Effect of ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation on the root system and yield of crops

Ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation is an important paddy-upland rotation planting pattern in southern China. In order to improve physical environment of soil and increase yield of rice and rape, it is necessary to clarify effects of ridge tillage on root characteristic and yield, which can provide scientific basis for efficient utilization of paddy field.

A field plot experiment was conducted to compare effects of conventional tillage with rice and winter fallow (CK1), conventional tillage with rice-rape rotation (CK2), wide ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation (RT1) and narrow ridge tillage with rice-rape rotation (RT2) on root characteristic and yield of rape and rice.

Ridge tillage (including RT1 and RT2) had positive effects on relevant root indexes and the influence degree was different at different growth stages. For example, at maturity stage, the total root length and surface area of rape treated with RT2 were significantly higher than CK2 by 116.66% and 111.03%. Ridge tillage can significantly improve economic characteristics and yield. Strikingly, compared with CK1 and CK2, the actual yield of rice treated with RT1 was higher by 20.82% and 13.54%.

Ridge tillage can promote root growth, enhance root vitality and increase yield. Narrow ridge tillage (RT2) is more beneficial to the root growth of rape but wide ridge tillage (RT1) is more beneficial to the root growth of rice. The wide ridge is more beneficial to the economic characteristics and yield of rape and rice than narrow ridge.