Adaptability Comparison of Chinese Milk Vetch (Astragalus sinicus) Varieties for Double-rice Cropping System in Hunan

Five Chinese milk vetch（Astragalus sinicus） varieties were selected to make a comparison in order to screen effective varieties which could suit for the double-rice cropping system of Hunan Province. The results showed that the growth period of Xiangzi 2 is shorter than that of Xiangfei 2, Xiangfei 3 and Yujiangdaye,and is similar to that of Xinyang Chinese milk vetch. The full-bloom stage of Xiangzi 2 is also similar to Xinyang variety and obviously earlier than that of the other three varieties. The fresh grass yield of Xiangzi 2 in full-bloom stage is 23 842.5kg/hm^2, which increases by 39.9% compared with Xinyang variety. Nitrogen content in the fresh grass of Xiangzi 2 is higher than that of the other four varieties. In conclusion, Xiangzi 2 is an extremely early-blossoming and early-maturing Chinese milk vetch variety with moderate fresh grass yield, high nutrient contents, stable characters and wide adaptability. So, Xiangzi 2 is suitable for planting in double-rice cropping region in Hunan Province and other same latitude regions which have similar ecological conditions.

Application of Chinese milk vetch affects rice yield and soil productivity in a subtropical double-rice cropping system

Green manure can be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizer without reducing rice yield.We studied the responses of soil fertility and rice yield to different combinations of Chinese milk vetch(CMV;Astragalus sinicus L.)and chemical fertilizer in a subtropical double-rice cropping system.Our goal is to reduce chemical fertilizer use and decrease environmental contamination.Compared with the recommended rate of chemical fertilizer(CF),both early-and late-rice yields in the two treatments supplied with 15 and 22.5 Mg CMV ha^-1 plus 60%CF(represented as 60 A and 60 B,respectively)showed no significant differences while the two treatments supplied with 30 and 37.5 Mg CMV ha^-1 plus 60%CF(represented as 60 C and 60 D,respectively)showed significantly higher values.The sustainable yield index(SYI)values in the 60 C and 60 D treatments with double-rice croppong system were significantly higher than those in other treatments(P<0.05).Early-rice yield showed a significant positive relationship with the Chinese milk vetch incorporation rate.The coefficients increased annually from 2009 to 2013 and then decreased in 2014.Soil organic matter increased over time by the end of the experiment in all of the treatment groups.Soil organic matter in 60 A,60 B and 60 C showed no significant difference compared with that in CF,while soil organic matter in 60 D was significantly higher than that in CF.The slopes of soil organic matter and total nitrogen over six years were the highest in 60 C and 60 D.The soil total nitrogen content in 60 A,60 B,60 C and 60 D was higher than that in CF,but the differences were not significant(P>0.05).Therefore,a relatively high Chinese milk vetch incorporation rate(≥30 Mg ha^-1)was more effective in improving the productivity and sustainability of paddy soil.The decreased coefficients of early-rice yield and the Chinese milk vetch incorporation rate in 2014 implied that the benefits of soil fertility and rice yield created by Chinese milk vetch input may decline after five years under a continuously high rate of Chinese milk vetch incorporation.

Management of rice straw with relay cropping of Chinese milk vetch improved double-rice cropping system production in southern China

Improved utilization of rice(Oryza sativa L.)straw and Chinese milk vetch(Astragalus sinicus L.,vetch)has positive effects on rice production.So far,few studies have investigated the productivity of vetch under different residue management practices in double-rice cropping system.The effects of rice straw on the growth and nutrient accumulation of vetch across seven years(2011–2017)and the subsequent effects of rice straw and vetch on two succeeding rice crops in a vetch–rice–rice cropping system,with the vetch established by relay cropping,were examined.The seven-year double-rice experiment consisted of the following treatments:(1)100%chemical fertilizer(F-F100);(2)only vetch without chemical fertilizer(M-Con);(3)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a low-cutting height(low-retained stubble)with the removal of straw(M-F80);(4)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a low-cutting height with the retention of straw(M-F80-LR);(5)80%chemical fertilizer plus vetch plus a high-cutting height(high-retained stubble)with the retention of straw(M-F80-HR);and(6)no fertilizer(F-Con).The yields of the two rice crops after vetch were not affected by either the cutting height of stubble with retention of straw or by the management of straw(retention vs.removal)with low-cutting height of stubble.The yields of the two rice crops after vetch were significantly higher for M-F80-HR than for M-F80-LR,but the relative contributions of the high-cutting height and straw retention to the higher rice yield could not be determined in this study.The yield stability of the double-rice grain in M-F80-HR was also increased,as determined by a sustainable yield index.Significant increases in vetch biomass and nutrient uptake were observed in the fertilized treatments during the rice season compared with the unfertilized treatments.In M-F80-HR plots,improvements in the growing environment of the vetch by conserving soil water content were associated with the highest vetch biomass,nutrient uptake,and yield stability of vetch biomass.These increased nutrient inputs partially replaced the demand for chemical fertilizer and stimulated the rice yields.It can be concluded that retaining higher-cutting stubble residues with straw retention could be the best straw management practice for increasing the vetch biomass and nutrient use efficiency,thereby allowing utilization of high-cutting height with retention of straw and vetch to improve the stability of rice productivity in a double-rice cropping system.

Production Benefits of Double-Cropping Rice Under Optimized Application of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers Combined with Chinese Milk Vetch and Straw Co-Returning to Fields

In order to explore the technology and effects of reducing nitrogen and potassium fertilizer applications in double-cropping rice,a field plot experiment was conducted to study the effects of optimized application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers combined with returning Chinese milk vetch and straw to fields on yield,fertilizer utilization efficiency,net photosynthetic rate(Pn),stomatal conductance(Gs),intercellular CO_(2) concentration(Ci),chlorophyll content(SPAD value)and soil physical and chemical properties in late rice harvest period.The results showed that the optimized application of nitrogen and potassium fertilizers combined with the integrated technology of Chinese milk vetch and straw co-returning to the field could enhance the photosynthetic efficiency of double-cropping rice,increase rice yield,and enhance soil biological activity,especially T4 treatment involving the returning of Chinese milk vetch and straw to the field instead of 30%nitrogen fertilizer achieved the highest rice yield,fertilizer use efficiency,net photosynthetic rate and soil biological activity.Compared with the conventional fertilization treatment T2,the total rice yield of T4 treatment increased by 4.1%,among which the early rice and late rice increased by 6.3%and 2.4%,respectively;Pn,Gs and SPAD values of flag leaves at full heading stage significantly increased,and the contents of soil active organic carbon,alkali hydrolyzed nitrogen,available phosphorus and readily available potassium significantly increased.

CH_4 and N_2O emissions from double-rice cropping system as affected by Chinese milk vetch and straw incorporation in southern China

Chinese milk vetch(CMV) and rice straw(RS)were incorporated into soil to substitute for synthetic N fertilizers and to maintain soil fertility. However, little is known about the integrated impacts of CMV and RS incorporation on CH_4 and N_2O emissions in double-rice cropping systems in southern China. A field experiment was conducted to estimate the integrated impacts of CMV and RS incorporation in the early-and late-rice seasons on CH_4 and N_2O emissions. All treatments received uniform N inputs, 6%–37% of which was replaced by CMV and RS crop residue. CMV and/or RS incorporation produced equivalent or slightly more grain yield, while reducing N2 O emissions by 3%–43%. However, both CMV and RS incorporation increased CH_4 emissions. Annual CH_4 emissions ranged from 321 to 614 kg·hm^(–2)from CMV and RS amendment treatments, which were 1.5–2.9 times higher than that from synthetic N. Compared with single synthetic N fertilizer, incorporation of CMV and/or RS increased GWP and yield-scaled GWP by 45%–164% and45%–153%, respectively. Our results demonstrate CMV and RS amendments replacing N fertilizer, maintained stable yield, mitigated N_2O emission, but enhanced CH_4 emission. Further study is needed on crop residue management in double-cropping rice systems.

Co-composting of Chinese milk vetch with rice straw and using the compost as a peat substitute of seeding substrate of vegetables

Chinese milk vetch(Astragalussinicus L.)is an environment-friendly green manure used for rice with low carbon/nitrogen(C/N)ratio and high moisture.To improve the added values of milk vetch,the feasibility of co-composting of milk vetch with rice straw was evaluated.The probability of using the milk vetch-based compost as a peat substitute in seeding substrate of vegetable was further tested.The changes in physicochemical properties during co-composting of milk vetch and rice straw were evaluated,depending on three treatments:(1)milk vetch alone(MV),(2)co-composting of milk vetch and rice straws with 4:1 ration(w/w)(MV+S)and(3)MV+S with the addition of 3%(w/w)microbial inoculation(MV+S+M).The entire composting durations were 15 d,24 d,and 24 d in MV,MV+S,MV+S+M composts.Compare to MV compost,both the MV+S,MV+S+M composts increased the temperature,pH,organic C,total nitrogen(N),total potassium(K)and the germination index(GI)(over 100)during the cooling/mature phase,and decreased total N loss,and generally,the improvements or reductions were greater in the MV+S+M compost than in the MV+S compost.Additionally,the MV+S+M compost was added at a peat substitute rates of 0%,20%,40%,80%and 100%in a pot experiment to testify the utilization of milk vetch-based compost in substrates.The results showed that the substrate with 40%substitute rate increased the cabbage seeding growth,and that the electrical conductivity was the limiting factor of preventing the substitute rate increase.Another pot experiment demonstrated that the substrate with 40%peat substitute increased the cucumber growth as compared to the substrate without compost.In conclusion,the co-composting milk vetch with rice straw was feasible and quick,and microbial inoculation accelerated the composting process and improved the compost quality.The milk vetch-based composts were nutrient-rich and safe,and thus,can replace part of peat in vegetable seeding substrate.

Fungi dominate denitrification when Chinese milk vetch green manure is used in paddy soil

Fungi play an important role in soil nitrous oxide(N_(2)O)emission in many agricultural soil systems.However,the effect of fungi on N_(2)O emission in Chinese milk vetch(CMV)-containing soils has not been examined sufficiently.This study investigated the contribution of bacteria and fungi to soil N_(2)O emission in CMV-amended soils.We compared soils from an experimental field in the Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences that had been treated with 30000 kg of CMV per 667 m2 per year with one that was not treated with CMV.We incubated soil using cycloheximide and streptomycin to differentiate fungal and bacterial N_(2)O emissions,respectively.Quantitative PCR(qPCR)was performed to investigate bacterial and fungal abundances in the two agricultural soil ecosystems.The contribution of fungi to soil N_(2)O emission in CMV-amended soils was greater than that in nonCMV-amended paddy soils,with fungi accounting for more than 56%of the emissions in CMVamended soils.Quantitative PCR showed that the ratio of the internal transcribed spacer to 16S rDNA was significantly higher in CMV-amended soils than in non-CMV-amended paddy soils.Furthermore,soil properties,such as pH(P<0.05)and NH_(4)^(+)concentration(P<0.05),significantly and negatively affected N_(2)O emission by fungi in soil,whereas the total organic carbon(P<0.05)and NO3–concentration(P<0.05)showed significant positive effects.Fungi may be important contributors to N_(2)O production in CMV-amended soils,which may create challenges for mitigating N_(2)O production.

Effect of Reducing Chemical Fertilizer on Rice Yield,Output Value,Content of Soil Carbon and Nitrogen after Utilizing the Milk Vetch

A located field experiment was carried out to study the effects of different amount of chemical fertilizer usage on rice yield,economic benefits of rice,soil carbon（C） and total nitrogen（TN） under ploughing back of Chinese milk vetch for 5consecutive years.Six treatments were included in the experiment,they are CK（unfertilized）,CF（100% chemical fertilizer with the amount of N,P2O5,K2 O being150,75,120 kg/hm^2respectively）,A1（22 500 kg/hm^2 Chinese milk vetch and 100%chemical fertilizer）,A2（Chinese milk vetch and 80% nitrogen and potassium fertilizer and 100% phosphate fertilizer）,A3（Chinese milk vetch and 60% nitrogen and potassium fertilizer and 100% phosphate fertilizer）,A4（Chinese milk vetch and 40% nitrogen and potassium fertilizer and 100% phosphate fertilizer）.The results were as follows：application of fertilizer could increase the yield of rice,while Chinese milk vetch combined with fertilizer application had a much more increase effect in rice yield.Under the condition of milk vetch application with 22 500 kg/hm^2,the early rice yield of the treatment A1 was significantly increased by 7.7% compared with that of CF.And the yield of treatment A3 was basically identical to or slight increase in comparison with that of CF.Decreasing amount of fertilizers cloud improve output value of rice in the case of the utilization of Chinese milk vetch.The treatment A1 increased output value of rice by 5.92% in comparison of CF,and treatment A2 was by 4.08% in the next.Treatment A4 showed much better effect in increasing soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in the paddy soil than those of treatments applying mineral fertilizer only.There was a significant reduction on soil organic carbon and TN in treatment A2 in comparison with that of CF.In general,amount of application of milk vetch with 22 500 kg/hm^2 could replace chemical fertilizer partially,it also could improve rice yield,decrease the production cost,and raise the utilization efficiency of nutrients.

Winter cover crops alter methanotrophs community structure in a double-rice paddy soil

Methanotrophs play a vital role in the mitigation of methane emission from soils. However, the influences of cover crops incorporation on paddy soil methanotrophic community structure have not been fully understood. In this study, the impacts of two winter cover crops（Chinese milk vetch（Astragalus sinicus L.） and ryegrass（Lolium multiflorum Lam.）, representing leguminous and non-leguminous cover crops, respectively） on community structure and abundance of methanotrophs were evaluated by using PCR-DGGE（polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis） and real-time PCR technology in a double-rice cropping system from South China. Four treatments were established in a completely randomized block design： 1） double-rice cropping without nitrogen fertilizer application, CK; 2） double-rice cropping with chemical nitrogen fertilizer application（200 kg ha^（–1） urea for entire double-rice season）, CF; 3） Chinese milk vetch cropping followed by double-rice cultivation with Chinese milk vetch incorporation, MV; 4） ryegrass cropping followed by double-rice cultivation with ryegrass incorporation, RG. Results showed that cultivating Chinese milk vetch and ryegrass in fallow season decreased soil bulk density and increased rice yield in different extents by comparison with CK. Additionally, methanotrophic bacterial abundance and community structure changed significantly with rice growth. Methanotrophic bacterial pmo A gene copies in four treatments were higher during late-rice season（3.18×10^7 to 10.28×10^7 copies g^–1 dry soil） by comparison with early-rice season（2.1×10^7 to 9.62×10^7 copies g^–1 dry soil）. Type Ⅰ methanotrophs absolutely predominated during early-rice season. However, the advantage of type Ⅰ methanotrophs kept narrowing during entire double-rice season and both types Ⅰ and Ⅱ methanotrophs dominated at later stage of late-rice.