Water-Saving and High-Yielding Irrigation for Lowland Rice by Controlling Limiting Values of Soil Water Potential

The present study investigated whether an irrigation system could be established to save water and increase grain yield to enhance water productivity by proper water management at the field level in irrigated lowland rice （Oryza sativa L.）. Using two field-grown rice cultivars, two irrigation systems; conventional irrigation and water-saving irrigation, were conducted. In the water-saving irrigation system, limiting values of soil water potential related to specific growth stages were proposed as irrigation indices. Compared with conventional irrigation where drainage was in mid-season and flooded at other times, the water-saving irrigation increased grain yield by 7.4% to 11.3%, reduced irrigation water by 24.5% to 29.2%, and increased water productivity （grain yield per cubic meter of irrigation water） by 43.1% to 50.3%. The water-saving irrigation significantly increased harvest index, improved milling and appearance qualities, elevated zeatin-I-zeaUn riboside concentrations in root bleedings and enhanced activities of sucrose synthase, adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase and starch branching enzyme in grains. Our results indicate that water-saving irrigation by controlling limiting values of soil water potential related to specific growth stages can enhance physiological activities of roots and grains, reduce water input, and increase grain yield.

Effects of Super Absorbent Polymers on Yield and Water-saving and Drought-escaping Mechanism in Spring Maize

The effects of super absorbent polymers （SAP） on yield as well as water-saving and drought-escaping mechanism in spring maize in the seasonal drought region were studied. As shown by the results, during the seasonal drought in southern China, SAP treatment promoted the soil moisture, improved the capability of absorption and transportation of roots, promoted physiological and biochemical functions, increased the chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate and intercellular CO2 concentration, and reduced the stomatal conductance and transplre.tion rate. As a result, the economic characters of spring maize were improved, and the yield was increased.

Effect of N Fertilization on Yield, N Absorption and Utilization of Two Species of Super High-Yielding Summer Maize

[Objective] The aim was to study on effects of N fertilizer on yield, N absorption and utilization of different cultivars of super high-yielding summer maize, in order to provide reference for reasonable N fertilization in accordance with different cultivars. [Method] Field experiment was conducted to study on effects of different N fertilizers on yield, N absorption and use efficiency of Zhengdan 958 and Xundan 20, in order to learn the effect differences at different N fertilizer levels. [Result] After N was applied, yields of the two summer maize increased significantly. Zhengdan 958 achieved the highest in yield and proceeds at 12 051.18 kg/hm2 and 1 722.40 yuan/hm2, respectively in low N level. In contrast, Xundan 20 achieved the highest at 13 166.00 kg/hm2 and 1 343.92 yuan/hm2 in the above two aspects in high N level. Compared with Zhengdan 958, Xundan 20 increased by 9.90%, 5.20% and 12.00% in N levels of 0, 240, and 450 kg/hm2, respectively. When N fertilizers were applied, protein yield of Xundan 20 was significantly higher than that of Zhengdan 958, so that higher N fertilizers contributed higher protein yield for Xundan 20. In high N level, N efficiency, N-fertilizer utilization and partial productivity of Xundan 20 were significantly higher than that of Zhengdan 958. [Conclusion] Lower N-fertilizer was suitable for Zhengdan 958 and Xundan 20 would get a good harvest if more N-fertilizers were applied. The results provided references for reasonable N fertilization.

Characteristics and Functions of Cooperative Economic Organizations for Water-saving Irrigation in Agricultural Development in Arid Areas

Agricultural cooperative economic organization for water-saving irrigation in arid areas is a new form of economic organization in production,operation and management during the application process of water-saving irrigation technologies.Currently,there are few researches on this cooperative economic organization.In this study,connotations of cooperative economic organizations for water-saving irrigation are specifically defined,and the characteristics and functions of this cooperative economic organization are analyzed.Based on that,several suggestions are proposed on the continuous development of cooperative economic organizations for water-saving irrigation.

Effects of Ratio of Row Spacing to Intrarow Spacing on Yield and Top Three Leaves of Super High-yielding Early and Late Rice

Using a split plot design, super high-yielding early rice ＆quot;Zhongjiazao 17＆quot;and ＆quot;Ganxin 203＆quot; and super high-yielding late rice ＆quot;Ganxin 688＆quot; and ＆quot;Wufengy-ouT025＆quot; were taken as materials with planting density the same at 312 000 hil s/hm2, to explore the effects of RS/IS （Ratio of row spacing to intrarow row spacing） on yield, top three leaves morphological features and its relationship of them in 2011 and 2012. The results showed that, whether early or late rice, biomass, accumula-tion and apparent utilizing rate of nitrogen were lower in RS/IS5.0 （40.0 cm ＆#215;8.0 cm） treatment, but yield of rice was higher in RS/IS2.0 （25.0 cm ＆#215;12.8 cm） treatment;grain numbers per spike of rice was more in RS/IS2.8 （30.0 cm＆#215;10.7 cm） treatment, and thousand-grain weight of rice was higher in RS/IS1.3 （20.0 cm＆#215;16.0 cm） treat-ment. For 4 varieties of early or late rice aforementioned, basal angle, opening an-gle and leaf area of 2nd leaf from top were larger in RS/IS5.0 treatment, and basal angle and opening angle were smal er in RS/IS2.0 treatment and leaf area smal er in RS/IS1.3 treatment.

Application of Automatic Water-saving Irrigation System in Roof Gardens

Based on the special site conditions of roof gardens,it was put forward to introduce automatic water-saving irrigation system into the roof garden constructions,such as the solar energy and microcomputer auto water-saving irrigation system,aiming to solve the photosynthetic noon break phenomenon of plants and relieve the stress from high temperature.

Design and Construction of Rainwater Harvesting and Water-saving Irrigation System of Toona sinensis on Mountain Slopes

In order to collect rainwater and resist drought to enhance the utilization rate of rainfall and water resources, through project rainwater harvesting measures, the total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the six greenhouses was calculated according to annual average precipitation 542.2 mm, up to 1 095.7 m^3. The upper natural slopes of cultivated land were as rainwater harvesting areas, and total annual rainwater harvesting amount was 49 242 m^3 on the mountain slopes with an area of 73.37 hm^2, while total water storage amount was 39 394 m^3 in theory, so it could meet water use for the irrigation of 26.28 hm^2 of T. sinensis land. To be convenient for rainwater harvesting, irrigation and supplying water to the water-saving cellars, one pert-cut and part-fill reservoir （which was 470 m^3 in volume） was built on the mountain slopes at the right rear of the greenhouses, and their altitude difference was 50 m. The reservoir was sealed and was built with reinforced concrete. Water-saving cellars were distributed in front and the middle and at the back of two rows of greenhouses, and they were connected with each other. The reservoir could supply water to the water-saving cellars and also collect water by mountain slopes, from the lower water-saving cellars or deep wells. Two rainwater hervesting ditches that were 1 650 m in length were at the lower edge of arable land in the upper reaches of slopes to intercept rainfall runoff and make it flow into channels and then the sedimentation tanks. The total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the reservoir and water-saving cellars was 1 222.5 m^3.

Simplified High-yielding Cultivation Technology of Rice

[Objective] The aim was to select simplified high-yielding cultivation technology of rice. [Method] The research explored three methods of farmland prepara- tion, transplanting, and fertilization including shallow rotary tillage and deep ploughing, mechanical transplanting and hand transplanting, controlled-release fertilizer and quantitative fertilization in order to investigate effects of different treatment groups on rice characteristics, economic characteristics, as well as labor saving, yield increasing and profit improving. [Result] Rice increased by 596.4-809.55 kg/hm2, labor saving reached 120-135 per hm2, and profit improved in the range from 5 521.39 to 8 727.48 yuan/hm2 in the treatment groups by combinations of shallow rotary tillage, mechanical transplanting, and controlled-release fertilizer, of shallow rotary tillage, mechanical transplanting, and quantitative fertilization, and of deep ploughing, mechanical transplanting, and controlled release fertilizer. [Conclusion] The three models are of promising prospects in production.

Effects of Water Stress on Economic Characters of Water-saving Rice Variety Luhan No.1

[Objective] This study aimed at exploring the utilization rate of water of the new water-saving rice variety ＂Luhan No.1＂ and providing references and basis for the further demonstration and extension.[Method] Water-saving rice variety ＂Luhan No.1＂ and original receptor ＂6527＂ were used for dry processing without aquifer,and rice under regular irrigation conditions was used as the control.[Result] Under conditions which had economized on 67.4% of water compared with the regular irrigation,decreasing rates of 1 000-seed weight,seed setting rate,plant height and effective panicles of ＂Luhan No.1＂ were relatively small and had not achieved a significant level,while the decreasing rates of production of the region,total grains per panicle,theoretical production and filled grains per panicle of the original receptor ＂6527＂ were all over 25% and had attained very significant levels（P0.01）.[Conclusion] ＂Luhan No.1＂ had shown stable production,energy conservation,reducing environmental pollution and other advantages under water-conservating cultivation conditions.

Study on High-yielding Seed Production Technologies of Japonica Hybrid Rice

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the high-yielding seed production technologies of japonica hybrid rice. [Method] Key technologies affecting the seed production of japonica hybrid rice were investigated based on manual transplanting experiment, mechanical transplanting experiment, paclobutrazol chemical control experiment, leaf-clipping experiment, gibberellic acid treatment experiment and experiment of different row ratios of male and female parents. [Result] The duration from seeding to heading was significantly shortened with sowing date postponing. The sowing date of mechanical-transplanting parents should be 3 -4 d earlier than that of manual-transplanting parents. Spraying paclobutrazol had significantly control effect on plant height of rice seedlings, and the spraying dose should be determined based on the sensitivities of different parents to paclobutrazol, with an appropriate range of 600-900 g/hm2 . Leaf clipping had certain improving effect on the seed-setting rate. The appropriate spraying dose of gibberellin for japonica hybrid rice was 75-90 g/hm2 . The yield would be relatively high when row ratio of male and female parent was 6∶2. [Conclusion] This study laid the foundation for improving the yield of produced japonica hybrid rice seeds.

Effects of culm carbohydrate partitioning on basal stem strength in a high-yielding rice population

Rice culm carbohydrate transport can simultaneously affect grain filling and stem lodging resistance by regulating non-structural carbohydrate(NSC) and structural carbohydrate(SC) contents. However, the relationship between carbohydrate transposition and culm strength is not well documented. Accordingly, a high-yielding hybrid rice cultivar(Y Liangyou 2) was tested under different N fertilization regimes at two locations, Taoyuan(a special high-yield eco-site), Yunnan province and Danyang(a representative eco-site of the middle and lower Yangtze), Jiangsu province, China. Significantly higher grain yield and basal stem strength were found at Taoyuan than Danyang under all N rates throughout the two-year experiment. At heading stage, soluble sugars, starch, cellulose and lignin contents of the basal culm at Taoyuan were significantly 132.0%, 73.7%, 1.2%, and 62.7% higher than those at Danyang, respectively. At 20 days after heading, soluble sugars and starch content at Taoyuan decreased significantly compared to Danyang, but lignin content remained higher. Culm carbohydrate transport to kernels at Taoyuan was significantly greater than that at Danyang, and the proportion of soluble sugars and starch was correspondingly 62.9%lower. However, the proportion of lignin and cellulose was 22.7% higher at Taoyuan than that at Danyang. Soluble sugars and starch partitioning were significantly reduced under an increased nitrogen application rate, but SC partitioning was little affected. There were significant positive correlations between basal culm bending stress and dry weight and cellulose and lignin proportions at both locations under all N rates, suggesting that the higher SC proportion at 20 days after heading was primarily responsible for culm strength.These results suggest that high-yielding rice populations with greater culm strength require both moderate NSC transport and greater SC accumulation.

The Potential Contribution of Subsurface Drip Irrigation to Water-Saving Agriculture in the Western USA

Water shortages within the western USA are resulting in the adoption of water-saving agricultural practices within this region. Among the many possible methods for saving water in agriculture, the adoption of subsurface drip irrigation （SDI） provides a potential solution to the problem of low water use efficiency. Other advantages of SDI include reduced NO3 leaching compared to surface irrigation, higher yields, a dry soil surface for improved weed control, better crop health, and harvest flexibility for many specialty crops. The use of SDI also allows the virtual elimination of crop water stress, the ability to apply water and nutrients to the most active part of the root zone, protection of drip lines from damage due to cultivation and tillage, and the ability to irrigate with wastewater while preventing human contact. Yet, SDI is used only on a minority of cropland in the arid western USA. Reasons for the limited adoption of SDI include the high initial capital investment required, the need for intensive management, and the urbanization that is rapidly consuming farmland in parts of the western USA. The contributions of SDI to increasing yield, quality, and water use efficiency have been demonstrated. The two major barriers to SDI sustainability in arid regions are economics （i.e., paying for the SDI system）, including the high cost of installation; and salt accumulation, which requires periodic leaching, specialized tillage methods, or transplanting of seedlings rather than direct-seeding. We will review advances in irrigation management with SDI.

THE BALANCE BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF WATER RESOURCES AND THE WATER-SAVING POTENTIAL FOR AGRICULTURE IN THE HEXI CORRIDOR

The Hexi Corridor is an important base of agriculture development inNorthwest China. According to recent statistics, there are 65. 94 x 10~8m^3 of water resourcesavailable in the Hexi Corridor. At present, net consumption in development and utilization is 43. 33x 10~8m^3. Water supply and demand reach a balance on the recent level of production, but loss ofevaporation and evapotranspiration is as much as 25. 69 x 1010~8m^3. So net use efficiency of waterresources is 59% Based on analyzing balance between water and land considering ecologicalenvironment at present, there exists the serious water shortage in the Shiyang River system whereirrigation lands have overloaded. There is a comparative balance between supply and demand of waterresource in the Heihe River system; and the Sule River system has some surplus water to extendirrigation land. Use of agriculture water accounts for 83. 3% and ecological forest and grass for 6.9% . The Hexi Corridor still has a great potential for water saving in agriculture production.Water-saving efficiency of irrigation is about 10% by using such traditional technologies as furrowand border-dike irrigation and small check irrigation, and water-saving with plastic film cover andtechniques of advanced sprinkler and drip/micro irrigation etc. can save more than 60% of irrigatedwater. Incremental irrigation area for water-saving potential in the Hexi Corridor has beenestimated as 56% - 197% to original irrigation area. So the second water sources can be developedfrom water saving agriculture in the Hexi Corridor under Development of the Western Part of China inlarge scale. This potential can be realized step by step through developing the water-savingmeasures, improving the ecological condition of oasis agriculture, and optimizing allocation ofwater resources in three river systems.

The water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation for winter wheat production on the North China Plain

The shortage of groundwater resources is a considerable challenge for winter wheat production on the North China Plain.Water-saving technologies and procedures are thus urgently required.To determine the water-saving potential of using micro-sprinkling irrigation(MSI)for winter wheat production,field experiments were conducted from 2012 to 2015.Compared to traditional flooding irrigation(TFI),micro-sprinkling thrice with 90 mm water(MSI1)and micro-sprinkling four times with 120 mm water(MSI2)increased the water use efficiency by 22.5 and 16.2%,respectively,while reducing evapotranspiration by 17.6 and 10.8%.Regardless of the rainfall pattern,MSI(i.e.,MSI1 or MSI2)either stabilized or significantly increased the grain yield,while reducing irrigation water volumes by 20–40%,compared to TFI.Applying the same volumes of irrigation water,MSI(i.e.,MSI3,micro-sprinkling five times with 150 mm water)increased the grain yield and water use efficiency of winter wheat by 4.6 and 11.7%,respectively,compared to TFI.Because MSI could supply irrigation water more frequently in smaller amounts each time,it reduced soil layer compaction,and may have also resulted in a soil water deficit that promoted the spread of roots into the deep soil layer,which is beneficial to photosynthetic production in the critical period.In conclusion,MSI1 or MSI2 either stabilized or significantly increased grain yield while reducing irrigation water volumes by 20–40%compared to TFI,and should provide water-saving technological support in winter wheat production for smallholders on the North China Plain.

Plant Ideotype at Heading for Super High-Yielding Rice in Double-Cropping System in South China

The newly released super high-yielding hybrid rice combinations, Yueza 122, Fengyou 428, Peiza 67, and the super high-yielding conventional cultivars, Guangchao 3 and Shengtai 1, were grown in both early and late seasons. The morphological characters of each population were investigated at the heading stage, and the data were analyzed by using ANOVY and other statistic methods. The plant ideal morphological characters at the heading stage were established as follows： 1 ） for the early-season cropping, 90-105 cm plant height; 11-12 tillers per plant; 35-40 em length and 2.1-2.2 cm width of flag leaf; 46-50 cm length and 1.8-2.1 cm width of the second leaf from the top （L2）; 59-64 cm length and 1.4-1.9 cm width of the third leaf from the top （L3）; 7°-14°, 18° and 200-33° for the ideal leaf angles of the flag leaf, L2 and L3, respectively; 2） for the late-season cropping, 90-100 cm plant height; 9-15 tillers per plant; 30-41 cm length and 1.8-2.0 cm width of flag leaf; 53-61 cm length and 1.3-1.8 cm width of L2; 52-58 cm length and 1.2-1.5 cm width of L3; 9°-19°, 15°-37° and 16°-49° for the ideal leaf angles of the flag leaf, L2 and L3, respectively. The main physiological characteristics of these varieties were also analyzed.

Development Potentials and Benefit Analysis of Efficient Water-saving Irrigation in Lixin County

On the basis of analyzing water resources,crop planning structure,and irrigation mode in Lixin County,potentials and benefits of developing efficient water-saving irrigation in the county were explored to provide references for its future water-saving irrigation.

Development Prospect and Strategies of Water-saving and Drought-resistance Rice

Water-saving and drought-resistance upland rice has become a preferable choice for cotton farmlands ready for changing crops or paddy fields with water in short,because simplified and mechanical cultivation can be applied for the rice varieties of drought resistance and high yield.At present,it has been applied with an area of 400 000 hm2 in Hunan Province and the area continues growing.The research bred and introduced the relevant cultivation technology standard applicable to local water-saving and drought-resistance rice varieties in order to improve farmer＇s benefits.

Study on Plant Morphological Traits and Production Characteristics of Super High-Yielding Soybean

Super high-yielding soybean cultivar Liaodou 14, soybean cultivars from Ohio in the United States, and the common soybean cultivars from Liaoning Province, China, with similar geographic latitudes and identical pod-bearing habits were used as the study materials for a comparison of morphological traits and production characteristics to provide a theoretical basis for the breeding of improved super high-yielding soybean cultivars. Using a randomized block design, different soybean cultivars from the same latitude were compared under conventional and unconventional treatments for their production characteristics, including morphological traits, leaf area index （LAI）, net photosynthesis rate, and dry matter accumulation. The specific characteristics of the super high-yielding soybean cultivar Liaodou 14 were analyzed. The results showed that the plant height of Liaodou 14 was significantly lower than that of the common cultivars from Liaoning, whereas the number of its main-stem nodes was higher than that of the cultivars from Ohio or Liaoning. A high pod density was observed in Liaodou 14 under conventional treatments. Under both conventional and unconventional treatments, the branch number of Liaodou 14 was markedly higher than that of the common cultivars from Liaoning, and its branch length and leaf inclination angle were significantly higher than those of common cultivars from Liaoning or Ohio. Only small changes in the leaf inclination angle were observed in Liaodou 14 treated with conventional or unconventional methods. Under each treatment, Liaodou 14 exhibited the lowest amplitude of reduction in SPAD values and net photosynthesis rates from the grain-filling to ripening stages; the cultivars from Ohio and the common cultivars from Liaoning exhibited more significant reductions. Liaodou 14 reached its peak LAI later than the other cultivars but maintained its LAI at a higher level for a longer duration. Under both conventional and unconventional treatments, Liaodou 14 produced a higher yield than the other two cultivars, with significant differences from the Ohio cultivars. In summary, super high-yielding soybean cultivars have several main features： suitable plant height, high pod density, good leaf structure with strong functionality, and slow leaf senescence at the late reproductive stage, which is conducive to the accumulation of dry matter and improved yield.

Survey on Early-bearing High-yielding Model Plantation of Camellia oleifera

[Objective] This study was conducted to screen the best variety and optimum planting density for constructing early-bearing high-yielding model plantation of Camellia oleifera. [Methed] This survey was carried out in two demonstration bases, one for investigating the relationship between different cultivated varieties with growth and production, the other for investigating the relationship between different planting densities with growth and production. [Result] For different cultivated varieties, Cenruan 2 showed tree height, ground diameter and crown product significantly higher than other two varieties, besides, the per unit area fruit yield of Cenruan 2 was also significantly higher than other two varieties. From flower bud differentiation,the best variety was Changlin 4, which showed number of differentiated flower buds significantly higher than Changlin 27, but there were no significant differences between Cenruan 2 with Changlin 4 and Changlin 27. For different planting densities, plant height and crown product at planting density of 1.5 m×2 m were significantly higher than those of other two planting densities, but from ground diam- eter, the best planting density was 1.5 m×1.0 m, with a ground diameter significantly higher than other two planting densities. From per unit area fruit yield, the best planting density was 1.5 m×2.0 m, under which early plant growth and fruit production were better. Therefore, the best planting density is 2.0 m ×3.0 m when constructing early-bearing high-yielding model plantations. For variety Cenruan 3, it＇s fruit production is high in the early pedod, and the best planting density is 1.5 m× 2.0 m or 1.0 m×1.5 m when constructing early-bearing high-yielding model plantations, and after 4-6 years when it put into production, the plants could be transplanted.

Application Research of Water-saving and Drought-resistant Landscape Plants:A Case Study of Inner Mongolia Drought-resistant Mongolian Grasses

Construction of "water-saving landscape architecture" is a crucial content of building "conservation-minded society'',an important approach of ensuring the sustainable development of landscaping industry.It targets at exploring a reasonable means of using the nature,so as to improve ecological conditions and environment,save resources and energies,and promote the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.Landscape plant is a significant component of landscape architecture,it is a key section to choose proper drought-resistant plant species for the landscape construction.