A new approach to increase the attainable rice yield in intensive irrigated rice systems of Zhejiang province, China

Abstract

A new site-specific nutrient management approach was developed to break the apparent attainable yield barrier of 6 t·ha⁻¹ in the double rice cropping system of Zhejiang. On-farm experiments involving 21 rice-growing farmer families and NPK long-term experiments commenced in 1997 in the central part of Zhejiang Province to assess the status of soil fertility and productivity under intensive rice-rice cropping. A new site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) approach has been developed for this studied area. Field-specific fertilizer recommendations are calculated considering indigenous nutrient supply, reasonable grain yield targets and corresponding nutrient demand, nutrient balance and nutrient use efficiency, as well as socio-economic factors. The agronomic performance of SSNM was tested against the farmer's fertilizer practice (FFP) in four 1998–1999 cropping seasons. Across seasons and years, SSNM consistently increased plant nutrient uptake, grain yield and profit by about 10%–15% compared to the FFP. Yield levels of 7.5 t·ha⁻¹ or more seem achievable and sustainable through introduction of SSNM and improved extension services in Zhejiang Province.