What water saving measures have proved successful in China?
Research from Jiangsu and Shandong provides evidence for the claims that, after the turning green stage, a standing water surface is not required for subsequent crop stages of paddy rice. It is said that soil water should be controlled between saturation and 60-70% of saturation. Using this approach, the researchers attained an equivalent mean rice yield of 9.8 t/ha from lysimeters, over a period of 9 years. The typical amount of water used, including that for land soaking, is suggested to be only 337 mm. Comparison of water needs, over 9 years, of either conventional flooding irrigation or the controlled water saving irrigation practice are given below.
