Abstract:
Objective To investigate the effects of different Tylorrhynchus heterochaetus stocking densities on rice growth characteristics, yield and quality in a rice–T. heterochaetus co-culture system in the double-cropping rice region of South China, aiming to provide a reference for optimizing rice–T. heterochaetus co-culture technique.
Method A two-season field experiment was conducted during the early and late rice seasons of 2023. Four treatments were established: Conventional rice monoculture (CK), 300 individuals/m2 (M1), 600 individuals/m2 (M2), and 900 individuals/m2 (M3). The effects of the rice–T. heterochaetus co-culture system on plant height, tiller number, biomass, root-shoot ratio, SPAD value, yield and quality of rice were systematically evaluated.
Result During the tillering and maturity stages of early rice, the plant height of M2 treatment was significantly higher than those of other treatments by 9.56%−15.29% and 3.56%−4.54%, respectively. For late rice at maturity stage, compared to CK, M2 and M3 treatments showed significant increases in plant height by 4.06%−5.02%. For early rice during tillering, heading and maturity stages, M2 treatment significantly increased tiller number by 12.98%−29.75% compared to other treatments, while for late rice at tillering and maturity stages, it increased by 16.40% and 20.80%, respectively compared to CK. The biomass and root-shoot ratio of early rice under M2 treatment were significantly higher than those of other treatments by 14.72%−33.63% and 12.89%−17.79%, respectively; For late rice, the increases were 25.04%−50.80% and 5.46%−16.05%. The yield of early and late rice under M2 treatment increased by 21.52%−37.81% and 10.13%−16.05%, respectively, compared to other treatments; The whole milled rice rate was significantly higher than that of CK by 10.33% and 11.19%, respectively; Grain length, and diameter were significantly improved by 14.16%, 7.45% and 1.47%, 2.37% compared to CK. The yield of T. heterochaetus under M2 treatment was significantly higher than those under M1 and M3 treatments by 183.53% and 33.16%, respectively.
Conclusion Under the conditions of this experiment, a Tylorrhynchus heterochaetus density of 600 individuals/m2 (M2 treatment) was the most suitable for promoting the growth and productivity of both rice and insects in the rice–T. heterochaetus co-culture system.