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Rice Straw Mulching and Nitrogen Response of No-till Wheat Following Rice in Bangladesh

Dr. Md. Ataur Rahman
Principal Scientific Officer
Regional Wheat Research Centre Bangladesh Agricultural Research InstituteGazipur 1701

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in no-till soil of a post-rice harvest field utilizes residual soil moisture and reduces the time period from rice harvest to wheat seeding in intensive rice-wheat cropping systems. Some of the major constraints in no-till wheat production are high weed infestation, poor stand establishment due to rapid drying of topsoil and low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Present experiment was conducted to overcome those constraints, to evaluate rice straw as mulch, and to determine the optimum application rate of nitrogen (N) for no-till wheat. The result indicated that straw mulching had a significant effect on conserving initial soil moisture and reducing weed growth. Root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) of wheat were positively influenced both by straw mulching and N levels. N uptake and apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR%) were higher in mulch treatments M1 and M2 as compared to M0. We recommend nitrogen rate 120 kg/ha with straw mulch and 160 kg/ha without mulch. Considering competitive and multiple use of rice straw, farmers might use straw mulch for a short period of 20 DAS and thereafter for fuel.

Keywords: No-till, wheat, Rice straw, mulching, NUE

Location: Wheat Research Centre, Nashipur, Dinajpur

Start Date: 01-11-2000

End Date: 31-07-2002

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Wheat

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to determine the N requirement and to investigate whether rice straw mulch has the potential of increasing yield of no-till wheat by controlling weed growth, conserving soil moisture and increasing nitrogen use efficiency.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at WRC, BARI Dinajpur, Bangladesh for the two consecutive years. There were twelve factorial combinations of three mulch treatments (No mulching-M0, Rice straw mulching @ 4.0 t/ha that withdrawn at 20 days after sowing, and mulching @ 4.0 t/ha that retained on the soil- M2) and four nitrogen levels (0, 80, 120 and 160 kg/ha from urea). The treatments were assigned in RCBD with 3 replications in 5 m×3 m size plots. Seeds of wheat variety Prodip were broadcasted uniformly on the no-till and moist (33 to 31% by wt.) soil surface of a post harvested paddy field on 20th and 25th November for the years 2000-01 and 2001-02 respectively. Fertilizers at the rates of P,K and S were 35, 33.2 and 20 kg/ha applied as triple super phosphate, muriate of potash, and gypsum, respectively. Rice straw was spread manually over the soil surface to cover about 80% of the ground area just after sowing wheat seed. The crop was irrigated uniformly to bring the soil moisture near to field capacity at 21, 41, 60 and 80 DAS for both the years. Soil samples from the upper 15 cm depth for each plot were collected in 5 days interval to determine soil moisture. Weeds grown in wheat fields were sampled randomly using 0.5 × 0.5 m squares with four replications for each plot at 20, 35 and 45 DAS to determined dry biomass. The crop was harvested at maturity and grain yield and biomass were converted to t ha-1 at 11% moisture content. N content in grain and straw was analyzed following standard method to estimate N uptake and ANR (%).

Source of Information: Field Crops Research. 91(1): 71-81.

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Field experiment conducted at the research farm of the Wheat Research Centre, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, for two consecutive years indicated that Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation in no-till soil of a post-rice harvest field utilizes residual soil moisture and reduces the time period from rice harvest to wheat seeding in intensive rice-wheat cropping systems. The major constraints in no-till wheat production are high weed infestation, poor stand establishment due to rapid drying of topsoil and low nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) those were overcome with the use of rice straw as mulch. We determined the optimum application rate of nitrogen (N) for no-till wheat which were 120 kg/ha and 160 kg/ha under mulching and non-mulching condition, respectively. Rice straw mulching had a significant effect on conserving initial soil moisture and reducing weed growth. Root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) of wheat were positively influenced both by straw mulching and N levels. N uptake and apparent nitrogen recovery (ANR%) were higher in mulch treatments M1 and M2 as compared to M0. Also mulch treatment of M1 and M2 were equally effective at conserving soil moisture, suppressing growth of weed flora, promoting root development and thereby improved grain yield of no-till wheat. Considering the recycling of organic C and long-term effects on soil properties rice straw mulch should be incorporated in the soil. However, from the point of view of the competitive and multiple use of rice straw, farmers might choose the alternative option of using straw mulch for a short period of 20 DAS and thereafter for fuel.

Knowledge Management: Journal