Aerobic Rice (Han Dao): A New Way of Growing Rice in Water-Short Areas

Abstract

Abstract: Traditional lowland rice with continuous flooding in Asia has relatively high water inputs. Because of increasing water scarcity, there is a need to develop alternative systems that require less water. “Aerobic rice ” is a new concept of growing rice: it is high-yielding rice grown in non-puddled, aerobic soils under irrigation and high external inputs. To make aerobic rice successful, new varieties and management practices must be developed. Results are reported of field experiments and farmer-participatory research in the Huang-Huai-Hai plain, northern China, where newly developed aerobic rice varieties are compared with lowland rice. Highest recorded aerobic rice yields were 4.7—6.6 t ha-1, compared with 8—8.8 of lowland rice. The variety Han Dao 502 is most promising because of its relatively high yield under both aerobic and flooded conditions and because of its good quality fetching a high market price. Compared with lowland rice, water inputs in aerobic rice were more than 50 % lower (only 470 mm—650 mm), water productivities 64%—88 % higher, gross returns 28%—44 % lower (345—633 $ ha-1) and labor use 55 % lower. Pilot farmers were satisfied with these first results. Because of its low water use, aerobic rice can be produced in areas where lowland rice can not (anymore) be grown. Since aerobic rice is targeted at water-short areas, socio-economic comparisons must include water-short lowland rice and other upland crops. The development of high-yielding aerobic rice is still in its infancy and germplasm still needs to be improved and appropriate management technologies developed.