Aerobic Rice

Aerobic rice is a new type of rice that is aerobic-soiladapted and input-responsive. It grows well in nonpuddled and nonsaturated soils with water content of 70% to 100% of water-holding capacity throughout a growing season. Aerobic rice is specifically developed rice, combining drought tolerance of upland rice and yield potential of lowland rice. Therefore, aerobic rice is "improved upland rice" in terms of yield potential, and "improved lowland rice" in terms of drought tolerance. Aerobic rice varieties have the ability to maintain rapid growth in soils with moisture content at or below field capacity, and can produce yields of 4-6 t/ha with a moderate application of fertilizers under such soil water conditions. Aerobic rice can save as much as 50% of irrigation water in comparison with lowland rice.

Difference between aerobic rice and upland rice

Upland rice is grown in rainfed and naturally well-drained soils that are usually on sloping land with erosion problems, drought-prone, and poor in physical and chemical properties. Upland rice varieties are low-yielding but drought- and low-fertility-tolerant, thus giving low but stable yields under the adverse environmental conditions of uplands. However, high levels of inputs of fertilizer and supplemental irrigation to upland rice will lead to lodging and thus reduce yield. Aerobic rice is targeted at more favorable environments where land is flat or terraced, and soil can be frequently brought to water field capacity by rainfall or supplemental irrigation, or where land is sloping but frequent rainfall can keep soils moist throughout the growing season. Aerobic rice can be a replacement of lowland rice wherever available water is insufficient for lowland rice but sufficient for aerobic rice. Both aerobic and upland rice are adapted to aerobic soil conditions, but aerobic rice varieties are more input-responsive and higher yielding than traditional upland ones.

How to manage aerobic rice

Aerobic rice is basically managed like a wheat or maize crop. The establishment method is dry direct seeding. Before sowing, the field is dry prepared by plowing and harrowing to obtain a smooth seedbed. Seed is dry seeded manually or mechanically 23 cm deep in rows spaced 25-30 cm at a seeding rate of 80 kg ha-1. The total amount of applied N varies from 80 to 120 kg ha-1 on the basis of soil fertility. Three splits (1/3, 1/3, 1/3) of N are usually topdressed (or put in soil between rows) at 2, 5, and 7 weeks after emergence (WAE), respectively. P2O5 and K2O, 40-60 kg ha-1 each, and Zn and Fe, 20 kg ha-1 each, are usually applied as basal at seeding. A light irrigation (30 mm) after sowing may be needed to promote emergence. Subsequent irrigation applications depend on the soil water status: irrigation is needed when soil water tension at 20 cm is greater than 20 kPa (or leaves start to roll). The amount of each irrigation application should be sufficient to bring the topsoil of 20 cm to field capacity. Irrigation can be applied by the same means as used for upland crops: flash flood, furrow, or sprinkler. Severe weed infestation will occur in aerobic rice fields if they are not properly controlled. A preemergence herbicide (e.g., oxadiazon) is recommended to be applied after seeding. If for any reason the application of preemergence herbicide is missed, a postemergence herbicide (e.g., bispyribac sodium) should be applied around 2 weeks after sowing. The preemergence herbicide is usually effective for 3-4 weeks after application. Late-emerging weeds can be controlled by interrow cultivation or hand weeding.

More nematode infestation may occur in aerobic rice than in lowland rice, especially in light soils, resulting in yield loss. Nematodes as well as nutrient management in aerobic rice need to be optimized to sustain aerobic rice production.

Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)

Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is a type of water-saving rice production system. In this system, the field is irrigated with enough water to flood the paddy for 3-5 days, and, as the water soaks into the soil, the surface is then allowed to dry for 2-4 days before getting re-flooded. Compared with the traditional continuous flooding system, AWD using lowland rice cultivars can reduce water input by 1530% without yield loss. With drought-tolerant lowland rice cultivars, a longer interval of drying in a cycle and thus more saved water can be expected. Key points of this technology are to

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Transplant 2-3-week-old seedlings into puddled soil and keep a standing water layer of 5 cm in the field. Install a PVC pipe (20 cm in diameter and 40 cm in length) with holes (5 mm in diameter spaced at 2 cm) in the rice field (15 cm above and 25 cm below the soil surface) after transplanting to monitor groundwater. Start AWD at 10 days after transplanting and allow the field to dry out. Re-flood the field to a standing water layer of 5 cm when the groundwater is 15-20 cm below the soil surface. Keep a standing water layer of 5 cm for 1 week at flowering. Continue AWD cycles after flowering until harvest.