Effects of different water regimes and nitrogen application strategies on grain filling characteristics and grain yield in hybrid rice

In order to optimize N application and understand how the different combinations of water and N management affect grain filling characteristics and yield, we designed three irrigation regimes (W1 submerged irrigation, W2 alternate irrigation, W3 dry cultivation), and different N application strategies at 180 kg ha−1 in 2010 and 2011. The relationship between grain filling characteristics and grain yield formation were respectively investigated. The results revealed that there were obvious interacting effects of irrigation regime and N application strategies on grain yield and grain-filling characteristics as well. Compared with W1 and W3 treatments, under W2, the N-fertilizer should account for 30% base, 30% tillering, and 40% panicle fertilizer with the last being applied equally at 4th and 2nd leaves emerged from the top. Correlation analysis revealed that grain filling rate during middle grain-filling stage was the largest and contribute more than 50% to grain-filling. Grain yield was significantly related to grain filling rate (Gmax or Gmean), final weight of a kernel (A), and mean grain filling rate (MGR) of the early, mid and late stages during grain filling in inferior spikelets, which is the important reason for water and N coupling effect further to increase yield and fertilizer use efficiency.