Strategies for sustainable crop production in the Yangtze River Basin of China: insights from field experiments and farm surveys
- 1Rice Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences , , ,
- 2College of Agriculture, Yangtze University , , ,
Abstract
Introduction: Rice-based cropping systems in the Yangtze River Basin of China are diverse.
Objectives: However, most previous studies have focused primarily on improving the yield, resource use efficiency, or reducing the carbon emissions of individual systems, with few comprehensive comparisons across different systems.
Methods: To address this knowledge gap, a two-year field experiment combined with a survey of 190 farmers was conducted to evaluate the sustainability performance index (SPI) of four systems in this region: rice−fallow (RF), rice−green manure (RG), rice−wheat (RW), and rice−rapeseed (RR). Results showed that the RR and RW systems achieved higher yields than the RG and RF systems in both experiments and surveys.
Results and conclusions: Average rice equivalent yields of the RR, RW, and RG systems exceeded those of the RF by 124.5%, 86.2% and 13.3%, respectively, in the experiments (RF, 9.34 t ha ⁻¹ ), and by 66.9%, 58.2%, and 2.8% in the surveys (RF, 8.96 t ha ⁻¹ ). The RR and RW systems also exhibited higher net energy, radiation use efficiency, and accumulated temperature production efficiency. Although the RR and RW systems incurred higher carbon and agricultural cost, their superior grain yield resulted in a greater net economic income, net ecosystem economic budge, and benefit-cost ratio than the RF and RG systems. Furthermore, the carbon emission intensity of the RR, RW, and RG systems in the experiments was 31.3%, 28.5%, and 8.1% lower than that of the RF (102.2 kg CO ₂ eq GJ ⁻¹ ), respectively, with corresponding reductions of 22.3%, 39.4%, and 25.8% in the surveys (RF, 85.7 kg CO ₂ eq GJ ⁻¹ ). Overall, the RR and RW systems exhibited higher SPI with enhanced productivity, resource use efficiency, and economic benefits, despite comparable or marginally increased environmental impacts.
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BibTeX
@article{ji2026strategies,
title = {{Strategies for sustainable crop production in the Yangtze River Basin of China: insights from field experiments and farm surveys}},
author = {Yalan Ji and Shuang Cheng and Zhong Li and Youzun Xu and XueYuan Sun and Huawen Zou and Yongjin Zhou},
journal = {Frontiers in plant science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpls.2026.1933498},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13671957},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Strategies for sustainable crop production in the Yangtze River Basin of China: insights from field experiments and farm surveys
AU - Yalan Ji
AU - Shuang Cheng
AU - Zhong Li
AU - Youzun Xu
AU - XueYuan Sun
AU - Huawen Zou
AU - Yongjin Zhou
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/02
JO - Frontiers in plant science
DO - 10.3389/fpls.2026.1933498
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13671957
AB - Introduction: Rice-based cropping systems in the Yangtze River Basin of China are diverse. Objectives: However, most previous studies have focused primarily on improving the yield, resource use efficiency, or reducing the carbon emissions of individual systems, with few comprehensive comparisons across different systems. Methods: To address this knowledge gap, a two-year field experiment combined with a survey of 190 farmers was conducted to evaluate the sustainability performance index (SPI) of four systems in this region: rice−fallow (RF), rice−green manure (RG), rice−wheat (RW), and rice−rapeseed (RR). Results showed that the RR and RW systems achieved higher yields than the RG and RF systems in both experiments and surveys. Results and conclusions: Average rice equivalent yields of the RR, RW, and RG systems exceeded those of the RF by 124.5%, 86.2% and 13.3%, respectively, in the experiments (RF, 9.34 t ha ⁻¹ ), and by 66.9%, 58.2%, and 2.8% in the surveys (RF, 8.96 t ha ⁻¹ ). The RR and RW systems also exhibited higher net energy, radiation use efficiency, and accumulated temperature production efficiency. Although the RR and RW systems incurred higher carbon and agricultural cost, their superior grain yield resulted in a greater net economic income, net ecosystem economic budge, and benefit-cost ratio than the RF and RG systems. Furthermore, the carbon emission intensity of the RR, RW, and RG systems in the experiments was 31.3%, 28.5%, and 8.1% lower than that of the RF (102.2 kg CO ₂ eq GJ ⁻¹ ), respectively, with corresponding reductions of 22.3%, 39.4%, and 25.8% in the surveys (RF, 85.7 kg CO ₂ eq GJ ⁻¹ ). Overall, the RR and RW systems exhibited higher SPI with enhanced productivity, resource use efficiency, and economic benefits, despite comparable or marginally increased environmental impacts.
SN - 1664-462X
ER -