Synchronizing Nitrogen Fertilization and Planting Date to Improve Resource Use Efficiency, Productivity, and Profitability of Upland Rice

Abstract

Synchronizing nitrogen (N) fertilization with planting date (PD) could enhance resource use efficiency and profitability of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) production in Thailand. The objective of the study was to assess upland rice responses to four N fertilization rates (NFRs) and three planting dates. Field experiments were conducted during two growing seasons under four NFRs, no N applied (N0), 30 (N30), 60 (N60), and 90 kg N ha−1 (N90), and NFR were applied at the initiation of tillering and panicle emergence stages. The planting dates selected were early (PD1), intermedium (PD2), and late planting (PD3) between September and December of each season. The NFRs and planting dates had a significant influence on N uptake, N use efficiency (NUE), crop water productivity, yield and yield attributes, and profitability of upland rice production. A linear relationship among NFRs, agronomic traits of upland rice, N uptake, and crop water productivity was observed, and a significant seasonal effect was indicated. Fertilization at N90 under PD2 enhanced yields, yield attributes, and grain yields, as well as crop water productivity by 56 and 105% during the second and first seasons, respectively. Grain N, total N, and straw N were increased by 159, 159, and 160%, and by 90, 114, and 153%, during the first and second seasons, respectively. Enhanced N efficiencies, including agronomic efficiency, recovery efficiency, partial factor productivity, and N harvest index, at varying NFRs were observed under PD2 during both seasons. Highly significant (p < 0.001) and positive associations were observed among agronomic attributes, N uptake, NUE, and crop water productivity of upland rice in correlation assessment. Profitability from grain yields was observed with N fertilization and N90 resulted in maximum profit under all the PDs. However, the highest marginal benefit-cost ratio was observed at N60 under PD2 during both seasons. The results suggest that the NFR of 90 kg N ha−1 and planting at the end of September or start of October would enhance resource use efficiency and productivity, and maximize profitability. Furthermore, long–term field investigations with a range of NFRs and adopting forecasting measures to adjust the planting date for upland rice are recommended.

Impacts of Drought Stress on Water Use Efficiency and Grain Productivity of Rice and Utilization of Genotypic Variability to Combat Climate Change

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Optimal-Band Analysis for Chlorophyll Quantification in Rice Leaves Using a Custom Hyperspectral Imaging System

“…Subsequent investigations should prioritise incorporating more extensive crop samples from diverse growth and planting stages to enhance the classification framework’s reliability and generalisability. Furthermore, to improve the model’s validity, machine learning approaches can be employed to update the model via a larger sample size and incorporate additional factors, such as plant growth stages, planting conditions, plant nitrogen utilization ability, and applied nitrogen fertilization rates, as these factors influenced the nitrogen utilization in Thai rice [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ].…”

Potentiality of Sustainable Maize Production under Rainfed Conditions in the Tropics by Triggering Agro-Physio-Biochemical Traits Ascertained from a Greenhouse

“…Crop production profitability is always a concern for the farming community [ 144 ]. Based on kernel yield from ethephon application compared to no ethephon plots, an economic evaluation for profitability was carried out.…”