Effects of transplanting conditions and water management on the yield, quality and aroma of fragrant rice

Abstract

To explore the effects of transplanting conditions and water treatments on the yield, quality and aroma of fragrant rice, a field experiment was conducted with conventional fragrant rice cultivars, “Meixiangzhan 2”and “Xiangyaxiangzhan”, as plant materials. Four treatments were designed: (DR) dry transplanted + rainfed, (DC) dry transplanted + conventional irrigation treatments, (WR) water transplanted + rainfed, (WC) water transplanted + conventional irrigation treatments. The highest 1000-grain weight were recorded under the WR treatment, and this treatment was more beneficial to the export and accumulation of assimilates during rice growth. The average yield of the two fragrant rice cultivars in both seasons were WC > WR > DR > DC. The milled rice rate and head rice rate were maximized in WR treatment, also minimized in chalkiness and chalky grain rate in the case of all except WC treatments in the early season. Compared with WC and DC treatments, average content of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP) under WR and DR treatments increased by 24.11%. In conclusion, we considered WR treatment as the optimum water saving treatment for yield increase and quality improvement, as well as for increasing the aroma of fragrant rice grains.