Abstract:

Rice is the foremost staple food crop in China and the largest water consumer in agriculture. With the population growth, urban and industrial development and the decrease in water availability resulting from pollution and resource depletion, the increase in both quantity and quality of rice yield is necessary to meet the needs of the population growth and preferences of consumers towards the high quality, and meanwhile it is necessary to deal with the increasing scarcity of water resources. Therefore, it would have great significance to establish the water-saving techniques for high yield and good quality in promoting rice production and ensuring food security. This paper reviewed water-saving and high-yielding irrigation techniques of rice, analyzed their physiological and ecological effects, and put forward key points on the studies on water-saving irrigation of rice at present and in near future.