Integration of rice crop residue into sustainable rice production system |
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| Authors: | K R Sistani K C Reddy W Kanyika N K Savant |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Plant and Soil Science , Alabama A&2. M University , Normal, AL, 35762;3. Lifuwu Rice Research Station , Lifuwu, Malawi |
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| Abstract: | Rice is the staple food for nearly 40% of the world's population. In Malawi, rice is ranked second only to maize as a cereal food crop. In rainfed areas of Malawi, grain yields typically average 1.0–1:5 t ha‐1 while potential yield is 4–5 t ha1. To bridge the gap between current and potential yields, several novel nutrient management systems were studied. Many research reports indicate that rice responds to silicon (Si) application as well as to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) which are commonly applied. Rice crop residues (straws and hulls) are rich in Si and K, but are not utilized currently in rice production. The effect of rice‐hull ash, rice straw, and method of N application (prilled or briquetted urea) on a transplanted rice crop was studied through field experiments in Malawi during 1995 and 1996. Application of urea in briquette form increased rice grain yield by 1056 and 122 kg ha‐1 compared to prilled urea in the 1995 winter and 1996 summer experiments, respectively. However in the 1996 winter experiment, prilled urea was superior to urea briquette and increased the rice grain yield by 307 kg ha1. Incorporation of rice straw significantly increased rice grain yields over the control in three consecutive experiments. Rice‐hull ash alone increased the rice grain yields in all three experiments up to 12%; however, the increase was not statistically significant. The combination of rice straw and rice‐hull ash along with optimum N rates (60 kg ha‐1) increased the rice grain yields significantly in 1996 winter season but the increase was not significant in the other two experiments. |
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