High-density planting with lower nitrogen application increased early rice production in a double-season rice system

Abstract

High-density planting is a strategy employed to save resources in crop production, particularly in environmentally friendly double-season rice (Orvza sativa L.) cropping, where it promotes high grain yield and reduces required nitrogen (N) input. We conducted a field experiment in 2014–2018 to detect the combined effect of increased seedling density and reduced N input on early rice grain yield and N use efficiency (NUE). The higher basic seedling with low N input treatment (T2) had an average grain yield of 7.01 t ha−1, which was 16.3% greater than that of the control (CK). There was a strong linear relationship between grain yield and panicles m−2 (R2 =.82, P