Leguminous Vegetable Cultivation and Seed Production S ...

No-Tillage Rice Stubble Soybean Cultivation (NTRSC)
Many farmers in southern Taiwan have been growing soybean after harvesting rice,
without tilling the land. After producing two rice crops, the farmers are able to grow a third crop of
soybean in the same field. They use minimum resources and earn a reasonable income. This
practice can be easily adopted in other tropical countries where rice-based cropping systems
predominate.
The no-tillage approach for growing soybean after rice with limited resources produce a
high-value soybean crop with low inputs within a short growing season.
Soybean cultivation practiced by farmers in southern Taiwan is presented in the following:
• The no-tillage rice stubble soybean cultivation or N-T-R-S-C can be practiced in a rice-based
cropping system wherever rice is a major crop.
• The farmers in southern Taiwan grow two rice crops from January to September and a third crop
of short duration early maturing soybean from September to December just after harvesting rice
without land tillage.
• After the rice crop is harvested and threshed, the rice straw is bundled and kept in the rows.
e The rice stubbles left after the harvest serve as markers of planting rows for soybean.
• To plant soybean, either a planter is used or a group of men and women are employed for
planting. A bag containing soybean seed is worn around the waist and each person plants about 5
rows at a time. Each individtial plants about 1,000 M2 in one day.
e With the help of a small trowel, a shallow hole (3 to 4 centimeters deep) is made near each rice
stubble and 3-4 seeds are dropped in each hole. The hole is not covered.
• The spacing between and within the row is the same as that for rice, either 22.5 cm by 22.5 cm
or 25 cm by 25 cm.
• Just after planting, a herbicide mixture of alachior at the rate of 1.5-2 kilograms active ingredient
(al.) per hectare plus paraquat 0.75 kg a.i./ha is applied to control weeds.
• The rice straw is then spread on the field. The straw should not be allowed to hang on to the
stubble to prevent shading which could result in lanky and weak seedlings.
• A paddy row marker is used as a roller to press the rice straw close to the ground. The rice straw
mulch conserves moisture and suppresses weed growth.
• In some low-lying areas, the straw is burnt after spreading. Burning of the straw reduces excess
moisture, destroys the weeds, kills some insect pests and their eggs and adds potash to the soil.
e Reduction of soil moisture loosens the soil making it friable, and providing optimum conditions
for seed germination.
• The seedlings emerge easily from the straw mulch.
• A fertilizer mixture containing 20 to 30 kg N + 60 kg P205 + 80 kg K20/ha is prepared and
broadcasted on the mulched field. Or, it may be applied just after burning the straw. In the burnt
field, the quantity of potash is reduced to 50-60 kg/ha.
• You can see the excellent germination in fields with rice straw mulch or on a burnt field.
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