Bioscience Methods 2025, Vol.16, No.1, 33-40 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/bm 33 Feature Review Open Access Adaptability of Drill Seeding and Broadcast Seeding in Rice-Wheat Rotation Systems Xiaohong Shen1, Jie Shen2, Huazhong Shen2, 1 Jiaxing Xiuzhou District Agricultural Planting Extension Station, Jiaxing, 314001, Zhejiang, China 2 Jiaxing Qinfeng Seed Industry Co., Ltd., Jiaxing, 314016, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: qinfeng896@qq.com Bioscience Methods, 2025, Vol.16, No.1 doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0004 Received: 20 Dec., 2024 Accepted: 26 Jan., 2025 Published: 21 Feb., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Shen et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Shen X.H., Shen J., and Shen H.Z., 2025, Adaptability of drill seeding and broadcast seeding in rice-wheat rotation systems, Bioscience Methods, 16(1): 33-40 (doi: 10.5376/bm.2025.16.0004) Abstract This study evaluated the compatibility and effectiveness of drill seeding and broadcast seeding in rice-wheat rotation systems, comparing their impacts on crop yield, resource use efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The results indicated that drill seeding, implemented through mechanized seed drills, significantly enhanced productivity, reduced labor requirements, and improved water and nitrogen use efficiency. In contrast, broadcast seeding, while simpler and requiring lower initial costs, generally demanded higher seeding rates and resulted in uneven seed distribution, leading to lower resource use efficiency. The study also highlighted key challenges such as weed management, residue handling, and socio-economic barriers. Future research should focus on improving mechanized technologies, enhancing environmental adaptability, and addressing socio-economic constraints. This study aims to provide scientific evidence for the long-term sustainable development of rice-wheat rotation systems. Keywords Rice-wheat rotation system; Drill seeding; Broadcast seeding; Resource use efficiency; Sustainable 1 Introduction The rice-wheat rotation system is a critical agricultural practice, particularly in South Asia, where it serves as a major food source for billions of people. This system occupies vast areas, such as the Indo-Gangetic Plains, and is essential for food security in the region (Gathala et al., 2011; Jin et al., 2020; Ullah et al., 2021). The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Plain is not only the most economically developed region in China, but also the largest rice wheat rotation system in the world.However, the sustainability of this system is challenged by issues such as stagnant crop yields, high resource consumption, and environmental concerns like greenhouse gas emissions and residue burning (Devkota et al., 2019; Jin et al., 2021; Ullah et al., 2021). Therefore, optimizing crop establishment methods within this rotation is vital for enhancing productivity and sustainability (Singh et al., 2020; Sahu et al., 2023). Drill seeding and broadcast seeding are two prevalent methods of crop establishment in rice-wheat systems. Drill seeding involves placing seeds in rows using a seed drill, which can improve seed placement accuracy and reduce seed rates, leading to higher yields and lower production costs compared to manual broadcast seeding (Ali et al., 2013; Ott et al., 2016). Broadcast seeding, on the other hand, involves scattering seeds over the soil surface, which is simpler but often less efficient in terms of seed use and yield outcomes (Bautista et al., 2019; Sansen et al., 2019; Koehler-Cole and Elmore, 2020). Studies have shown that mechanized drill seeding can significantly enhance productivity and reduce labor and water requirements, making it a more sustainable option in many contexts (Bautista et al., 2019; Devkota et al., 2019; Sansen et al., 2019). Compared with manual sowing, mechanical drilling of wheat significantly increased the emergence rate, grain number per panicle and actual yield, and the partial productivity of nitrogen fertilizer and agronomic utilization efficiency of nitrogen fertilizer increased by 7.1%~8.2% and 5.0%~5.9%, respectively (Zhao et al., 2019). This study evaluates the adaptability and effectiveness of drill seeding and broadcast seeding in rice-wheat rotation systems, and assesses the impact of these seeding methods on crop yield, resource use efficiency, and environmental sustainability. By comparing these methods, the study seeks to provide insights into optimizing crop establishment practices to enhance the productivity and sustainability of rice-wheat systems, particularly in regions facing resource constraints and environmental challenges.
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