed. In the last decade, significant progress has been made in understanding the rhizosphere environment and nutrient availability. However, the subject matter is very complex and more research is needed to understand the interaction between the plant, the rhizosphere environment, and nutrient availability.

Iron Toxicity in Lowland Rice

ABSTRACT Lowland rice is a staple food for more than 50% world population. Iron toxicity is one of the main nutritional disorders, which limits yield of lowland rice in various parts of the world. The toxicity of iron is associated with reduced soil condition of submerged or flooded soils, which increases concentration and uptake of iron (Fe2 +). Higher concentration of Fe2 + in the rhizosphere also has antagonistic effects on the uptake of many essential nutrients and consequently yields reduction. In addition to reduced condition, increase in concentration of Fe2 + in submerged soils of lowland rice is associated with iron content of parent material, oxidation-reduction potential, soil pH, ionic concentration, fertility level, and lowland rice genotypes. Oxidation-reduction potential of highly reduced soil is in the range of –100 to –300 mV. Iron toxicity has been observed in flooded soils with a pH below 5.8 when aerobic and pH below 6.5 when anaerobic. Visual toxicity symptoms on plants, soil and plant tissue test are major diagnostic techniques for identifying iron toxicity. Appropriate management practices like liming acid soils, improving soil fertility, soil drainage at certain growth stage of crop, use of manganese as antagonistic element in the uptake of Fe2 + and planting Fe2 + resistant rice cultivars can reduce problem of iron toxicity.

NITROGEN USE EFFICIENCY IN UPLAND RICE GENOTYPES

Nitrogen (N) deficiency is one of the most yield-limiting nutrients in upland rice growing regions word wide. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate nineteen upland rice (Oryza sativa. L.) genotypes for N use efficiency. The soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol and two N levels used were without N application (low level) and an application of 400 mg N kg−1 of soil (high level). Grain yield and yield components and N uptake parameters were significantly affected by N and genotype treatments. Regression analysis showed that plant height, shoot dry weight, number of panicles per pot, number of grains per panicle, grain harvest index, N uptake in shoot and grain were having significant positive relation with grain yield. Nitrogen concentration of 6.4 g kg−1 in the shoot is established as deficient level and 9.5 g kg−1 as sufficient level at harvest. Agronomic efficiency of N (grain yield/unit of N applied) and N utilization efficiency (physiological efficiency X apparent recovery efficiency) were significantly different among genotypes. These two N use efficiencies were having significant quadratic relationship with grain yield. Soil pH, exchangeable soil Ca and base saturation were having significantly positive association with grain yield. However, soil extractable phosphorus (P), potassium (K), hydrogen (H+), aluminum (Al) and cation exchange capacity were having significantly negative association with grain yield.

Chemistry of Lowland Rice Soils and Nutrient Availability

Rice is the staple food crop for about 50% of the worlds population. It is grown mainly under two ecosystems, known as upland and lowland. Lowland rice contributes about 76% of the global rice production. The anaerobic soil environment created by flood irrigation of lowland rice brings several chemical changes in the rice rhizosphere that may influence growth and development and consequently yield. The main changes that occur in flooded or waterlogged rice soils are decreases in oxidation–reduction or redox potential and increases in iron (Fe2+) and manganese (Mn2+) concentrations because of the reductions of Fe3+ to Fe2+ and Mn4+ to Mn2+. The pH of acidic soils increased and alkaline soils decreased because of flooding. Other results are the reduction of nitrate (NO3 −) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2 −) to dinitrogen (N2) and nitrous oxide (N2O); reduction of sulfate (SO4 2−) to sulfide (S2−); reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methane (CH4); improvement in the concentration and availability of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), Fe, Mn, molybdenum (Mo), and silicon (Si); and decrease in concentration and availability of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and sulfur (S). Uptake of nitrogen (N) may increase if properly managed or applied in the reduced soil layer. The chemical changes occur because of physical reactions between the soil and water and also because of biological activities of anaerobic microorganisms. The magnitude of these chemical changes is determined by soil type, soil organic-matter content, soil fertility, cultivars, and microbial activities. The exclusion of oxygen (O2) from the flooded soils is accompanied by an increase of other gases (CO2, CH4, and H2), produced largely through processes of microbial respiration. The knowledge of the chemistry of lowland rice soils is important for fertility management and maximizing rice yield. This review discusses physical, biological, and chemical changes in flooded or lowland rice soils.