Dry Direct-Seeded Rice Yield and Water Use Efficiency as Affected by Biodegradable Film Mulching in the Northeastern Region of China

Zijun Zhao, Wenqing He, Guangfeng Chen, Changrong Yan, Haihe Gao () and Qin Liu ()
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Zijun Zhao: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Wenqing He: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Guangfeng Chen: National Agricultural Technology Extension and Service Center, Beijing 100193, China
Changrong Yan: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Haihe Gao: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Qin Liu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-19

Abstract: In the realm of agriculture, biodegradable films are emerging as a promising substitute for traditional polyethylene (PE) films. Despite their potential, there has been a notable lack of extensive research on their effectiveness in the context of dry direct-seeded rice cultivation. Addressing this gap, a comprehensive biennial study was conducted in the northeastern regions of China, focusing on the ‘Baonong 5’ rice variety. This study meticulously compared three distinct cultivation methods: (1) employing biodegradable film mulching, (2) using conventional plastic film mulching, and (3) cultivating without any mulch. The findings revealed that biodegradable film mulching significantly enhanced soil moisture control, increased leaf area, and improved rice yield and water utilization efficiency ( p < 0.05) compared to the plots without mulch. Notably, there was no marked difference in outcomes between the plastic film mulching and the unmulched plots. This research underscores the profound benefits of biodegradable film in rice cultivation, particularly from an environmental sustainability perspective. This innovative method not only boosts agricultural productivity but also addresses critical environmental challenges like climate change and water conservation. The application of biodegradable mulch has proven to be remarkably effective in improving irrigation efficiency and crop water conservation, leading to enhanced rice development and higher yields. The study recorded a substantial increase in water productivity—30% in 2021 and between 52.85% and 60% in 2022—compared to traditional cultivation practices. Furthermore, the use of biodegradable mulch resulted in significantly higher rice yields than the non-mulched plots, thus contributing to increased profitability. Such methods not only yield higher crop outputs but also mitigate environmental issues like water pollution and help alleviate prevalent water shortages in rice farming.

Keywords: dry direct seeding; biodegradable plastic film; water use efficiency; crop growth; soil condition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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