The sustainability of rice farming

Abstract:This book explores the factors which have contributed to the sustainability of rice production. Sustainability is defined as the maintenance or improvement of production levels and protection of natural resources, within the context of economic viability and social acceptability

Physical Description:xi, 273 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cm

ISBN:

9780851991634, 0851991637

OCLC Number / Unique Identifier:35911565

Subjects:

Agricultura (aspectos economicos)

Cereais

Duurzaamheid

Produtos agricolas (aspectos economicos)

duurzaamheid (sustainability)

Contents:

Preface

1 The Importance of the Sustainability of Rice Farming

(22)

1.1 The Historical Importance of Rice

(1)

1.2 The Dimensions of Sustainability

(2)

1.3 Rice and Population Momentum

(7)

1.4 Increasing Rice Production

(7)

1.5 Potential Productivity of Rice and the Yield Gaps

(5)

2 The Origins and History of Rice Farming

(20)

2.1 The Wild Species of Rice

(1)

2.2 The Domestication of Rice

(1)

2.3 From Domestication to Cultivation

(4)

2.3.1 China

(1)

2.3.2 Southeast Asia

(2)

2.3.3 India

(1)

2.3.4 Africa

(1)

2.4 The Development of Water Management

(6)

2.5 The Origins of Upland Rice

(1)

2.6 The Further Spread of Cultivated Rice

(2)

2.7 The History of Rice Yields-From a Green Evolution to a Green Revolution

(5)

3 Rice Farming Today

(22)

3.1 The Environments in which Rice is Grown

(4)

3.2 Rice Production Systems Defined

(1)

3.2.1 The flood-prone rice environment

(3)

3.2.2 Rainfed lowland rice

(1)

3.2.3 Upland rice

(2)

3.2.4 Irrigated rice

(1)

3.3 The Present Distribution and Extent of Different Rice Production Systems

(3)

3.4 Rice Yields in Different Production Systems

(4)

3.4.1 The flood-prone system

(1)

3.4.2 Rainfed lowland rice

(2)

3.4.3 Upland rice

(1)

3.4.4 Irrigated rice

(1)

3.5 Rice Yields and Energy Inputs

(3)

4 The Biophysical Basis of the Sustainability of Rice Farming

(38)

4.1 The Biophysical Components of Sustainability

(1)

4.2 The Physics, Chemistry and Biology of Paddy Soils in Relation to Biophysical Sustainability

(24)

4.2.1 Physical processes in paddy soils important to sustainability

(6)

4.2.2 Chemical processes in paddy soils in relation to sustainability

(3)

4.2.3 Organic matter in paddy soils in relation to sustainability

(6)

4.2.4 The biology of paddy soils in relation to sustainability

(2)

4.2.5 The importance of green manures and Azolla to the biophysical sustainability of rice farming

(6)

4.3 The Pests of Rice and their Relation to sustainability

(7)

4.3.1 Weed control

(1)

4.3.2 Diseases

(1)

4.3.3 Insect pests

(3)

4.3.4 Mammalian and bird pests

(1)

4.4 Biodiversity and its Significance to the Biophysical Sustainability of Rice Farming

(6)

4.4.1 Biodiversity of rice and related species

(6)

4.4.2 Biodiversity of microorganisms and invertebrates in rice fields

100

(3)

5 Maintaining the Nutrient Requirements of Rice

103

(38)

5.1 Inputs of Nutrients to Rice Production Systems

104

(13)

5.1.1 Additions from rainfall, and flood and irrigation water

104

(1)

5.1.2 Additions from sediments

105

(4)

5.1.3 Additions from biological nitrogen fixation

109

(4)

5.1.4 Additions from manures and fertilizers

113

(4)

5.2 Losses of Nutrients from the Soil under Rice Cultivation

117

(6)

5.2.1 Nutrient removal in the rice crop

118

(1)

5.2.2 Seepage and percolation losses

119

(3)

5.2.3 Losses by volatilization

122

(1)

5.3 The Macronutrient Balance of the Soil under Rice Cultivation

123

(9)

5.3.1 Before 1960

123

(6)

5.3.2 Changes in the nutrient balance post-1960

129

(3)

5.4 Secondary and Micronutrient Balances

132

(5)

5.4.1 Calcium, magnesium and sulphur

132

(3)

5.4.2 Micronutrients

135

(2)

5.5 The Long-term Sustainability of Nutrient Supplies for Rice Production

137

(4)

6 Maintaining Water Supplies for Rice

141

(28)

6.1 The Water Requirement of Rice

141

(4)

6.2 Water Supplies for Rice in Rainfed Systems

145

(2)

6.3 The Development of Diversion Irrigation

147

(2)

6.4 Managing Floodwaters

149

(4)

6.5 The Development of Storage Irrigation

153

(2)

6.6 Other Water Supply Systems

155

(3)

6.7 Waterlogging and Salinity

158

(4)

6.8 Erosion and Sedimentation

162

(2)

6.9 The Long-term Sustainability of Water Supplies for Rice

164

(5)

7 Social and Economic Factors and the Sustainability of Rice Farming

169

(28)

7.1 Rice in Asian Cultural Systems

169

(1)

7.2 Rice in the Asian Economy

170

(5)

7.3 The Costs of Inputs

175

(11)

7.3.1 Labour

176

(3)

7.3.2 Land

179

(2)

7.3.3 Water

181

(1)

7.3.4 Seed

182

(1)

7.3.5 Manures and inorganic fertilizers

183

(1)

7.3.6 Machinery, pesticides etc.

184

(2)

7.3.7 Total costs

186

(1)

7.4 The Value of Outputs

186

(8)

7.4.1 The rice grain

186

(1)

7.4.2 Straw

187

(1)

7.4.3 Other crops grown in rice-based farming systems

188

(1)

7.4.4 Animals in rice-based farming systems

189

(1)

7.4.5 Rice-fish systems

190

(1)

7.4.6 Alternative employment opportunities

190

(2)

7.4.7 Total farm income

192

(2)

7.5 Policies and Profitability

194

(3)

8 Concerns about the Sustainability of Rice Farming

197

(22)

8.1 Concerns Arising from Current Production Trends

198

(10)

8.1.1 Yield trends

198

(6)

8.1.2 The land base

204

(2)

8.1.3 Cropping intensity

206

(2)

8.2 Concerns about Water for Rice Production

208

(1)

8.3 Soil Fertility

209

(2)

8.4 Concerns about Pests and their Control

211

(1)

8.5 Global Warming and Rising Sea Level

212

(2)

8.6 Environmental Contamination and Loss of Biodiversity

214

(3)

8.7 Social and Economic Concerns

217

(2)

9 Increasing and Sustaining Rice Production

219

(13)

9.1 Sources of Increased Sustainable Production

219

(1)

9.2 Increasing the Efficiency of the Rice Plant

219

(2)

9.3 Increasing the Efficiency of Water Use

221

(2)

9.4 Enhancing and Using Nutrient Supplies More Efficiently

223

(2)

9.5 Controlling Pests More Efficiently

225

(1)

9.6 Finding More Land for Rice Production

226

(2)

9.6.1 Africa

226

(1)

9.6.2 South America

227

(1)

9.6.3 Australia, USA and Europe

228

(1)

9.7 Sustainability and the Rice Trade - Avoiding Local, Regional and National Rice Shortages

228

(1)

9.8 Conclusions - The Future Sustainability of Rice Production

229

(3)

Appendix 1

232

(3)

References

235

(30)

Index

265

More Information:

Table of contents

Publisher description