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The current study focused on quantifying hazardous heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, and Zn) in soil-rice systems near the Buriganga River in Bangladesh to assess their impact on human health and the environment. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn in soil exceeded FAO/WHO acceptable limits, and the metal pollution index (MPI) indicated that all soil samples collected from the rice fields were severely polluted (MPI˃30) than water and rice grain samples. According to the sum of pollution index (SPI) by studied metals, rice grains collected from Kamrangirchor (29.36), Dhakauddan (28.75), and Bosila (18.08) were severely polluted. Mean Bio-concentration factors (BCFs) and Transfer factors (TFgrain/soil) in rice grains were in the following order: Cd (6.034) > Zn (1.752) > Pb (0.697) ˃ Ni (0.666) > Cr (0.135) > As (0.037), and Cd (1.150) > Zn (0.421) > Ni (0.112) ˃ Pb (0.072) > Cr (0.015) > As (0.034) respectively indicating higher accumulation of Cd in rice grain than others toxic heavy metal. The potential ecological risk index (RI) showed that except for water in Kamrangirchar and Keraniganj rice fields, all other rice fields soil and water samples did not pose severe ecological pollution (RI˂110) by different toxic heavy metals. Health risk assessment showed that rice grains are unsafe for human consumption as the carcinogenic health risk (CHR˃10-3) and non-carcinogenic health risk (HI ˃1) quotients seem more than the safe level in all samples collected from rice fields surrounding the Buriganga River. Findings show that heavy metal concentrations are high in rice fields near the Buriganga River, endangering the environment and consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agricultural development not only addresses global food insecurity but may also alleviate poverty by enriching the lives of millions of smallholder farmers. Improving the sustainability and profitability of agriculture where smallholders are dominant creates profound impacts because small landholding farmers produce approximately 70–80% of the global food. The need for a thorough understanding of the factors affecting farmers' adoption of agricultural technologies and practices has been identified from extant literature as an important research gap. Responding to the research gap and need, this study examined the challenges that prevent farm households from adopting improved farming practices and/or technologies in Banteay Meanchey and Battambang provinces in Northwest Cambodia. A total of 524 rice producing farm household representatives were randomly selected from a household database maintained by the local government authorities. A mixed methods approach was used in the study including semi-structured interviews followed by in-depth interviews, field observations, and literature review. Farmers were found to be confronted with a range of challenges and concerns, including soil degradation, weeds, diseases, insect pests, high production costs, flooding, droughts, changing rainfall pattern, and unreliable rainfall distribution. The research findings demonstrate that improved crop production practices (e.g., adopting mechanised direct seeding methods of crop establishment, maintaining and improving soil health through crop residue retention, growing cover crops, etc.) and better resource use efficiency (e.g., reducing seeding rates to less than 100 kg/ha, being more strategic in the use of integrated nutrient, weed, and pest management strategies, etc.) can be a starting point for sustainable intensification of rice production. This transition towards intensifying paddy production sustainably may become even more effective through a clear understanding of local contexts, farm household characteristics, available resources, and the farm management practices and constraints. We observed that farmers and their associations have yet to be fully recognised as partners and actors in Cambodia. Instead, they tend to be viewed as beneficiaries and recipients of improved practices and technologies. We, therefore, propose that farmers and their associations be acknowledged and included in a process of co-creation of knowledge-practices. Such partnerships will enable the inclusion of factors (e.g., production costs, production risks, complexity and practicability of implementations, product market and prices, etc.) shown to influence farmers' adoption of innovative farming practices and technologies. The original contribution of this article is a real-world account of the constraints and limitations experienced by smallholder rice farmers in Cambodia, which are connected to future research and development priorities in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rice production in Northeastern Vietnam is livelihood-oriented with a small farm size in the northern mountainous and midlands region. This study aims to determine the contribution of agronomic and input factors to the total carbon (C) footprint of rice production to identify solutions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture in this region. Methods: We used a life cycle assessment method for the C footprint of rice production from planting to harvesting. Agronomic parameters and input data in both spring and summer crops were collected through interviews conducted with 50 rice-farming households in the Quang Minh commune, Viet Yen district, Bac Giang province, using questionnaires. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted to gather information on energy used for land preparation and harvesting. Results and discussion: The C footprint per hectare and per tonne of grain of the summer rice crop (15.6 ± 3.3 t CO2-eq/ha, 2.34 ± 0.54 t CO2-eq/t) was significantly higher than that of the spring crop (9.5 ± 1.8 t CO2-eq/ha, 1.3 ± 0.26 t CO2-eq/t). GHG emissions were due mainly to direct methane emissions during rice growth, accounting for 89.5% of the total C footprint of the summer crop and 80.5% of that of the spring crop. Fertilizer emissions also contributed significantly, accounting for 5.4% and 10.4%, respectively, nearly 75% from N-fertilizer emissions. A higher C footprint (per grain basis) was generally associated with straw incorporation, continuous flooded irrigation, longer rice growth duration, and lower rice yield, indicating the importance of agronomic management of crop residues, water and nutrients, choice of varieties, and growing seasons. Small farm size did not lead to higher carbon intensity. Conclusions: The solutions to avoid direct incorporation of rice straw, to conduct intermittent irrigation, to reduce the amount of N-fertilizer, and to use short-duration rice varieties (especially for summer crop) with high yield potential along with optimal agronomic management practices should be highlighted. Greater adoption of these measures will contribute significantly to reducing the C footprint of rice production in Northeastern Vietnam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Myanmar, the advancement of the integrated rice-fish farming system legs behind rice monoculture farming, and there exists limited awareness of its advantages. Ecosystem services (ES) valuation plays a crucial role in integrated environmental decision-making, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, facilitating land-use planning, and ensuring food security in rural areas. Assessing the ES value in Delta region of Myanmar where rice-fish coculture is extensively practiced is essential for understanding the level of ES benefits derived from this farming system. The objective of this study is to promote the development of the rice-fish coculture system in delta region by estimating its ES value. We conducted a comprehensive examination of the Direct, Indirect, Option and Existence ES value of the rice-fish and rice monoculture in Maubin District, an area where rice-fish development research is being actively carried out within the delta region. The results revealed that the ES value of rice-fish coculture ecosystems in the study area was amounted to 28,588 US$/hm2/year. This value was 2.82% higher than rice monoculture system. Additionally, the rice-fish coculture system yielded product provisional values averaging 1,275 US$/hm2/year, representing a significant increase of 40.3% compared to rice monoculture farming. Our study shows that the adoption of rice-fish coculture farming system not only improves the ES value of the delta region, but also supports food security and socio-economic well-being. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights for policymakers on effective management policies for future development of the rice-fish coculture ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice farming in developing countries contributes significantly to economic growth, yet it confronts diverse risks. Strengthening its resilience necessitates systematically identifying and prioritizing these risks, allowing for optimized resource allocation. The majority of published literature, however, focuses primarily on individual risks rather than comparing or ranking them according to their importance. This regime needs to be more helpful for managers and policy-makers in achieving effective management. As a result, frequent management failures are causing substantial economic losses and threatening food security in the most populous regions of the world. This study addresses these existing research gaps by systematically identifying and prioritizing these risks, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, viz., Zero Hunger, ultimately contributing to enhanced risk management and developing countries' rice farming sector resilience. Data was obtained from Pakistan through a purposefully designed questionnaire and sourced from a pool of 412 respondents representing a spectrum of stakeholders selected by the snowball technique. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was employed to deconstruct and comprehend the data statistically. A key observation is the recognition of the main risks within rice farming, notably revolving around resource-related and external environmental risks. These risks emphasize the critical management of sub-risks of water management and pest and disease. This study also identified several risk sub-factors that are critical but have yet to be extensively discussed in the literature. Furthermore, survey respondents expressed low levels of risk perception and suggested strengthening the management system through policy reforms. To enhance the resilience of rice farming, stakeholders must engage in effective risk communication, capacity building, and policy implementation. Therefore, more comprehensive integrated risk management interventions are urgently needed to address rice farming risks for achieving SDG 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated rice–aquatic animal farming has become a vital strategy for enhancing food security. To assess the effects of integrated rice–giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming (IRPF) on agricultural ecosystems, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to analyze soil bacterial communities in comparison with traditional rice monoculture (RM). Our study revealed that the IRPF did not significantly affect the diversity of the soil bacterial community. However, during the initial culture stage, IRPF markedly increased the relative abundance of the phylum candidate division NC10 and the genus Candidatus Methylomirabilis, enhancing nitrogen-cycling-related functions within the bacterial community. Additionally, IRPF reduced the complexity and stability of these communities in the early to middle culture stages. While stochastic processes usually dominate the assembly of these communities, IRPF restricted bacterial migration and reduced the influence of these stochastic processes. Furthermore, IRPF had a significant impact on environmental factors within paddy soils, strongly correlating with shifts in bacterial communities, particularly through variations in soil nitrite concentration. In conclusion, the influence of IRPF on the bacterial community in paddy soils was primarily observed during the early and middle culture stages, and the impacts of IRPF on the soil bacterial community were primarily driven by environmental changes, especially soil nitrite concentration. These findings provide theoretical insights and a reference for understanding the microbiological impacts of different integrated rice–fish farming systems on agricultural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2‐year field experiment was conducted in Daejeon, South Korea, to investigate changes in the growth parameters of rice plants during the growth and model the rice yield loss as affected by the competition with Leptochloa fusca, Bidens frondosa and Ammannia coccinea under transplanted rice cultivation. Compared with B. frondosa and A. coccinea, L. fusca significantly reduced the number of tillers at the early growth stage, resulting in more reduction in the number of panicles and other yield components such as the number of spikelets, ripened grain ratio and the ultimate rice yield at the later growth stage. Among the components, the panicle number was the most negatively and positively correlated with weed density and rice yield, respectively. Cousens' rectangular hyperbola model predicted that weed competitiveness value represented by parameter β was 0.0337 and 0.0572 for L. fusca, 0.0124 and 0.0165 for B. frondosa and 0.0059 to 0.0061 for A. coccinea in 20.8 and 15.2 hill m−2 rice densities, respectively, indicating the competition effect of L. fusca on rice yield was greater than that of B. frondosa and A. coccinea. Weed densities corresponding to a 50% reduction in the rice yield were 27 and 18 for L. fusca, 81 and 61 for B. frondosa and 169–164 for A. coccinea in 20.8 and 15.2 hill m−2 rice densities, respectively. Weeds are more competitive in low‐density rice plots, leading to greater yield loss. In addition, the economic thresholds (ET) are positively correlated with rice densities and negatively correlated with weed competitiveness. Although low‐density rice transplanting may offer economic benefits during cultivation, optimal rice density and weed control strategies are important for securing a high yield. Therefore, the model and findings could be applied to decision‐making systems in rice farming where weed interference is present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current and future tidal swamplands are very strategic as one of the Indonesia national food barns considering the decreasing of productive land. Utilization of tidal swampland for agriculture, especially rice farming in South Kalimantan by local farmers began spontaneously hundreds of years ago. Most of the tidal swampland in South Kalimantan is still planted with local rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties. Various local rice varieties planted by farmers include Siam, Bayar, Pandak, and Lemo varieties. These local varieties have been collected, identified, and conserved ex-situ in the tidal fields of South Kalimantan. The technology of local varieties of rice cultivation from seedling to harvest is carried out traditionally and uses traditional tools. Numerous local varieties collected and conserved, undergo crossbreeding with superior varieties to generate new high-yielding varieties with flavours favoured by the local populace. The Siam Unus serves as local variety for crossbreeding, while the superior varieties include Cisokan and Dodokan. The crossing of Siam Unus with Cisokan yields Margasari variety, and with Dodokan, it produces Martapura variety. Both varieties enjoy significant popularity among farmers and the local communities in the tidal areas of South and Central Kalimantan. This paper reviews research on traditional rice farming of tidal swampland and its impact on breeding and conservation programs in South Kalimantan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice root-knot nematode (RRKN), Meloidogyne graminicola Golden and Birchfield 1965, is a dangerous crop pest that affects rice production on a global scale. The largest rice-producing countries struggle with the impacts of RRKN infestation, namely, underdeveloped plants and a reduction in rice grain that can reach up to 70% of crop yield. In addition, the shift to strategies of sustainable pest management is leading to a withdrawal of some of the most effective pesticides, given the dangers they pose to the environment and human health. Volatile metabolites produced by plants can offer safer alternatives. The present study characterized the nematicidal activity of volatile phytochemicals against the RRKN and compared the most active with commercial nematicides concerning their safety to the environment and human health. Rice plants were used to grow large numbers of RRKNs for direct-contact bioassays. Mortality induced by the volatiles was followed for four days on RRKN second-stage juveniles. Of the 18 volatiles tested, carvacrol, eugenol, geraniol, and methyl salicylate showed the highest mortalities (100%) and were compared to traditional nematicides using (eco)toxicological parameters reported on freely available databases. While methyl salicylate had a faster activity, carvacrol had more lasting effects. When compared to synthetic nematicides, these volatile phytochemicals were reported to have higher thresholds of toxicity and beneficial ecotoxicological parameters. Ultimately, finding safer alternatives to traditional pesticides can lower the use of damaging chemicals in farming and leverage the transition to agricultural practices with a lower impact on biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustenance of rice cultivation in a region is highly dependent on future water availability under changing climate. The dams and reservoirs can play a major role in regional water availability since their storage capacity can cushion the water stress due to changes in rainfall and temperature patterns. The current study developed a simulation modelling framework to quantify the water availability and demand on a taluk scale in the command area of the Malampuzha Irrigation Project (MIP). The Blue and Green water footprint concept is used to analyse the water availability and demand in the region. The loosely coupled framework of SWAT, DSSAT, and a Reservoir Simulation Module helps to generate the hydrological and crop yield projections of the region according to the CMIP6 climate model projections. The analysis is carried out at a seasonal scale on decadal basis with a historical period spanning from 2016 to 2019 and a future period spanning from 2020 to 2100. The results suggest that eastern side of MIP command area experiences lower water availability due to lower green and blue water distribution, particularly affecting the regions of Palakkad and Chittur taluk. The study introduces an integrated water footprint score (IWFS) at taluk scale, which combines green and blue water footprint to assess the annual water demand variations in the region. The taluks Alathur and Palakkad are in the high risk category towards the end of the century as per the water footprint score. Towards the end of the century, an increase in rainfall by 67% and temperature by 6% has resulted in a decrease in rice yield by 13.2% during kharif and 52.5% during rabi season under SSP585 scenario. The study helps to identify critical water stress zones within the command area and prioritize the implementation of adaptation measures within the command area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological engineering is defined as the design of ecosystems for the benefit of human society and the environment. In Asia, the ecological engineering of rice fields by establishing vegetation on bunds/levees for natural enemies has recently gained traction; however, its success depends on farmers' willingness to implement changes. We surveyed 291 rice farmers in four regions of the Philippines to assess their bund management practices and willingness to establish bund vegetation that restores rice regulatory ecosystem services for pest management. During pre- and post-open field day (OFD) interviews, we assessed farmers' perceptions of ecological engineering practices and sought their advice concerning bund vegetation. Over 60% of the farmers grew crops or allowed weeds on their bunds. Vegetables were grown as a source of extra food or income, and flowers were grown for pest management. Among the remaining farmers, their willingness to try ecological engineering increased from 36 to 74% after the OFDs. Furthermore, after the OFDs, willing farmers increasingly (from 2.6 to 15%) cited pest management as a reason to grow vegetables on bunds, and farmers almost exclusively focused on growing vegetables rather than flowers to adapt the system. While 46.5% of farmers who grew vegetables on their bunds applied insecticides, only ca 20% indicated that they would do so after the OFDs, if needed. Farmers had differing opinions on how vegetables would be incorporated into their rice farms. This range of options could be encouraged wherever farmers recognize the potential harm from pesticides for biodiversity and the restoration value of a diversified farm habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries of the world have implemented subsidy programs to maintain a minimum amount of farm production especially for rice. Agricultural support programs usually cause significant fiscal burdens on government budgets. These programs can be generally categorized into decoupled and coupled programs, and one longstanding research interest of previous literature is whether these programs are decoupled or coupled with farm production practices. In Taiwan, a unique land direct payment (LDP) program to rice farms was implemented to ease severe financial burden of the price support program with government purchase. In contrast to production control programs imposing quantity restrictions on farm production, this program is voluntary for rice farms, and participants are paid at a fixed rate per hectare of farmland. This paper examines the impacts of this program on farm income and farm production practices in Taiwan. The causal effect of the program is identified based on the exogenous rollout of the policy across multiple times and areas. We construct a dataset linking nationally representative rice farm surveys over several years and administrative records on program recipients to estimate the local average treatment effect of the program. We find that the effect is 4% of farm income. In addition, program participants rely less on price support programs and produce less rice and use less fertilizer, pesticide, and machinery. Although the LDP reduces rice production, we find that it causes overall government spending on the price support and direct payment programs to increase by 8.7% after the LDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated insecticide usage and associated acute health hazards in rice farming in Odisha, India. A retrospective cross-sectional study design was used to collect data from 139 participants, in the post-monsoon period, 2023. The participants were overwhelmingly male, mostly aged 30 and over, with basic literacy and a range of educational attainment, three-quarters ceasing education by 10th grade and a significant number never attending school. Most farmers/farmworkers used low or moderately toxic insecticides in low doses, typically 3 times/year. However, uptake of appropriate PPE was poor when mixing and applying insecticides. Almost two-thirds (63.4%) of participants reported discomfort/illness after insecticide exposure. Over 90% reported up to 3 symptoms, most experiencing skin irritation. The reported health symptoms were significantly higher among those who ate and drank during insecticide application, compared to those who did not. The number of symptoms reported was also significantly higher in participants who had seen or heard of community insecticide poisoning cases in the previous 12 months, compared with those who had not. Further research is needed on barriers to using effective PPE and on information and training on risks and controls of insecticide exposure that are appropriate for rice farmers in Odisha, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the government's active promotion of rice production, a significant portion of the population still faces food insecurity. While existing literature often highlights the success of achieving rice surplus, few studies delve into the connections between rice surplus and food security, and critically analyze why food security is persistent. In addressing this issue, the study investigates the underlying causes of food insecurity amidst the government's efforts to increase rice production. The study entails a comprehensive review of existing literature and an examination of food security in three provinces in the Cambodian Mekong Delta. It concludes that while rice intensification has led to increased rice production available for consumption, challenges persist in terms of access to and utilization of rice for food consumption. These challenges are attributed to increased production costs with minimal profit margins, indebtedness, migration, land grabs, water conflicts, and lack of institutional integration in food systems, compounded by the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. As a result, a farming household with one hectare of farmland cannot produce enough rice for food consumption. Consequently, young people opt to sell off their land to settle debts and seek employment opportunities in urban and overseas areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semiparametric panel data models are powerful tools for analyzing data with complex characteristics such as linearity and nonlinearity of covariates. This study aims to investigate the estimation and testing of a random effects semiparametric model (RESPM) with serially and spatially correlated nonseparable error, utilizing a combination of profile quasi-maximum likelihood estimation and local linear approximation. Profile quasi-maximum likelihood estimators (PQMLEs) for unknowns and a generalized F-test statistic F N T are built to determine the beingness of nonlinear relationships. The asymptotic properties of PQMLEs and F N T are proven under regular assumptions. The Monte Carlo results imply that the PQMLEs and F N T performances are excellent on finite samples; however, missing the spatially and serially correlated error leads to estimator inefficiency and bias. Indonesian rice-farming data is used to illustrate the proposed approach, and indicates that l a n d a r e a exhibits a significant nonlinear relationship with r i c e y i e l d , in addition, h i g h - y i e l d v a r i e t i e s , m i x e d - y i e l d v a r i e t i e s , and s e e d w e i g h t have significant positive impacts on rice yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Accurate and detailed spatial information on rice cultivation is essential to developing agricultural policy and reducing the negative impacts of agriculture. However, the dependence of most traditional methods on samples severely limits the feasibility of large-scale rice cultivation mapping. This study proposes a robust large-scale sample-free monitoring method for single-season rice in northern China. A new rice phenology index, quantifying dynamic phenological features of rice (i.e., the occurrence of flooding during transplanting and the growth of rice after transplanting), was generated to highlight rice. Subsequently, a constrained cyclic threshold classification strategy was designed to obtain plausible rice maps using statistical data. Innovatively combining rice mapping with statistical data, the most detailed (10 m) single-season rice map in northern China to date was created. Compared with three other high-precision rice map products, the resulting rice map has high accuracy and good local details. The results indicate that the rice phenology index has excellent and robust performance in identifying rice cultivation locations in northern China. Moreover, the proposed mapping method exhibits clear advantages in the tracking of large-scale and historical rice cultivation. As a whole, this study provides a paradigm of using statistical data instead of samples for crop mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The private sector contributes the majority of China's GDP, with family firms responsible for most of the contribution. Prior studies find that firms' family control is influenced by certain cultural norms, such as family ties. This study explores the underlying historical and agricultural roots of these cultural norms that influence modern businesses. Combining a set of high‐quality, nationally representative Chinese firm and household surveys with prefectural data, we first show the positive impact of rice farming on family control of local firms. We establish robust causal inferences by exploring the impact of historical agricultural legacies and discussing alternative measures, spatial autocorrelations, omitted variables, instrumental variables and self‐selection. More importantly, our results demonstrate that the rice cultivation practice enhances the local people's preferences for strong family ties. Instead of claiming a direct role of these cultural traits as in the existing literature, we recast them as cultural mediators and persistent channels through which historical rice farming can shape contemporary corporate structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the effect of the spouse's access to financial services via self‐help groups (SHGs) on technical efficiency, technology and managerial gaps. We use farm‐level data from rice farming households in eastern India, propensity score matching method and selectivity‐corrected stochastic production frontier model. Results show that farms with access to financial services via a spouse's membership in SHGs have slightly higher technical efficiency than their counterparts. Technology and managerial gaps are higher for farms where spouses have access to financial services via SHGs than their counterparts. With access to financial services via spouses, rice farmers reallocated family labour and hired more labour for crop establishment. Thus, women joining SHGs can increase crop productivity, and extension agents should also focus on spouses and their role in farming decision‐making, not just financial management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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As one of the first Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), the Qingtian rice-fish co-culture system serves as a global model for sustainable rice farming of paddy field carp (Cyprinus carpio). Based on the optimization of this traditional food system, this study evaluated the muscle nutrient quality of Qingtian paddy field carp (PF-carp) under three types of fertilizers, farming modes, and two types of stocking densities, aiming to provide a research reference for future aquaculture management of rice-fish farming. The results indicated that chicken manure as a basal fertilizer was more effective for crude fat enhancement in the muscles of PF-carp, while the addition of chemical fertilizer significantly reduced the contents of crude fat, saturated fatty acid, ash, and Ca2+ elements. Compared with chicken manure, the addition of rapeseed cake could increase the contents of delicious amino acid, essential amino acid, and essential amino acid index of PF-carp without affecting other nutritional indices. Among the modern, traditional rice-fish farming and pond farming modes, the atherogenicity index, thrombogenicity index, and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio of the fatty acids produced by the modern rice-fish farming mode were in the most desirable position. No significant differences were observed in all PF-carp nutritional indices at stocking densities of 0.45 inds/m2 and 0.91 inds/m2. Results emphasize the accumulation of crude fat is more advantageous in PF-carp under modern rice-fish farming mode, and the overall fatty acid ratio is more beneficial to human cardiovascular health. Rapeseed cake application could play an important role in improving the protein quality of PF-carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the impact of strategic agricultural policies and fertilizer subsidies on the business success of rice farmers in Cianjur, Indonesia. A quantitative approach utilizing cross-sectional survey data from 300 rice farmers was employed. The study explores the demographic profile of respondents, descriptive statistics of key variables, correlations between policy variables and business success indicators, and regression analysis to assess predictors of rice yield. Results indicate a high utilization rate of fertilizer subsidies, positive correlations between subsidy utilization and business success indicators, and significant contributions of access to extension services, credit facilities, and infrastructure improvements to rice yield. The integration of policies in a holistic approach emerged as crucial for enhancing business success and promoting sustainable farming practices. These findings have implications for policymakers in crafting targeted and integrated policies to support agricultural resilience and livelihoods in Cianjur and similar agricultural regions.

The majority of the labor force engaged in rice cultivation within the province of Guilan consists of rural women who possess extensive practical expertise in their respective fields; thus, their presence assumes particular significance. Women show the rituals of rice farming, i.e. planting, planting and harvesting, in performing rituals such as the Ghasemababdi dance, which, in addition to visual appeal, express a spiritual and mythological bond with nature. The purpose of this study is to provide an answer to the question of the significance of women's presence in Ghasemababdi dance in relation to rice farming rituals, which is raised in light of the crucial role that women play in this dance and the implementation of rice farming customs. The current research is theoretical in nature and methodology, with a descriptive and analytic approach serving its purpose. The method of data collection is library and field using the method of ethnography in the region, observation, interviews, registration, and the recording of information. Research indicates that women perform Ghasemababdi dance while demonstrating gratitude for the blessings of rice cultivation and adherence to its principles through the use of a variety of manual skills. In other words, the Ghasemababdi dance serves as a reflection of cultural diversity and human thought. It is through this form of movement that women joyfully demonstrate the concept of cereal making patterns; thus, they have acquired a legendary status. Therefore, as a mother goddess equivalent to Anahita, the mother of man and the mother of the earth, they are considered and worshiped. In other words, the continuation and extension of life and the aliveness of the role of women is embodied in the unconscious of a person in order to transmit blessing, bonding and healing

The study aims to know the farmer’s income from organic rice farming and farmer household income, to determine the welfare of farmer households. This research was conducted by data collection from 70 farmers’ households. The data analysis was used for the estimation of the farmer household income exchange rate and good service ratio. The results showed that the farmers are not yet prosperous. Further analysis to determine the role of organic rice farming for farming households has received less attention from researchers. Regarding this study, on-farm income derived from organic rice farming has a role as income contribution about 34.71% on the welfare of farmer households, classified as moderate.

Improving rice production by increasing the efficiency of rice farming becomes the alternative strategy in Java Island, where half of the Indonesian populations live. Even though some areas are flood-prone, East Java Province is one of the leading rice producers in Indonesia. This study aims to estimate the level of technical efficiency in rice farming in flood-prone areas in East Java and some socio-economic factors that influence the efficiency. The efficiency of rice farming in this study was analyzed using a stochastic frontier production function approach. The results showed that rice farming in flood-prone areas in East Java has been efficient, with an average efficiency of 76.05%. The estimated parameters of farm size, labor, seed, urea fertilizer, and ZA fertilizer are positively significant to rice production, while tractor use is negatively significant to rice production. In addition, farm size, age of household head (HH), education of HH, land ownership, and off-farm jobs positively influence the efficiency of rice farming.

Rice is a major grain crop in numerous countries. In lowland areas, high iron levels in the soil severely hinder its cultivation. The current study explored high-yielding and Fe-toxicity-tolerant irrigated lowland rice (340 lines) among a population derived from a cross between Suakoko 8 and Bao Thai in Edozighi and Ibadan, Nigeria. In contrast to Ibadan, the soils in Edozighi contain a significant amount of iron. For the stated purpose, we carried out a two-year experiment using an alpha lattice design. The data showed significant differences between genotypes for the days to heading, plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of panicles per plant, panicle length, and grain yield. The results revealed that multiple characteristics had both direct and indirect effects on cultivated rice yields. There was a direct and positive influence on the number of days in the 50% heading period (0.31), a direct and negative effect on plant height (−0.94), a direct and positive effect on tiller and panicle numbers, and a direct but negative effect on panicle length (−0.56). The leaf bronzing score was adversely correlated with yield, panicle length, and plant height, while it was positively correlated with the number of panicles, tillers, and days to heading. The findings showed significant changes in yield and yield characteristics between genotypes. Grain yields ranged from 283 to 11,700 kg/ha in the absence of iron in the soil, contrary to 0 to 8230 kg/ha in soil with iron toxicity, with losses estimated between 6 and 94%, demonstrating the resulting disaster. In contrast to the elite parents and varieties used in this study, the ten top genotypes exhibited smaller losses in yield. The authors strongly recommend using these lines for further studies as donors or releasing them in farmer fields in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice cropped policy has been constantly changing, affecting the value of irrigated land. This study aims to examine distribution patterns of irrigated land value from a new perspective of uncertainties in single- and double-cropped rice policies in China. The real options approach was employed to calculate irrigated land value under policy uncertainty, and Moran's index was applied to identify the spatial distribution characteristics of irrigated land value at the provincial level. The empirical results were as follows: significantly positive spatial correlations existed between the land value under two cropped rice policies. The northeast region of China had a low-value clustering effect based on geographical characteristics. In contrast, the southern provinces of China had a high-value clustering effect based on the criteria of administrative regions. This study considered policy uncertainty when evaluating the economic effect on irrigated land when revealing spatial correlation in land value. We provide a theoretical and empirical basis for the formulation of cropped rice policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oilseeds are one of the most important determinants of India's agricultural economy, next only to cereals and pulses. The selfsufficiently in oilseed obtained during the early 1990s could not be sustained sufficiently. Despite, being the fourth largest oilseed crop-producing nation in the world, India is also one of the largest importers of vegetable oils. This study appraises t he relationship between price and non-price factors to understand the behaviour of major oilseeds (mustard/rapeseed and groundnut) cultivated in India from 1997-98 to 2019-2020. Supply response is the responsiveness of supply, which can be identified using production response to different determining factors. Mustard/rapeseed and groundnut are the oilseeds that are mainly produced in India. This study specifically attempted to quantify the relationship between oilseed production and different factors, such as annual rainfall, annual temperature, yield, and revenue difference for both crops. The findings suggested that yield and revenue difference of mustard with wheat are the most determining factors for mustard production, whereas annual rainfall, the temperature during the growing season, and revenue difference between groundnut with rice and soyabean are the most significant determinants of groundnut's production response. Crop equivalent productivity further validated that groundnut competed and outperformed the two promising crops (soybean and paddy). The trend analysis (1997-98 to 2019-2020) also indicated that wheat was the dominant crop over mustard from 1997-98 to 2013-14. Afterwards, i.e., from 2014-15 to 2019-20, mustard surpassed wheat productivity (on equivalent terms) and outperformed cereal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a staple crop in South Korea and globally. The era of global boiling, characterized by rising temperatures and abnormal climatic conditions, significantly impacts crop production worldwide. This study examines the effects of high temperatures and rainfall on early maturing rice varieties, focusing on enhancing heat tolerance during the ripening stage and preharvest sprouting resistance. Utilizing ‘Milyang247,’ a progeny line from ‘Nampyeong,’ we developed the intermediate line ‘MY362VP.’ During 2020–2022, regional adaptability tests were conducted at five locations across Korea. Results showed that ‘MY362VP’ had a viviparous germination rate of 1.9% compared to 19.0% in the control variety ‘Jopyeong.’ Furthermore, ‘MY362VP’ maintained a head rice rate of 90.6% under high temperature conditions, outperforming ‘Jopyeong,’ which has a rate of 62.1%. ‘MY362VP’ produced an average yield of 529 kg/10a, comparable to the control’s 518 kg/10a. This study offers valuable insights for breeding climate-resilient early-maturing rice varieties, positioning ‘MY362VP’ as a promising candidate for future cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop yield has been analyzed under different hydrological conditions by many researchers. However, little information is available about the behavior of rice yield for different conditions during its growth. This study investigated the behavior of rice yield under varying hydrological conditions in two regions of India, one rainfed and the other irrigated, for the period 2000–2018. Additionally, it examined how individual, coincidental, and sequential compound extremes, such as rainfall, temperature, and soil moisture, affected rice yield. Four individual, two coincidental, and two sequential compound extremes regression models were developed. These models were designed with yield as a function of individual and compound extremes. Individual extreme models focused on heat and water metrics independently, while compound extremes occurred when heat and water stress coincided or followed each other closely. Linear panel models were used to assess the dependency of rice yield on hydrological parameters. Results indicate that excessive heat negatively affects rice yield, particularly when coupled with low soil moisture. However, excess soil moisture mitigates heat-related damage, highlighting the significance of controlling soil moisture levels. Additionally, coincidental compound extremes pose greater threats to rice yield than sequential ones. The study underscores the importance of considering geographical variations and hydrological variables in understanding crop yield behaviour. Overall, the findings suggest the potential for optimizing soil moisture management to enhance rice yield amidst changing climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed control is one of the major challenges in rice cultivation, and the use of agrochemicals for this crop is severely restricted under the new European agricultural policy. Therefore, new effective non‐chemical weed control techniques are the key to sustain European rice production. We investigated four non‐chemical weed management strategies in the Ebro Delta in north‐eastern Spain, two in dry‐seeded rice fields and two in water‐seeded rice fields. In addition, two controls per sowing condition were included: a positive control consisting of chemical herbicides treatment and a negative control consisting of no weeding and no seeding. Mechanical weeding using a rotary harrow placed in front of the seeder was the best weeding technique for dry seeding, while 'stale seed bed' and transplanting was the best performing technique for wet seeding. Both techniques were as effective as the chemical weeding control, reducing the density of weeds and the supplementary manual weeding time needed for those weed species more abundant in Ebro Delta rice fields (i.e., Echinochloa oryzoides, Echinochloa crus‐galli, Bolboschoenus maritimus and Heteranthera reniformis). Thus, non‐chemical weeding alternatives have been proven effective for both, transplanting and dry seeding field management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of smallholder farmers into emerging value chains for fine‐grain and aromatic 'premium quality rice' (PQR) could prove to be crucial to improving rural livelihoods in Bangladesh, though efforts could be constrained by farmers' differing levels of agronomic knowledge. Based on a pre‐analysis plan, we analyse farmers' ability to efficiently allocate production enhancing inputs in PQR cultivation based on a survey of 1420 farmers in key PQR producing areas. Farmers received a hypothetical budget to allocate to six different inputs advised for efficient production of PQR, mimicking familiar production decisions made seasonally on their own farms. Our results suggest that even without budget or input access constraints farmers tend to inefficiently allocate inputs in PQR in this hypothetical setting. In particular, they tend to overspend on seeds, fertiliser and pesticides. Farmers with better access to agricultural information, such as through PQR specific extension services, conversely reach substantially higher efficiency scores and decided to spend significantly less on fertiliser. Without future adjustments such as more targeted extension services, implied higher production costs will likely lower the profitability of PQR cultivation for smallholder farmers, thereby limiting potential income gains. Besides these economic concerns, excessive input use is associated with environmental externalities. Improved efficiency is therefore desirable from both an economic and environmental standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water footprint (WF) for rice has been calculated from 2010 to 2022 for three different districts viz Anantnag, Budgam and Baramulla representing three different climatic regions of Kashmir valley. CROPWAT 8.0 model was used to calculate effective rainfall, reference evapotranspiration (ETo), crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and thereby the green and blue water footprint of rice was determined. ET0 was 117-133 mm in Budgam district, 100-112 mm in Baramulla district and 143-155 mm in Anantnag district. ETc in Budgam was found in the range of 136-149 m³ha-1, in Baramulla district it was found in the range of 115-140 m³ha-1 and in Anantnag district it was highest of the three districts ranging from 163-178 m³ha-1.The results showed that the WF was the highest (3444 l kg-1) in Baramulla district followed by 2300 l kg-1 in Anantnag and 2003 l kg-1 in Budgam districts. The share of green and blue components of WF (WFgreen and WFblue) also varied with the locations and in years. WFgreen and WFblue contributed more or less equally in Baramulla district, 68% and 32% respectively in Burmuda district and 60% and 40 % in Anantnag districts respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crop water requirement of rice in different agroclimatic zones of Jharkhand, India was estimated using the CROPWAT 8.0 and CLIMWAT 2.0 models with data collected through NASA data-access-viewer on climate, soil, crop, and water availability. The evapotranspiration (ETo ), effective rainfall (Peff), and crop water requirement (CWR) for the four zones of the Jharkhand State were calculated. Results revealed that the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) varied from 420.4 mm to 516.5 mm during the crop growing season of rice in different zones. The effective precipitation varied from 748.4 mm to 760.8 mm. The crop water requirement of rice varied from 482.5 mm to 592.4 mm. Effective rainfall was sufficient to meet the water requirement of rice in most of the zones except Alluvial zone wherein the net irrigation water requirement was only 67.6 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change has seriously threatened agriculture and connected sectors, especially in developing countries like India. The Brahmaputra Valley in Assam, Northeast India, is vulnerable to climate change due to its agrarian economy, fragile geo-ecological setting, recurrent floods and droughts, and poor socioeconomic conditions of the farmers. The climate-induced hindrances faced by the rice farming community of this region and the local adaptation practices they employ have not been adequately studied. Therefore, we carried out a survey among 635 rice farmers across four agro-climatic zones of Assam, namely the Upper Brahmaputra Valley Zone, North Bank Plain Zone, Central Brahmaputra Valley Zone, and Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone, to understand how they perceive and respond to climatic changes. The survey revealed that all the respondents have perceived an increase in ambient temperature, and 65% of the respondents have perceived a slight change in rainfall characteristics over the years. Most farmers reported adjusting the existing farming practices and livelihood choices to adapt to the changing climate. Farming adjustments were made mainly in terms of field preparation and management of water, rice variety, nutrients, and pests. Environmental variables like rainfall, flood, drought, and pest level, and socioeconomic variables like family size, education, farming experience, training, digital media exposure, and land area were found to influence farmers' adaptation choices. The findings imply that policies to strengthen flood, drought, pest management, education, land-use planning, agricultural training, and digital media applications in agriculture are needed for effective climate change adaptation in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management is crucial for successful rice cultivation. Bioherbicides derived from cogon grass extract offer a promising solution for weed control. Additionally, optimizing plant spacing has been recognized as an effective method to suppress weed growth. Thus, this study aims to investigate the impact of cogon grass extract application timing and plant spacing on weed growth in rice cultivation. The study was conducted from October 2022 to February 2023 in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The study was 3 × 2 factorial and arranged in a randomized completely block design (RCBD). The first factor was the bioherbicide application timing: control (no application), three days before planting, and at the time of planting. The second factor was plant spacing: 15 × 15 and 25 × 25 cm. In total, there were six treatment combinations and three replications (replications as blocks). The research results indicated the application timing of bioherbicide did not significant effect on the growth of weed and rice, as well as the grain dry weight. Fimbristylis miliacea was obtained as the dominant weed species. Bioherbicide application at the time of planting could alter the composition of weed species compared to the control in plant spacing of 15 × 15 cm. Furthermore, the plant spacing of 25 × 25 cm resulted in higher grain and weed dry weight (19.40 g/clump and 45.00 g/0.25 m² ) compared to 15 × 15 cm (12.92 g/clump and 23.04 g/0.25 m² ). On the contrary, the grain dry weight per hectare was higher in 15 × 15 cm (5.74 t/ha) than in 25 × 25 cm (3.10 t/ha). The research findings indicate that closer plant spacing can suppress weed growth and increase the grain dry weight per hectare compared to wider plant spacing. We recommend that the use of cogon grass extract dosage needs to be increased above 50 L/ha. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is a crucial staple crop cultivated extensively in command areas worldwide. In the command areas, the release of water varies due to the inadequate amount of rainfall in the source area and its proper supply. To combat such situations, direct seeding (DS) methods can be opted for; however, lacunae like excess seeds per drop, scattering of seeds, and intercultural operations like thinning, gap filling, and excess weed growth need a clear refinement to enhance the profitability of rice cultivation. Therefore, a research trial was conducted during 2022-24 at Central Farm, Agricultural College & Research Institute, Madurai, to evolve a suitable direct seeding method. The present investigation was laid out under a split-plot design comprising four main plot treatments and four subplot treatments replicated thrice. The main plot treatments comprised different seeding methods (S) and the subplot treatments comprised different seed coating techniques (P). Based on the experimental results, paper roll seeding and DS + Seed coating @ 2% KNO3 fb Bacillus sp. and Azospirillum (PR + P-KN) combination performed better on establishment with grain (6150 kg/ha) and straw yield (7824 kg/ha) respectively. Regarding the B:C ratio, OS-GP + P-KN resulted in higher with 2.64, closely followed by PR + P-KN with 2.61. The least effect was recorded in the combination of round slots in rice drum seeder and dry seeding (RS + DS). Investigating different techniques of direct seeding and seed coating is essential across various regions, particularly in regulated areas where water discharge remains unpredictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the potential effects of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement on Vietnam's rice exports from 2000 to 2016. For this analysis, we employ the panel data augmented gravity model with some modifications. The estimated results suggest a positive relationship between Vietnam's per capita export and the capita real gross domestic product (GDP) of the importer, Vietnam's rice production, export price, and ASEAN dummy. We confirm that there is a negative relationship between Vietnam's per capita rice export value and import country agricultural land and import tariffs. Additionally, this paper forecasts Vietnam's rice export value per capita at each market in RCEP partners by using the autoregressive model. Our forecast results show that among RCEP members, Vietnam has potential markets if import tariff reductions are lowered in Singapore, Brunei, Korea, Japan, and Malaysia. To reap the benefits of rice exports' potential, Vietnam must move from low-grade and cheap rice to high-quality rice production instead of expanding rice production and exports with the following implications: changing its present rice trading partners to potential markets and adopting market-oriented policies to meet the international demand and to increase the export elasticity of rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study evaluates new approach of digital extension services for the long-term adoption of digital extension technologies. We propose an indirect adoption approach to address following research questions. What socioeconomic factors influence rice farmers' decision to prefer one business profile over another? Which business profile is most preferred and likely to be adopted by rice farmers? What are the attributes and socioeconomic characteristics required to create the best business profile? Design/Methodology/Approach: Ten business profiles were tested with a sample size of 1440 farmers. Using the RiceAdvice as case study, we used choice experiment and the alternative-specific mixed logit model to determine most preferred business profile and analyze its determinants. Findings: The preferred business profile was predicted by gender, age, education level, rice production experience, technology knowledge, contact with extension agents, rice farm size, and household income. 49.4% of farmers selected cash payment after harvest at 9.70 USD/hectare for more than two seasons-contract as first adoption approach. Cash payment after harvest at 14.50 USD/hectare for one season-contract was chosen by 44.7% of farmers as the second option. Practical implications: Results highlight the ideal business profile, which considers all levels of education, with 14.50 USD/hectare/season as optimum price for cash payment after harvest and no access to credit. Theoretical implications: The study expands the applicability of new adoption approach combined with econometric approach in the context of digital extension service adoption. Originality/Value: This study revealed an indirect approach to the long-term adoption of digital extension technologies as most suitable for small holder farmers' adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the primary objective is to tackle the pressing issue of identifying and effectively managing diseases in rice plants, a problem that can results in substantial crop losses and pose a severe threat to food security. The study employs Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), a type of deep learning model widely used for image analysis, to conduct an extensive investigation using a sizable dataset comprising 5,932 RGB images. These images represent four distinct disease classes in rice plants: Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB), Blast, Brownspot, and Tungro. To conduct this research, the dataset is split into two subsets: a training set, which comprises 80% of the data, and a testing set, which makes up the remaining 20%. This division allows for a systematic evaluation of the performance of four different CNN architectures: VGGNet, ResNet, MobileNet, and a simpler CNN model. The results of this study consistently show that ResNet and MobileNet outperform the other CNN architectures in terms of their ability to accurately detect diseases in rice plants. These two models consistently achieve remarkable accuracy in identifying these diseases. The research findings not only emphasize the potential of deep learning techniques in addressing the critical issue of rice crop diseases but also highlights the significant role that ResNet and MobileNet play in strengthening crop protection efforts and contributing to global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural development is a challenge and a way for sustainable livelihoods considering that increasingly narrow agricultural land causes agricultural productivity to decline. The rice diversification system is a solution to the potential byproducts of rice and cattle. The purpose of this research is to explain rice system diversification in increasing farming productivity as an alternative solution. There were two secondary dataused. Rice production and beef cattle production were from the Central Statistics Agency in West Java Province and Indramayu district (2013-2017). The development of beef cattle was supported by the Organic Fertilizer Processing Unit program (2013-2017). The secondary data were analyzed descriptively. The results of this study were positive beef cattle population growth of 18.43 percent during the period 2013-2017, the average number of beef cattle per year as much as 11,012 tails, the average amount of beef cattle manure per year in solid form as much as 116,943,192 tons and liquid as much as 55,894,882 liters and the population of beef cattle still needs to be increased because the amount of solid manure of freshly available beef cattle could be absorbed as much as 3.35 percent for increased productivity of rice fields. Indonesian government assistance was very much needed by rice farmers groups in carrying out a rice diversification system through the Organic Fertilizer Processing Unit program. Furthermore, the potential for rice straw and cattle livestock to become additional income and new sustainable livelihoods for rural farming households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japan's susceptibility to and severity of floods have necessitated flood control policies by the government. "Overflowing flood control", in which the floods due to torrential rains are systematically diverted to agricultural lands in the upper to middle reaches, is one of them. More information is needed on the public assessment of the overflowing flood control policy, and this research seeks to bridge this gap. Data evaluating rice affected by the policy were collected from a random nth-price auction using a developed online system. The sample consisted of 47 consumers living in the downstream areas of the Edogawa River, one of Japan's first-class, or prime, rivers. Data on their attitudes toward the policy were collected with a questionnaire. Multiple ordered probit models are used for regression analysis. The results show that the sample respondents were willing to pay an average of JPY 1578 for 5 kg of rice, slightly higher than the national average rice production cost, and that 36% of the sample agreed with the flood control policy, which is positively associated with large families or owning many assets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the labor force engaged in rice cultivation within the province of Guilan consists of rural women who possess extensive practical expertise in their respective fields; thus, their presence assumes particular significance. Women show the rituals of rice farming, i.e. planting, planting and harvesting, in performing rituals such as the Ghasemababdi dance, which, in addition to visual appeal, express a spiritual and mythological bond with nature. The purpose of this study is to provide an answer to the question of the significance of women's presence in Ghasemababdi dance in relation to rice farming rituals, which is raised in light of the crucial role that women play in this dance and the implementation of rice farming customs. The current research is theoretical in nature and methodology, with a descriptive and analytic approach serving its purpose. The method of data collection is library and field using the method of ethnography in the region, observation, interviews, registration, and the recording of information. Research indicates that women perform Ghasemababdi dance while demonstrating gratitude for the blessings of rice cultivation and adherence to its principles through the use of a variety of manual skills. In other words, the Ghasemababdi dance serves as a reflection of cultural diversity and human thought. It is through this form of movement that women joyfully demonstrate the concept of cereal making patterns; thus, they have acquired a legendary status. Therefore, as a mother goddess equivalent to Anahita, the mother of man and the mother of the earth, they are considered and worshiped. In other words, the continuation and extension of life and the aliveness of the role of women is embodied in the unconscious of a person in order to transmit blessing, bonding and healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was to examine the impacts of long-term integrated rice–crayfish farming on soil nutrients, carbon pools, and rice yields in paddy fields. The aim was to establish a scientific basis for the sustainable development of RS in the northern region of Zhejiang. The results showed that the change from rice monoculture (CK) to rice–crayfish coculture systems (RS) led to a 24.99% increase in the 5-year average of soil ammonium nitrogen (AN), while the soil nitrate nitrogen (NN), available potassium (AK), and available phosphorus content (AP) decreased by 28.02%, 16.05%, and 28.76%, respectively. Moreover, the total organic carbon (TOC), easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) exhibited a reduction of 2.45%, 8.82%, 35.31%, and 65.84%, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between NN, EOC, and MBC in the RS mode. In terms of rice yield, the 5-year average of rice yield in RS decreased by 8.40% compared to CK. The mean yield of early-maturing rice varieties was reduced by 13.16%, while that of late-maturing rice varieties was reduced by 6.00%. These results shed light on the annual variation in soil nutrients, carbon pools, and rice yield in the RS mode, providing insights for the sustainable development of RS in northern Zhejiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]