Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects

Continuing decreases in the agricultural workforce in Japan necessitate labour-saving rice production systems. One system is dry direct seeding of rice, as recently implemented in north-eastern Japan. Many studies are reported only in Japanese. Here we introduce them to readers in other countries fa...

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Main Authors: Mari Namikawa, Maya Matsunami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-04-01
Series:Plant Production Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1343943X.2025.2463513
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author Mari Namikawa
Maya Matsunami
author_facet Mari Namikawa
Maya Matsunami
author_sort Mari Namikawa
collection DOAJ
description Continuing decreases in the agricultural workforce in Japan necessitate labour-saving rice production systems. One system is dry direct seeding of rice, as recently implemented in north-eastern Japan. Many studies are reported only in Japanese. Here we introduce them to readers in other countries facing similar social problems. Yields of dry-seeded rice are ~10% lower than those of transplanted rice. Weed control, land preparation, and spatial variability of soil are important to field management. A cool climate and low N use efficiency constrain rice growth. Both plant N uptake per amount applied and yield per unit N uptake are lower in dry direct-seeded rice. Enhancing source capacity during grain filling is a key to increasing yield. Climate change, energy use, and N pollution constrain sustainable production. Direct-seeding cultivation can reduce the energy inputs per yield and per area relative to transplanting. Improving fertilizer use efficiency will reduce fossil fuel use. Over the past 30 years, rice yield per unit area in Japan has not changed, whereas yield per working hours has increased. Considering yield per working hours could further improve rice production in Japan.
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spelling doaj-art-eaa7b009e8a14b7f8d100066ac1c794c2025-08-20T02:29:11ZengTaylor & Francis GroupPlant Production Science1343-943X1349-10082025-04-0128210712110.1080/1343943X.2025.2463513Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospectsMari Namikawa0Maya Matsunami1Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), Morioka, JapanThe United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Iwate University, Morioka, JapanContinuing decreases in the agricultural workforce in Japan necessitate labour-saving rice production systems. One system is dry direct seeding of rice, as recently implemented in north-eastern Japan. Many studies are reported only in Japanese. Here we introduce them to readers in other countries facing similar social problems. Yields of dry-seeded rice are ~10% lower than those of transplanted rice. Weed control, land preparation, and spatial variability of soil are important to field management. A cool climate and low N use efficiency constrain rice growth. Both plant N uptake per amount applied and yield per unit N uptake are lower in dry direct-seeded rice. Enhancing source capacity during grain filling is a key to increasing yield. Climate change, energy use, and N pollution constrain sustainable production. Direct-seeding cultivation can reduce the energy inputs per yield and per area relative to transplanting. Improving fertilizer use efficiency will reduce fossil fuel use. Over the past 30 years, rice yield per unit area in Japan has not changed, whereas yield per working hours has increased. Considering yield per working hours could further improve rice production in Japan.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1343943X.2025.2463513Cool temperatelabour-savingOryza sativaproductivityTohokuyield
spellingShingle Mari Namikawa
Maya Matsunami
Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects
Plant Production Science
Cool temperate
labour-saving
Oryza sativa
productivity
Tohoku
yield
title Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects
title_full Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects
title_fullStr Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects
title_full_unstemmed Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects
title_short Dry direct-seeded rice in north-eastern Japan: management and future prospects
title_sort dry direct seeded rice in north eastern japan management and future prospects
topic Cool temperate
labour-saving
Oryza sativa
productivity
Tohoku
yield
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/1343943X.2025.2463513
work_keys_str_mv AT marinamikawa drydirectseededriceinnortheasternjapanmanagementandfutureprospects
AT mayamatsunami drydirectseededriceinnortheasternjapanmanagementandfutureprospects