Fertilization of N and Si to Sustain Grain Yield and Growth Characteristics of Rice after Winter Greenhouse Water-melon Cropping

In Korea, silicate fertilization (SF) is being practiced every four years to enhance rice production. However, the relationship between nitrogen (N) and SF in view of growth characteristics and grain yield of rice has not been examined after watermelon cropping in plastic film house. This study was carried out to identify useful critical N and Si fertilizer levels to sustain grain yield and to improve N use efficiency for rice. The watermelon-rice cropping system has maintained for three seasons in each year from 1998 to 2001 by farmer before this experiment. Experiments on N and Si fertilization levels were evaluated with Hwayoungbyeo (Oryza sativa L.) in 2002 and 2003 at Uiryeong, Korea. The goal of this experiment was to find out the optimum N and Si levels to sustain rice yield by reducing excessive N fertilizer in watermelon-rice cropping system. Nitrogen fertilization (NF) levels were three ($0,\;57,\;114kg\;ha^{-1};0,\;50,\;100%$ of conventional NF amount) and five (0, 25, 50, 75, 100%) in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and combined with three SF levels ($70,\;130,\;180mg\;kg^{-1};100,\;150,\;200%$ which were adjusted with Si fertilizer in soil) were evaluated for the improvement of N and Si fertilization level in both years. Rice yielded 3.98-5.95 and 2.84-4.02 t/ha in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Our results showed the combinations of 50% and 100% of N with 200% level of Si produced the highest grain yield in both years, respectably. The grain yield was greatly improved in plot of N25% level when compared to conventional NF (Nl00%) in 2003. In conclusion, NF amount could be reduced about 50% compared to recommended level by specific fertilization of N and Si combination levels for rice growing and grain yield after cultivation watermelon in paddy field.