Modeling the Effects of Elevated Temperature and Weed Interference on Rice Grain Yield

Area of Science:

• Agronomy and Crop Science
• Plant Ecology
• Climate Change Impact Studies

Background:

• Rice yield is vulnerable to weed interference and rising global temperatures.
• Understanding these combined impacts is crucial for food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate and model the effects of elevated temperature on rice-weed competition.
• To predict rice grain yield losses under future climate scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year phytotron study in Korea.
• Utilized a combined rectangular hyperbolic, quadratic, and linear model.
• Assessed impacts of late watergrass and water chestnut competition.

Main Results:

• Elevated temperatures exacerbated yield losses from weed interference.
• Rice yield components showed differential susceptibility to weeds and temperature.
• Competitiveness of late watergrass and water chestnut increased under elevated temperatures.

Conclusions:

• The developed model accurately describes combined temperature and weed effects on rice yield.
• The model can predict rice yield reductions due to weed interference under future warming.