Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
15:30
A Telemetric, Gravimetric Platform for Real-Time Physiological Phenotyping of Plant–Environment Interactions
Published on: August 5, 2020
13.4K
Rice performance and water use efficiency under plastic mulching with drip irrigation
1Agricultural College, Shihezi University/Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology Agricultural of Xinjiang Bingtuan, Shihezi, Xinjiang, China.
Plos One
|December 17, 2013
Summary
Plastic mulching with drip irrigation (DI) significantly improves water use efficiency (WUE) in rice cultivation. While yields may decrease compared to conventional flooding, DI offers a better balance of water savings and economic benefits, especially in water-scarce regions.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Agronomy
- Water Management
Background:
- Plastic mulching combined with drip irrigation is an emerging water-saving rice cultivation technique.
- Limited data exists on its productivity and water-saving capabilities compared to traditional methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the production potential, performance, and water use efficiency (WUE) of rice under plastic mulching with drip irrigation.
- To compare this novel system against conventional flooding and other non-flooded irrigation methods.
Main Methods:
- Field experiments conducted over two years with two rice cultivars.
- Comparison of four cultivation systems: conventional flooding (CF), plastic mulching with furrow irrigation (FIM), non-mulching with furrow irrigation (FIN), and plastic mulching with drip irrigation (DI).
- Analysis of grain yield, dry matter accumulation, water use efficiency, yield contribution from tillers, and root distribution.
Main Results:
- Plastic mulching with drip irrigation (DI) exhibited the highest water use efficiency (WUE), significantly outperforming conventional flooding (CF) and other non-flooded methods.
- Grain yields were reduced under DI (31.76-52.19%) and other non-flooded systems compared to CF, primarily due to reduced dry matter accumulation post-anthesis.
- Non-flooded systems, including DI, showed reduced yield contribution from tillers and altered root distribution, with more roots in deeper soil layers, except for DI which had more roots in the topsoil.
Conclusions:
- Plastic mulching with drip irrigation (DI) demonstrates superior water-saving capacity and a smaller yield and economic benefit gap compared to furrow irrigation methods (FIM, FIN).
- DI is identified as a more promising water-saving technology for rice cultivation, particularly in regions facing water scarcity.
- Further research into optimizing non-flooded systems to enhance dry matter accumulation and tiller performance is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:57Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
24.2K
Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.
24.2K
02:41Responses to Drought and Flooding
10.2K
Water plays a significant role in the life cycle of plants. However, insufficient or excess of water can be detrimental and pose a serious threat to plants.
10.2K