Integration of Growing Milk Vetch in Winter and Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Can Improve Rice Yield in Double-Rice Cropping System

To study whether integrative fertilization [growing milk vetch in winter and reducing the dose of chemical nitrogen(N) fertilizer] can improve rice yield, and to reveal the underlying regulatory mechanisms for integrative fertilization, a three-year field trial including two treatments, milk vetch-rice-rice(MRR) and winter fallow-rice-rice(FRR), was conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012.Our results demonstrated that the MRR treatment could significantly improve rice yield compared with the FRR treatment, especially when the application ratio of milk vetch and chemical fertilizer was 1:2.MRR treatment increased the effective panicle number and the spikelet number per panicle.In addition, a higher tillering number, leaf area index, photosynthetic-potential and photosynthetic-potential to grain ratio were observed in MRR treatment, which could provide enough dry matter for yield formation.Moreover, in MRR treatment, we discovered a higher transportation ratio and transformation ratio of dry matter in culm and leaves, and a stronger total sink capacity and spikelet-root bleeding intensity at the heading stage and 15 d after heading.Furthermore, the MRR treatment showed higher total N, phosphorus and potassium uptakes than FRR treatment, which was associated with the higher root dry weight in each soil layers.These results suggest that growing milk vetch in winter can improve rice yield under less chemical N fertilizer application, which is due to the improvement of soil nutrient status and the increased of rice root growth and development.

Substitution of chemical fertilizer by Chinese milk vetch improves the sustainability of yield and accumulation of soil organic carbon in a double-rice cropping system

The double-rice cropping system is a very important intensive cropping system for food security in China. There have been few studies of the sustainability of yield and accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC) in the double-rice cropping system following a partial substitution of chemical fertilizer by Chinese milk vetch (Mv). We conducted a 10-year (2008–2017) field experiment in Nan County, South-Central China, to examine the double-rice productivity and SOC accumulation in a paddy soil in response to different fertilization levels and Mv application (22.5 Mg ha^–1). Fertilizer and Mv were applied both individually and in combination (sole chemical fertilizers, Mv plus 100, 80, 60, 40, and 0% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers, labeled as F100, MF100, MF80, MF60, MF40, and MF0, respectively). It was found that the grain yields of double-rice crop in treatments receiving Mv were reduced when the dose of chemical fertilizer was reduced, while the change in SOC stock displayed a double peak curve. The MF100 produced the highest double-rice yield and SOC stock, with the value higher by 13.5 and 26.8% than that in the F100. However, the grain yields increased in the MF80 (by 8.4% compared to the F100), while the SOC stock only increased by 8.4%. Analogous to the change of grain yield, the sustainable yield index (SYI) of double rice were improved significantly in the MF100 and MF80 compared to the F100, while there was a slight increase in the MF60 and MF40. After a certain amount of Mv input (22.5 Mg ha^–1), the carbon sequestration rate was affected by the nutrient input due to the stimulation of microbial biomass. Compared with the MF0, the MF100 and MF40 resulted in a dramatically higher carbon sequestration rate (with the value higher by 71.6 and 70.1%), whereas the MF80 induced a lower carbon sequestration rate with the value lower by 70.1% compared to the MF0. Based on the above results we suggested that Mv could partially replace chemical fertilizers (e.g., 40–60%) to improve or maintain the productivity and sustainability of the double-rice cropping system in South-Central China.

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.

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.

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.