Field Crop 2024, Vol.7, No.3, 145-157 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 151 high-quality organic matter increases soil carbon stocks, enhancing nutrient recycling and availability. This, in turn, supports higher microbial activity, which is crucial for nutrient cycling and soil fertility. Overall, crop residue retention promotes better root proliferation, leading to healthier and more resilient crops. Figure 3 Advantages of crop residue retention for improving soil fertility (Adopted from Sarkar et al., 2020) 5.5 Comparative insights Comparing these different rice cultivation systems reveals a complex interplay of benefits and trade-offs. Traditional paddy cultivation, while effective in weed control, is associated with high water usage and GHG emissions. SRI offers significant advantages in terms of yield, water productivity, and environmental impact, making it a promising alternative (Nirmala et al., 2021; Kumar et al., 2023). DSR, although labor-saving and potentially more energy-efficient, can result in higher CH4 emissions under certain conditions (Li et al., 2019; Basavalingaiah et al., 2020). Organic rice farming promotes environmental sustainability and biodiversity but may require more intensive management to address yield and nutrient challenges. Overall, the choice of cultivation system should consider local conditions, resource availability, and environmental goals to achieve sustainable rice production. 6 Sustainable Practices and Innovations 6.1 Water-saving techniques Water-saving techniques are crucial for sustainable rice cultivation, especially in the context of water scarcity and climate change. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is one such technique that has shown promise in reducing water usage while maintaining or even increasing rice yields. AWD involves periodic drying of the field, which reduces the total water input by 19% in the wet season and 39% in the dry season, thereby improving water productivity by 46% and 77%, respectively (Maneepitak et al., 2019). Another study highlights the potential of water-saving ground cover rice production systems (GCRPSs) in reducing water requirements and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly when integrated nutrient management is employed (Yao et al., 2019). However, the long-term impacts of these techniques on soil health need further investigation (Livsey et al., 2019).
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