Photosynthesis and physiological characteristics of rice with floating culture method

The photosynthetic characteristics, root characteristics and part of the agronomic traits of rice with the floating culture method (CW) and conventional tillage (CT) were studied. The results showed that photosynthetic rate (PN) and stomatal conductance (gs) in CW were higher than those in CT; compared with CT, rice cultivated in CW significantly enhanced root numbers, root activities and enzyme activities, and increased tillers and effective panicle number by 17.91% and 24.07%, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the water use efficiency (WUE), plant height, seed setting rate and the thousand seed mass between CW and CT. Rice with CW exhibited more root absorption, tillers and effective panicle number, and higher PN, thus achieve the purpose of the increase in production. This research suggests the floating culture method is worth popularizing.