title: No-tillage effects on grain yield, N use efficiency, and nutrient runoff losses in paddy fields.
abstract: The effect of no-tillage (NT) on rice yield and nitrogen (N) behavior often varies considerably from individual studies. A meta-analysis was performed to assess quantitatively the effect of NT on rice yield and N uptake by rice, N use efficiency (NUE, i.e., fertilizer N recovery efficiency), and nutrient runoff losses. We obtained data from 74 rice-field experiments reported during the last three decades (1983-2013). Results showed the NT system brought a reduction of 3.8 % in the rice yield compared with conventional tillage (CT). Soil pH of 6.5-7.5 was favorable for the improvement of rice yield with the NT system, while a significant negative NT effect on rice yield was observed in sandy soils (p < 0.05). N rate, ranging from 120 to 180 kg N ha-1, for at least 3 years was necessary for NT to enable rice yield comparable with that of CT. Furthermore, the observations indicated NT reduced N uptake and NUE of the rice by 5.4 and 16.9 %, while increased the N and P exports via runoff by 15.4 and 40.1 % compared with CT, respectively. Seedling cast transplantation, N rate within the range 120-180 kg N ha-1, and employing NT for longer than 3 years should be encouraged to compromise between productivity and environmental effects of NT implementation in rice fields.
authors: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Xinqiang
authors: X
authors: Liang
authors: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Huifang
authors: H
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 310036, People's Republic of China. hemm@hznu.edu.cn.
authors: Miaomiao
authors: M
authors: He
authors: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Junli
authors: J
authors: Yuan
authors: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
authors: Lixian
authors: L
authors: Xu
authors: College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.|Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310029, China.
authors: Guangming
authors: G
authors: Tian
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012275:Oryza / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005308:Fertilizers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Nitrogen uptake; Nitrogen use efficiency; No-tillage; Nutrient runoff loss; Rice yield