Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, NARO

The Lowland Crop Rotation Group aims to establish a paddy crop rotation system centered on direct-seeded rice.
In the crop rotation system centered on direct-seeding cultivation in well-drained paddy fields, we aim to achieve 6.5t/ha of dry-seeded rice, 2.5t/ha of soybean, and 8t/ha of corn for grain production through an extremely labor-saving combined operation reducing the number of working by combining two or more field operations with the use of a large tractor and increase profits by 10%. In dry-seeded rice, we develop the split application system of normal urea instead of the expensive controlled-release fertilizer (coated urea) to reduce fertilizer costs by more than 10%. In the crop rotation system centered on direct-sowing cultivation of flooded paddy fields, we aim to increase the yield of paddy rice by up to 6.8t/ha and the yield of soybean by 50%. In flooded direct sowing, we develop low-cost, high-yield cultivation technology using "rooted seed" which does not require seed coating and has a good seedling establishment. In soybean cultivation, we develop a decision support system for mitigating drought stress and wet injury to increase yield by irrigation and drainage management as required, utilizing a decision support system for irrigation management and soil tilth sensor.