Aerobic Rice

Crop and Environmental Sciences DivisionCrop and Environmental Sciences DivisionInternational Rice Research InstituteInternational Rice Research Institute

Los BaLos Bañños, Philippinesos, Philippines

Aerobic rice: a technology in R&DKey characteristics: no puddling, no standing water, no soil saturation, dry land preparation, direct dry seeding, “high” inputs => high yields,special “aerobic rice” varieties

Target domain: water-short irrigated lands, favorableuplands and rainfed lowlands (where water is Insufficient to grow flooded rice)

Upland riceUpland rice

Breeding:Aerobic soilDrought tolerantWeed competitiveAdverse soil conditionsLow inputs (!)=> Stable but low yields

Unfavorable uplands

Different idea of rice like upland cropDifferent idea of rice like upland crop

Breeding: from upland rice…

Aerobic soilInput responsiveLodging resistantWeed competitive=> Stable and high yields

Water-short irrigated areas‘Favorable’ uplands

Lowland HYV traits

2,1001,100700835590Total

−−−33590Irrigation inefficiency loss

1,500500100−−Seepage and percolation

400400400400400Transpiration

200200200100100Evaporation

---60%85%Irrigation efficiency

15 mm d−15 mm d−11 mm d−1--Lowland soil SP rate

Lowland rice (mm)Aerobic rice (mm)

Water flow process

Water use of a hypothetical aerobic rice crop and of a lowland rice on different soils

Practical evidence: Brazil

• Active program to develop upland rice varieties and management techniques since the 80’s

=> High-yielding aerobic varieties > 5 t ha-1 withhigh inputs

• State of Mato Grosso: 250,000 ha commercialproduction (sprinkler irrigated)

Aerobic rice, Mato Grosso, BrasilGuimarães and Stone, 2000

High-yielding and good-quality aerobic rice varieties released since late 1990s.

Northeast China Plain: HD297, HD502, Dangeng 8, and Danhandao 1 a single crop.

North China Plain HD277, HD 297, HD65, Wushi HD as a single crop.

Huai River Plain HD277, HD502, Zhonghan 3 grown following winter wheat.

Practical evidence: North China

Practical evidence: North China

Tested by farmers on estimated 80,000 ha• In rainfed areas where rainfall is insufficient tosustain lowland rice production (diversification!)

• In irrigated areas where water is scarce/expensive• In salt-affected areas• In flood-prone areas

Feng Tai (Anhui)Feng Tai (Anhui)

Huanjia Chuan (Beijing)Huanjia Chuan (Beijing)

China Agricultural University: developed‘aerobic rice’ varieties since 1980’s

Questions………Yield? Water use? Can stand flooding??Management? Sustainability? ……

Results field experiments Beijing

Checking the concept:Hydrology field experiment BeijingExplore aerobic rice yield and irrigation water use

Three varieties:

• Aerobic rice Han Dao 502 and 297

• Lowland rice (check): Jin Dao 305

• Lowland site: conventional lowland practice

• Aerobic site: five irrigation treatments

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

0~1010~2020~3030~4040~5050~6060~7070~8080~90

90~100100~110110~120120~130130~140140~150150~160

Texture

2001 20021.41 1.231.31 1.351.49 1.361.55 1.351.44 1.29 - 1.32 - 1.31 - 1.34 - 1.36 - 1.39 - 1.38 - 1.36 - 1.52 - 1.52 - 1.53 - 1.48

Bulk density

Aerobic site: sandy soil with > 20 m deep groundwater

Sand silt clay

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

115 140 165 190 215 240 265

W1sowing

emergencePI FL M

Irrigation (mm)

Day number

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

115 140 165 190 215 240 265

W5Irrigation (mm)

Day number

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

115 140 165 190 215 240 265

Rainfall (mm)

Day number

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

115 140 165 190 215 240 265

Rainfall (mm)

Day number

Aerobic: different amount and timing Irrigation

Rain Rain

W5W1

44 d

0102030405060708090

100

175 200 225 250 275 300Day number

Soil moisture tension (kPa)PI FL

0102030405060708090

100

175 200 225 250 275 300Day number

Soil moisture tension (kPa)PI FL

Soil moisture tension at 20 cm depth; 2001

W1, W2

W3, W5

Field capacity

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Flood W1 W2 W3 W4 W5

Water treatment (Rainfall)

Total water input (mm) 2001

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Yield (t ha-1)

1394 644 577 586 519 469

LowlandHD502HD297

Flooded ---------------- Aerobic ------------------Water (mm)

2001

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1394 644 577 586 519 469

LowlandHD502HD297

Flooded ----------------Aerobic---------------------

Water productivity (g grain kg-1 total water input)

Water (mm)

2001

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400

Yield (t ha-1)

Water input (mm)

aerobic

flooded

2001 and 200; all crops

Black = HD502White = HD297Cross = JD305

Results from farmers

Site locationKaifeng

Lowland area

Railway

Field exp.

Hubei station

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

2002

/06/27

2002

/07/04

2002

/07/11

2002

/07/18

2002

/07/25

2002

/08/01

2002

/08/08

2002

/08/15

2002

/08/22

2002

/08/29

2002

/09/05

2002

/09/12

2002

/09/19

Liu Zhiliang Zheng Xiufen Lu Xiulian Liu Liang Xu Min

Groundwater depth aerobic rice 2002 (cm)

455889.2 638890251323712285786

0.97566

3372305.5 0.07

Pan Jialiang

2111409.5 492756265393814335785

0.73637

3373004.7 0.04

ZhengXiyun

451909.1 637826189363612185630

0.89568

3372315.1 0.07

Pan Jiaqun

171713.2 311546235373819255660

0.60562

3372253.4 0.21

Liu Liang

260416220Net income, labor included

787468Own labor (d/ha)4.4 4.1 4.1 Hired labor (d/ha)415562355Net income ($/ha)609707609Production value ($/ha)195221255Total input cost ($/ha)103421irrigation (water, fuel)373737fuel (except irrigation)171616harvest 415533herbicide and pesticide555655seeds352293fertilizer

Input cost ($/ha)

0.900.770.67WP (g grain/ kg total water)

417562562Total water (I + R; mm)

337337337Rainfall (mm)80225225Irrigation (mm)3.8 4.4 3.8 Grain yield (t/ha)0.130.110.17Field size (ha)

Lu XiulianZhengXiufen

Xu MinAEROBIC RICE 2002

1147703312500Net income, labor included

23810987116Own labor (d/ha)

0060Hired labor (d/ha)

1594906487718Net income ($/ha)

170010717061097Production value ($/ha)

106140230379Total input cost ($/ha)

11133094irrigation (water, fuel)

0113725fuel (except irrigation)

061522harvest

1943339herbicide and pesticide

23415693seeds

546459106fertilizer

Input cost ($/ha)

0.751.810.790.42WP (g grain/ kg total water)

4164145531744Total water (I + R; mm)

337337337337Rainfall (mm)

79772171407Irrigation (mm)

3.107.474.357.31Grain yield (t/ha)

0.140.150.120.12Field size (ha)

CottonMaizeAerobic riceLowland riceMEANS OF CROPS 2002

16582246140217-129Net income (w lab) ($/ha)

699780528863Own labor (d/ha)

293262394237381-14Net income ($/ha)

532631656420669210Production value ($/ha)

238370263183289224Total input costs ($/ha)

23232617925Irrigation (fuel, oil)

532335262040Ploughing etc.

95124196Harvest

0002200Hired labor

5213171308820Herbicide and pesticide

313030142833Seeds

701588870125100Fertilizer

Input costs ($/ha)

0.36 0.44 0.45 0.29 0.46 0.14 Water productivity (g/kg)

836820842818833830Total water (I+R, mm)

674674674674674674Rainfall (mm)

162146169145159156Irrigation (mm)

303836083750240038251200Grain yield (kg/ha)

0.130.110.110.060.160.10Field size (ha)

GuoGuangshan

QinFengying

GuoGuangtian

JiRuixiang

QuanYuliang

GuoErkuiAerobic rice (2003)

-34

162

265

643

378

57

23

20

31

68

37

143

0.32

1149

674

476

3675

0.11

Lowland

379651120Net income (w lab) ($/ha)

1734175Own labor (d/ha)

699727259Net income ($/ha)

873856520Production value ($/ha)

175129261Total input costs ($/ha)

12021Irrigation (fuel, oil)

3533Ploughing etc.

049Harvest

0234Hired labor

361365Herbicide and pesticide

652728Seeds

5956102Fertilizer

Input costs ($/ha)

0.16 0.85 0.36 Water productivity (g/kg)

749674830Total water (I+R, mm)

674674674Rainfall (mm)

760156Irrigation (mm)

123357052970Grain yield (kg/ha)

0.160.560.11Field size (ha)

CottonMaizeAerobicCrop means (2003)

Freq%

0

5

10

15

20

25

0-0.5 0.5-1 1-1.5 1.5-2 2-2.5 2.5-3 3-3.5 3.5-4 4-4.5 4.5-5 5-5.5 5.5-6

Yield (t ha-1)

Farmers’ yield, Kaifeng 2006. N = 36

Destroyed cotton and maize fields by flooding, 2004

Destroyed sesame and maize fields by flooding, 2002

Farmers’ feedback (Oct 2004)

•Yields 3-6 t ha-1; should be 6 in ‘normal year’

•Any yield good with flood years (failure in 2004 maize, cotton,..)

•Good quality

•Easy to manage

•Less labor requirement

•More extension and support needed on management

•Weed control important

Tropical aerobic riceResults field experiments

IRRI, Philippines: long-term sustainabilityexperiment (compare flooded-aerobic rice)Heavy clay soil (60% clay!)

Objectives:1. Quantify yield potential, water use and

water productivity of rice varieties under aerobic conditions

2. Quantify long-term yield stability

Three treatments:• Aerobic in dry season – aerobic in wet season• Aerobic in dry season – flooded in wet season• Flooded in dry season – flooded in wet season

Varieties:1. Apo under “full” N (120 kg ha-1) and zero N2. Different varieties under full N

0

20

40

60

80

1001 20 39 58 77 96 115

134

153

172

191

210

229

248

267

286

305

324

343

362

Dayof year

Wet season (Jun-Oct) Dry season (Jan-May) AIrrigation amount (mm)

0102030405060708090

100

1 20 39 58 77 96 115

134

153

172

191

210

229

248

267

286

305

324

343

362

C

Day of year

Rainfall (mm)

Flooded 2001

Irrigation

Rainfall

0102030405060708090

1001 20 39 58 77 96 115

134

153

172

191

210

229

248

267

286

305

324

343

362

B

Day of year

Irrigation amount (mm)

0102030405060708090

100

1 20 39 58 77 96 115

134

153

172

191

210

229

248

267

286

305

324

343

362

C

Day of year

Rainfall (mm)

Aerobic 2001

Irrigation

Rainfall

-40-20

020406080

100120

1 19 37 55 73 91 109

127

145

163

181

199

217

235

253

271

289

307

325

343

361

Day of year

Groundwater depth (cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 18 35 52 69 86 103

120

137

154

171

188

205

222

239

256

273

290

307

324

341

358

Soil moisture tension (kPa)

Day of year

2001

Groundwater

Soil moisturetension inAerobic plots

15 cm depth

35 cm depth

Flooded

aerobic

Field capacity

012345678

IR43 B6144F Apo+

FloodedAerobic

IRRI, 2001 DS: yield (t ha-1) in K6/7

Fertilizer: 180-60-40 kg ha-1 NPK

Pests and diseases: mole crickets (aerobic), stem borer, sheath blight; lodging in B6144F

012345678

IR43 IR64 Apo+ Magat

FloodedAerobic

IRRI, 2002 DS: yield (t ha-1) in K6/7

Fertilizer: 120-60-40 kg ha-1 NPK

0200400600800

100012001400160018002000

DS2

001

WS2

001

DS2

002

WS2

002

DS2

001

WS2

001

DS2

002

WS2

002

Flooded Aerobic

Lining of bunds

Water input, including land preparation (mm)

Irrigation Rainfall

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

2001-DS

2001-WS

2002-DS

2002-WS

2003-DS

2003-WS

Aerobic

Flooded

Water productivity Apo (g grain kg-1 water)

Zero N

Yield stability

Apo (t ha−1)

Aerobic

Flooded

01234

5678

DS2001 DS2002 DS2003

“Full N”

012345678

DS2001 DS2002 DS2003

05

1015202530354045

2001-DS

2001-WS

2002-DS

2002-WS

2003-DS

2003-WS

Aerobic yield stability % reduction from flooded

Results from farmers

FarmerFarmer--participatory R&D, central Luzonparticipatory R&D, central Luzon1. Participatory variety Selection (PVS)

2. Crop establishment: traditional technology (Moldboard plough, Lithao, hand-dibbling)

3. Automated seeder with basal fertilizerapplication

• Labor saving• Efficient

fertilizer use?

4. Weed control: traditional technology (plough, Lithao,)

Farmer innovation

5. Irrigation and fertilizer management: amount and timing

Initial results

Varieties with 5-6 t ha-1 yield potential

Farmers can get 4-5 t ha-1 by farmers in wet season

Some 30-50% less water than flooded rice

Yield decline with continuous cropping

Many problems in dry season: nematodes, micronutrients, soil-borne diseases, heat stress

APO

Low-techHigh-tech

UPLRI-5

7

Yield WS 2002 - DS 2003 (t ha-1), Philippines

Yield range in WS:APO : 4.1 - 5.9 t/haUPLRI-5 : 4.0 - 5.6 t/haMagat : 4.5 - 5.4 t/ha

Yield range in DS:APO : 2.0 – 6.6 t/ha UPLRI-5 : 2.2 – 5.3 t/ha

Some farmers results aerobic rice (DS 2003)

NematodesNematodes……..

1. Identified varieties with yield potential of 5-6 t ha-1, using about half the water used in lowland rice (tropics: Apo, Magat, UPLRI5; China: HD502, HS297)

2. Chinese varieties more drought-resistant than Philippine varieties (dryer soil conditions!)

3. Initial management recommendations that can deliver4.5-5.5 t ha-1 in farmers’ fields

4. Under water-short conditions, aerobic rice isattractive option: higher $ returns per unit water usethan flooded lowland rice

5. Urgent to develop crop rotations (nematodes!) and good management practices (water, nutrients, weeds)

Conclusions “aerobic rice”