Not AvailableBackground Rising food demand, slowing productivity growth, poor N-use efficiency in rice, and environmental degradation necessitate the development of
more productive, environmentally-sound crop and soil
management practices. The system of rice intensification (SRI) has been proposed as a methodology to
address these trends. However, it is not known how
its modified crop-soil-water management practices affect efficiency of inorganic nitrogen applications.
Methods Field experiments investigated the impacts of
SRI management practices with different N-application
rates on grain yield, root growth and activity, uptake of
N and its use-efficiency, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf Nconcentration, and photosynthetic rate in comparison
with standard management practices for transplanted
flooded rice (TFR).
Results Overall, grain yield with SRI was 49 % higher
than with TFR, with yield enhanced at every N application dose. N-uptake, use-efficiency, and partial factor productivity from applied N were significantly
higher in SRI than TFR. Higher leaf nitrogen and
chlorophyll contents during the ripening-stage in SRI
plants reflected delayed leaf-senescence, extension of
photosynthetic processes, and improved root-shoot
activities contributing to increased grain yield.
Conclusions Rice grown under SRI management used
N fertilizer more efficiently due to profuse root development and improved physiological performance
resulting in enhanced grain yield compared to traditional flooded rice.Not Availabl
