New toolbox for breeding climate-resilient crop plants
Plant research: Publication in Nature Genetics
Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf
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Illustration of the new analysis method. The tractors represent so-called transcription factors: proteins that bind to genetic switches to activate or deactivate genes. The method compares the genetic material of two parents with different traits (illustrated by the different size), within a hybrid plant. This comparison makes it possible to determine if a change in the switch sequence (orange boxes) results in stronger or weaker binding of the transcription factors, thereby altering the traits. (Fig.: HHU/Andi Kur, under licence BY-NC-SA)
view moreCredit: HHU/Andi Kur
An international research team headed by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne (MPIPZ) has developed a new and very precise method for identifying so-called genomic regulatory switches. These switches are responsible for the manifestation of plant traits. In the scientific journal Nature Genetics, the researchers describe that, although these regulatory switches make up only a small fraction of the genome, they can have a significant influence on plant traits. The team demonstrated the method on regulatory switches relating to drought stress, identifying promising starting points for the breeding of new maize varieties adapted to e.g. climate change.
Natural genetic variation in the genome ensures biodiversity and drives evolution. However, as natural evolutionary processes require millennia, we cannot wait for them to adapt crop plants to the rapidly changing climatic conditions, which are responsible for e.g. increased drought periods. To safeguard global food security, researchers must accelerate the identification of appropriate natural DNA variants to improve crop plant performance under stress conditions.
A research team headed by Dr Thomas Hartwig and Dr Julia Engelhorn from the Institute for Molecular Physiology at HHU and MPIPZ now presents a new, efficient method for mapping the genetic “switches” of plants in a current publication in Nature Genetics. Not actually genes themselves, these small sections of the genome determine when, where and to what extent a gene is active. They are comparable with a dimmer switch regulating the brightness of a lamp.
While research so far largely focused on the genes themselves, the new study demonstrates that key differences between plants – e.g. variation in size, or resistance to diseases or stress situations – are often not determined by the genes, but rather by these regulatory switches. Traditionally, however, it is not only difficult to locate these regions precisely, but also to determine which changes play the decisive role. This is now changing thanks to a new, scalable mapping method developed within the framework of the project.
The research team analysed 25 different maize hybrids, i.e. crossbreeds of different maize varieties, identifying over 200,000 regions in the genome where natural variations influence regulatory switches.
Dr Julia Engelhorn, lead author of the study: “Although these regulatory switches make up less than 1% of the genome, the variations often explain a substantial share of heritable trait differences – sometimes exceeding half.”
Dr Thomas Hartwig, corresponding author of the study, comments: “Understanding how these regulatory switches operate provides a powerful new tool to enhance both crop resilience and yield – laying the foundation for smarter breeding processes in the future.”
The researchers applied their method specifically to traits, which play a role in drought stress, identifying over 3,500 individual regulatory switches and the associated genes via which the plants respond to water-limited conditions.
Engelhorn: “Our approach allows direct comparison of the differences in switch variants inherited via the maternal and paternal lines in a single experiment. We can thus offer the maize research community a resource of over 3,500 drought-linked regulatory sites – opening up new possibilities to fine-tune gene expression for enhanced robustness.”
Hartwig: “The precision of this mapping enables us to learn from the natural differences in the switches how they work, which in turn enables targeted manipulation of the switches to develop plants with improved traits.”
This research was realised in collaboration with a team from the University of California in Davis, in which Dr Samantha Snodgrass is a member. The co-author of the study emphasises the change in perspective accompanying the approach: “Despite decades of successful research, much of the genome – the parts outside the genes – remains a black box. This new method pulls back the curtain and enables us to identify the function of these non-coding areas, providing biologists and breeders with new, precise targets for new research and development approaches.”
The study was conducted within the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences at HHU and MPIPZ. Other sources of funding include the European Horizon Europe project BOOSTER, which aims to advance the development of climate-resilient cereal crops.
Original publication
Engelhorn, J., Snodgrass, S.J., Kok, A., Seetharam, A.S., Schneider, M., Kiwit, T., Singh, A., Banf, M., Khaipho-Burch, M., Runcie, D.E., Camargo, V.S., Torres-Rodriguez, J.V., Sun, G., Stam, M., Fiorani, F., Schnable, J.C., Bass, H.W., Hufford, M.B., Stich, B., Frommer, W.B., Ross-Ibarra, J., Hartwig, T. (2025). Genetic variation at transcription factor binding sites largely explains phenotypic heritability in maize. Nature Genetics (2025)
DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02246-7
Journal
Nature Genetics
Article Title
Genetic variation at transcription factor binding sites largely explains phenotypic heritability in maize
Study reveals benefits of traditional Himalayan crops
Stanford University
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A focal group with farmers conducted in the fields during the September 2022 harvest season in Pangmo village in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India. (Image courtesy of Harman Jaggi)
view moreCredit: Image courtesy of Harman Jaggi
In the high-elevation desert region of the Trans-Himalayas, most people farm for a living. In the 1980s, they largely transitioned from subsistence-based to market-oriented production of commercial crops, such as green peas (Pisum sativum L.), they could sell to other states in India.
For their own communities and monasteries, however, some farmers still cultivate foods with a 3,000-year legacy in the area, including barley (Hordeum vulgare) and a local variety of black peas that lacks a scientific name. Favored for nutrition and sustained energy, these black peas are an integral part of traditional recipes, such as soups and hot drinks. In a new study published Aug. 15 in Science Advances, Stanford researchers examined the genetic diversity, ecological resilience, and dietary value of the black peas for the first time.
“Black peas and barley are intimately tied to the cultural, religious, and social life in the Trans-Himalayan region. That they are also climate resilient is what makes them so exciting,” said the study’s lead author, Harman Jaggi, PhD ’24. “One of our findings was what the local farmers knew all along – black peas are more ecologically resilient and have higher protein levels, as compared to the introduced cash crop green peas.”
Scientists generally agree that peas, first grown around 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, have one domesticated and one wild species. But the new study, which provided the first whole genome sequencing data for the black peas, suggests that they form distinct genetic clusters, “highlighting a complex cultural and environmental selection over thousands of years,” Jaggi said.
The research team examined whether, as compared to green peas, the black peas were better adapted to the local climate, especially as the region faces significantly decreased winter precipitation due to climate change.
Across sites at three different elevations and with varied watering treatments, black peas showed a higher probability of survival and more successful reproductive traits. This finding corroborated anecdotes from farmers, who said black peas are easier and less water intensive to grow than green peas.
The researchers also drew up a nutritional profile of black peas in collaboration with the Central Food Technological Research Institute in India. Compared to green peas, black peas are richer in protein – boasting 21% protein per 100 grams – and high in minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron. The peas are also a significant source of fiber and vitamins C, B1, and B3.
Promise of black peas
Jaggi first visited the sparsely populated Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India, in the Trans-Himalayas years ago to study snow leopards, a significant tourism draw for the area. While climbing the steep and rocky slopes above the tree line, she noted the lightweight black pea and barley powder that her local hosts ground and offered with tea.
“This would sustain us for hours,” said Jaggi, who conducted research for the study with her advisor, Shripad Tuljapurkar, professor of biology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S), and with support from the Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. “Anecdotally, local people would say black peas are very nutritional and less vulnerable to vagaries of climate change. But with our collaborator Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi from the Nature Conservation Foundation, we noted that there was little science backing these claims. We were motivated to fill this gap by designing a study from a multipronged and multidisciplinary perspective.”
Jaggi returned to the remote valley and interviewed over 300 residents about traditional agricultural practices, in particular, farming black peas – called sanmoh nako or dhoopchum in Tibetan. While only 10% of the families she talked with were growing them, Jaggi learned that many more would like to if there were interested buyers and science behind the crop’s value. Many of these farmers earn as little as $2,300 per year, according to 2011 census data.
Following the 2022 interviews, Jaggi and her colleagues collaborated with three separate villages to set up field study experiments on working farms for the 2023 growing season.
“Local farmers, who have generations of knowledge, gave crucial input on the experiment and co-authored the paper,” Jaggi said. “Growing practices that might work for green peas, say in the floodplains of India, would not have worked for black peas in the adverse climatic conditions and cold, dry desert ecosystem of the Trans-Himalayas.”
Value and recognition
The study authors emphasize that black peas could be a valuable genetic reservoir as a potential wild relative that could enhance other crops, equipping them to withstand increasing heat and drought stress.
They also recommend the Trans-Himalayan agricultural systems for recognition within the Nationally or Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (NIAHS or GIAHS). The landscape boasts exceptional cultural richness and biodiversity, including carnivores such as snow leopards, wolves, and red foxes; wild herbivores such as Asiatic ibex and blue sheep; and many species of flowering plants. This United Nations declaration could help to safeguard the region’s environment and farming practices and stimulate a market for black peas.
“This requires more research on understudied and lesser-known crops as well as integrating traditional agricultural practices,” Jaggi said. “I want these findings to go back to the farmers so they can diversify their crops and not incur huge losses from continuing to grow more water-intensive green peas.”
The authors hope future research will create a long-term field dataset on black peas and that their integration of traditional ecological knowledge will inspire future scientific studies. There are many benefits of that approach for local food security and global conservation efforts as climate change intensifies, they wrote in their study.
“This work is path-breaking in many respects,” said Tuljapurkar, the Dean and Virginia Morrison Professor in Population Studies in H&S and the study’s senior author. “I think our results are promising for the study population and also suggest many generalizations and extensions to other populations that are balanced between traditional and modern lifestyles.”
Stanford research scientist Katherine Solari is also a co-author of this paper. Additional co-authors are from the Nature Conservation Foundation, India; the University of California, Berkeley; the CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholar Program; the Snow Leopard Trust; and the CIFAR Fellow in Future Flourishing Program. Tuljapurkar is also a member of Stanford Bio-X and an affiliate of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.
This research was funded by the Nature Conservation Foundation, India; the Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability; and the King Center on Global Development.
Journal
Science Advances
Article Title
Biocultural vulnerability of traditional crops in the Indian Trans Himalaya
Article Publication Date
15-Aug-2025
How major corn-producing regions in China achieve sustainable yield increase?
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view moreCredit: Xiaoyu LI1 , Hongguang CAI2 , Yao LIANG2 , Shanchao YUE3 , Shiqing LI3 , Baizhao REN4 , Jiwang ZHANG4 , Wushuai ZHANG5 , Xinping CHEN5 , Qingfeng MENG6 , Peng HOU7 , Jianbo SHEN6 , Wenqi MA8 , Guozhong FENG1 , Qiang GAO1
Corn is the grain crop with the largest planting area and highest total output in China. In 2022, its planting area reached 43.1 Mha, with a total output of 277 Mt. However, the current average yield of corn in China is only 6.50 t·ha–1. Moreover, the four major producing regions—the Northeast Spring Corn Region, the North China Plain Summer Corn Region, the Northwest Spring Corn Region, and the Southwest Corn Region—face distinct yield-limiting factors due to differences in climate and soil conditions. How can we ensure food security while achieving sustainable high yields and efficiency improvement in corn production across these regions?
Recently, a research team led by Qiang Gao and Guozhong Feng from the College of Resources and Environmental Sciences at Jilin Agricultural University conducted systematic research to address this issue. By analyzing the climatic characteristics, soil physical and chemical properties, and current planting conditions of China’s major corn-producing regions, the team identified the core limiting factors for each region: black soil in the Northeast has suffered structural degradation and acidification; the North China Plain has low soil organic matter content (1.31%); the Northwest has annual precipitation of only 290 mm with severe soil desertification; and the Southwest faces challenges of high temperatures and seasonal drought. Based on these differences, the study proposed a regionalized technical model centered on integrated soil-crop system management. By optimizing planting density, nutrient management, and agronomic measures, this model synergistically improves both yield and resource use efficiency. The relevant paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025615).
This study established a “localized” technical system. For instance, to address the common issue of insufficient planting density, field experiments were conducted to determine the optimal density for each region: 67,600 plants ha–1 in the Northeast, 79,400 plants ha–1 in the North China Plain, 104,000 plants ha–1 in the Northwest, and 54,300 plants ha–1 in the Southwest. Additionally, controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer technology was introduced to synchronize nitrogen supply with crop demand, reducing nitrogen loss while increasing yields. The research also emphasized the synergistic effect of canopy light-nitrogen matching and soil organic matter improvement. For example, long-term straw returning can increase soil organic carbon by 17.7% and yield by 38.8%.
To promote the implementation of these technologies, the research team developed a “government-industry-university-research-user” collaborative promotion model. Relying on the “Science and Technology Backyard” platform, it closely connects universities, governments, cooperatives, and farmers. Taking Lishu County, Jilin Province as an example, by optimizing water and fertilizer management and moderately increasing planting density, local corn yields have significantly increased, nitrogen use efficiency has improved by 33.4%, and carbon emissions have reduced by 15%. This model not only solves the “last mile” problem in traditional technology promotion but also promotes large-scale land management.
Research results show that after the regionalized technical model is applied nationwide, the total corn output will increase by 11.5% while reducing nitrogen input by 14.7%, providing a feasible path for green agricultural development. This research provides a scientific basis for breaking the bottleneck of China’s corn production through precise matching of regional needs and technological innovation, which is of great significance for ensuring food security.
Journal
Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Evaluation and application of sustainable yield and efficiency increasing models in the main maize producing areas of China
How to balance high corn yields with resource efficiency?
Higher Education Press
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view moreCredit: Huaxiang JI1,* , Guangzhou LIU2,* , Wanmao LIU3 , Yunshan YANG4 , Xiaoxia GUO4 , Guoqiang ZHANG1 , Zhiqiang TAO1 , Shaokun LI1 , Peng HOU1
As the most widely planted and highest-yielding grain crop in China, increasing corn yields is crucial for ensuring food security. However, with the growing global population and limited arable land, the challenge of enhancing corn production while reducing environmental burdens has become a core issue for sustainable agricultural development.
Recently, a team of researchers led by Professor Peng Hou from the Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences systematically summarized the limiting factors in corn production and proposed a green production scheme that balances high yield with efficient resource utilization based on quantitative design principles. The related paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025601).
Currently, the increase in corn yield in China faces multiple constraints. In terms of climate, reduced solar radiation and extreme weather events (such as droughts and floods) directly affect photosynthesis and nutrient accumulation. From a soil perspective, long-term shallow tillage has led to compaction of the plow layer, resulting in a yield reduction of approximately 4.8% to 20.2%. Management issues, such as low planting density and improper fertilization, are also prevalent—for instance, the planting density of corn in China is significantly lower than in the USA, and in some areas, excessive fertilization not only reduces nutrient utilization but also leads to soil degradation and groundwater pollution. These factors collectively hinder the full potential of corn yields, highlighting resource waste and environmental pressure.
To address these issues, the researchers proposed three optimization strategies based on quantitative design principles. First is the matching of planting density with solar radiation. By analyzing the differences in solar radiation across various regions in China, areas with abundant sunlight, such as the Northwest, can achieve high yields by increasing planting density, while eastern regions should adjust planting density according to radiation levels to avoid resource waste. Second is the matching of varieties with population structure, recommending the selection of compact varieties: these corn plants have smaller leaf angles, which can reduce shading and allow more light to reach the middle and lower leaves, leading to higher light energy utilization compared to sprawling varieties. Third is the functional matching of tillage, root systems, and canopy, which involves deep loosening of the soil to break the plow layer, optimizing root distribution, and using drip irrigation and fertilization techniques to provide precise water and nutrients, achieving a synergistic efficiency between underground absorption and above-ground growth.
Based on existing research data, after implementing the quantitative design scheme, corn yields in the Southwest, Huang-Huai-Hai, North China, and Northwest regions increased by 10.5%, 2.7%, 5.2%, and 10.3%, respectively, without increasing nitrogen fertilizer input. Notably, the drip irrigation and fertilization technology has shown remarkable results in the arid Northwest, significantly enhancing yields compared to traditional cultivation, with average improvements in water and nutrient utilization rates exceeding 30%. This technology has now been promoted across 4 million hectares of corn fields in China, accounting for approximately 9% of the total area, particularly effective in arid and semi-arid regions such as the Northwest and Northeast.
Through quantitative design, not only can the consumption of fertilizers and water resources be reduced, but greenhouse gas emissions can also be lowered. The study suggests that future efforts should further integrate regional climate characteristics to promote personalized schemes—such as optimizing density and light matching in the Southwest and strengthening the breeding of stress-resistant varieties in the Huang-Huai-Hai region.
Journal
Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Quantitative design and production methods for sustainably increasing maize grain yield and resource use efficiency
How to achieve green high yield in winter wheat cultivation?
Higher Education Press
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view moreCredit: Chuan ZHONG1 , Wei ZHOU1 , Wuyang YU1 , Mingrong HE1 , Zhenlin WANG1 , Yuanjie DONG2 , Xinglong DAI1
As one of the world’s most important food crops, wheat not only provides calories and nutrition for billions of people but also plays a core role in China’s food security strategy. In recent years, China has significantly increased wheat yields through agronomic innovation and technological advancements. However, issues such as excessive fertilizer application and soil degradation in traditional production have not only increased carbon emissions but also hindered sustainable agricultural development. How can we ensure high yields while improving nitrogen use efficiency and reducing environmental impact? This question has become a significant topic in agricultural science.
Recently, Associate Professor Xinglong Dai from Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University and his colleagues proposed a quantitative design theory and technical pathway for green yield increase and efficient nitrogen utilization in winter wheat, providing new insights to address this challenge. Related paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J-FASE-2025631).
Based on the development history of wheat production in China, Academician Songlie Yu from Shandong Agricultural University proposed the “Three-Stage Theory”: First, the breakthrough from low yield to medium yield primarily relies on improving soil fertility; second, the key to transitioning from medium yield to high yield is coordinating the development of the population and individuals; third, to achieve super high yield from high yield, it is necessary to resolve internal contradictions such as the source-sink relationship and carbon-nitrogen metabolism balance. Currently, the core bottlenecks limiting green yield increase in winter wheat are: an imbalance in competition between population and individuals leading to decreased resource utilization; insufficient dry matter accumulation after flowering affecting grain filling; and the degradation of soil physical and chemical properties limiting root growth.
To overcome these bottlenecks, the researchers constructed an optimization framework for the “soil-crop system” and proposed several quantifiable technical indicators. In terms of population structure, they recommended a planting density of 330–375 plants m–2 for large panicle varieties and 225–270 plants m–2 for medium panicle varieties, ensuring effective ear numbers while avoiding excessive individual competition. For soil improvement, they adopted a “straw return + rotary tillage and deep tillage rotation” model: after two consecutive years of rotary tillage, one deep tillage can reduce soil bulk density at 0–20 cm depth and increase organic matter content to over 20 g·kg−1, while also reducing the carbon footprint by 1.87 tons of CO2 equivalent per hectare.
In terms of planting methods, wide-row strip sowing technology (with a sowing band width of 6–8 cm) effectively alleviates plant competition issues associated with traditional narrow-row sowing. By increasing row spacing, the root distribution of the wheat becomes more uniform, significantly increasing nitrogen absorption from deep soil layers, with light interception rates reaching over 90% during the grain filling period. Coupled with moderately delayed sowing, this approach not only improves nitrogen use efficiency in grains but also enhances the lodging resistance of the stems, achieving the dual goals of “no yield reduction and higher efficiency”.
The “comprehensive management of the soil-crop system” model is not merely an aggregation of individual measures; it achieves precise matching of resource input and output through the regulation of population structure, soil health, and root-crown interactions. This model has shown significant effects in the Huang-Huai-Hai wheat region: compared to conventional farmer management, it has resulted in a 22.5% increase in winter wheat yield, a 49.2% improvement in nitrogen use efficiency, and a reduction in the residue of inorganic nitrogen and greenhouse gas emissions in the soil.
This research closely integrates theoretical innovation with practical production. Through clear quantifiable indicators, farmers can adjust management practices based on actual conditions, avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. Future efforts should further explore the applicability of this technical system in different ecological regions and quantify the carbon footprint and economic benefits throughout the entire life cycle, providing support for the green transformation of agriculture in China.
Journal
Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Quantitative design and realization of green technology for increasing the yield and nitrogen use efficiency of winter wheat
How to sustainably increase rice production with reduced resource consumption?
Peer-Reviewed Publicationimage:
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view moreCredit: Junfei GU1 , Xianlong PENG2 , Shiwei GUO3 , Jianwei LU4 , Xiaojun SHI5 , Yixiang SUN6 , Jianchang YANG1
As a staple food for nearly half of the global population, the stable increase in rice production is crucial for ensuring food security. China, as the largest rice producer and consumer in the world, has raised its yield from 2.1 tons per hectare in 1950 to 6.8 tons per hectare in 2020 through variety improvement and increased inputs of fertilizers and water resources. However, the traditional “high input, high output” model has led to water resource utilization rates that are 40%–50% lower than the global average and a nitrogen fertilizer utilization rate of only 34%. This has also resulted in soil degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. So, how can we continue to improve yields while reducing resource consumption?
Recently, a review paper conducted by Professor Jianchang Yang from Yangzhou University, et al. pointed out that optimizing the “harvest index” (the ratio of yield to total aboveground biomass) can achieve a synergistic enhancement of rice yield and resource utilization efficiency. The study found that the harvest index of modern rice varieties generally hovers around 0.5, but there is still room for improvement through the regulation of physiological traits. Key strategies include three main aspects: first, increasing the “grain-to-leaf ratio”, which refers to the number of grains per unit leaf area, balancing the relationship between photosynthetic products and grain demand; second, enhancing the “sugar-to-spikelet ratio”, which is the ratio of non-structural carbohydrates stored in the stem before flowering to the number of grains, providing more energy for grain filling; third, optimizing the “proportion of productive tillers” to reduce the consumption of water and nutrients by ineffective tillers, thereby improving population structure and light utilization. The related paper has been published in Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering (DOI: 10.15302/J–FASE–2025610).
Based on these physiological mechanisms, scientists have developed three core green technologies. The first is “moderate alternating wet and dry irrigation” (AWMD), which monitors groundwater levels using PVC pipes and sets irrigation thresholds based on different growth stages and soil types. For example, in sandy soil during the tillering stage, irrigation is triggered when the water level drops to 8–10 cm, while clay soil can tolerate a water level drop of 25–30 cm during the booting stage. This technology not only saves 35% more water compared to traditional flooding irrigation but also reduces methane emissions by 48.3%–57.9%. The principle is to inhibit methane-producing bacteria through intermittent drought, while promoting root development and the transport of photosynthetic products to grains.
The second is the “three-standard nitrogen fertilizer application technology”, which dynamically adjusts fertilizer amounts based on soil fertility, leaf color, and variety characteristics. For instance, by comparing the SPAD chlorophyll values of the third leaf and the first leaf of rice, precise top-dressing can be applied during the tillering and booting stages; for large panicle varieties, emphasis is placed on “flower-preserving fertilizer”, while for small panicle varieties, the proportion of “flower-promoting fertilizer” is increased. This method has improved nitrogen fertilizer utilization from 34% to 51%, approaching the global average.
The third is “water–nitrogen coupling regulation technology”, which quantifies the synergistic effects of soil moisture and nitrogen through mathematical models. For example, during the tillering stage, when the soil water potential is –10 kPa, the optimal nitrogen content for plants should be 2.94%, maximizing water and nutrient utilization efficiency. This precise management model has led to a 9.3% increase in rice yield and a 27% improvement in water utilization efficiency in trials conducted in Jiangsu and Heilongjiang.
These technologies have been promoted across seven major rice-growing regions in China, including Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan, covering an area of 10.3 million hectares and generating direct economic benefits of approximately $2.2 billion between 2021 and 2022. The research emphasizes the need to further integrate smart agricultural technologies to simplify management practices and explore new ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to promote the sustainable development of rice production.
Journal
Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering
Method of Research
Experimental study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Innovation and implement of green technology in rice production to increase yield and resource use efficiency
