Effects of Top-Dressed N on Rice Growth in a No-Till Direct-Sown Rice-Vetch Cropping Systems

Under the no-till direct-sown rice-vetch cropping systems, where whole chopped rice straw were returned to the paddy surface at combine harvest and whole-plant of Chinese Milk Vetch(Astragalus sinicus L.) was submerged after direct-sowing, three levels of nitrogen top-dressed(0, 2, 4 kg N/10a) without basal N and two levels of sowing rate were applied into the paddy field in expectation of the enhancement of nitrogen efficiency and protection of agricultural environment in reduced N-fertilizer level. A cultivar, Dongjin, was direct-sown on May 30, 1996. Characteristics of rice growth and physicochemical properties of rice plant were observed. Under the system, reduced total N(4 kg N/10a) resulted in high panicle numbers. N-top dressed toward at later growth stages enhanced the ratio of panicle-producing tillers and at spikelet numbers per panicle. As N-level increases, DM yields of leaf and stem at heading were increased. Maximum grain yield was obtained at 4kg N/10a and major attributed factors to grain yield in this case were the number of grains per unit area and the ratio of ripened grain.