A non-conventional method for establishing upland crops following lowland rice in saturated soils

A novel technique was tested for establishing upland crops in saturated paddy soils. It is based on the observation that deep planting in wet soil is feasible if the seed holes remain open to maintain an adequate gaseous exchange pathway to the soil surface. Three field experiments were conducted to compare the performance of this ‘plunger planter’ seeding method against five other methods to establish mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilzeck) following rainfed rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiments were conducted on a silty clay Tropaquept during the 1990 and 1991 dry seasons (DS) at the International Rice Research Institute. Planting depths from 2 to 14 cm did not significantly affect seedling emergence (which varied from 88–97%) or grain yield. The apparent optimum depth was 6–8 cm. A needle-like pont attachment to the end of the plunger increased mungbean stem diameter and facilitated vertical rooting, but had no significant effect on seedling emergence or yield. Plunger planting (PP) was successful at 50% soil moisture content (g/g). The other seeding methods could only be employed at a soil moisture content of 34% or less. Grain yields with PP in the 1990 DS (1.3-1.6 t/ha) were significantly greater than with all other methods (yield range of 0.4-0.8 t/ha). In the 1991 DS, yields with PP (2.2 t/ha) exceeded those with the other methods by 0.4-0.7 t/ha. Seedling emergence, plant density at harvest, and total dry matter were significantly (P < 0.01) increased with PP in 1990, but not in 1991 (a season of less severe water stress). The PP method proved to have promising potential as a means of establishing mungbean in saturated soils, gaining time for germination and root growth before soil strength becomes prohibitive to root penetration, and enabling greater water use from deep soil layers. The plunger planter principle is adaptable to mechanical seeding.

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4290(95)00019-M

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