Effect of Rapeseed Green Manure Amendment on Soil Properties and Rice Productivity

Green manure crops can be used as alternatives to mineral fertilizers because they improve soil structure and nutrient content of soil. Here, we evaluated the effect of partial replacement of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer with rapeseed residue green manure on soil properties and rice productivity in a rice–rapeseed double-cropping system. The treatments were comprised of four levels of mineral N fertilizer and recommended levels of phosphate and potash fertilizers. Rice clum and panicle length did not differ between treatments. However, the proportion of ripened grains and 1,000-grain weight of rice plants were greater under rapeseed residue amendments than those under 100% conventional mineral N fertilizer treatments. Paddy soils treated with rapeseed residues had greater soil organic matter and exchangeable cations than those treated with mineral N fertilizer alone. Thus, rapeseed residues applied as green manure can serve as alternative N sources in sustainable rice–rapeseed double-cropping systems.