Deep Fertilizer Placement Improves Rice Growth and Yield in Zero Tillage

Effects of deep fertilizer placement on rice growth and yield were investigated with two rice cultivars Meixiangzhan2 and Xiangyaxiangzhan. Four treatments of pre-transplant tillage + fertilizer application were set: (CK) twice puddling with rotary cultivator + manual surface broadcast; (CD) twice puddling through rotary cultivator + 10-cm deep mechanized placement; (ZB) no pudding + manual surface broadcast; (ZD) no pudding + 10-cm deep mechanized placement. Treatments CD and ZD both significantly improved the grain yield and panicle number unit area compared with treatments CK and ZB. Dry accumulation, chlorophyll contents and net photosynthetic rate at both the heading stage and maturity stage were enhanced by the deep fertilizer placement. Thus, we think the benefits of mechanical deep fertilizer placement have potential to break the production limitation and popularization in conservation tillage.