Characteristics and management options for rice-maize systems in the Philippines

In the Philippines, corn (maize) is the second major cereal crop after rice. Around 0.12 million ha of corn are grown in rice-maize systems, mostly situated in the lowlands, and the area of this system is growing fast. The objectives of this study were to characterize this rice-maize system in a case study, to test several management options that could help to optimize it and to reduce the production risk, and to develop a simple nutrient balance as a sustainability indicator. The authors conducted participatory on-farm trials in Pangasinan, where about 33,600 ha of yellow corn are grown, mostly in rice-maize systems. Combined grain yields of the system reached 14 t/ha in the first year and 21 t/ha in the second year, depending on the treatment. Yield differences were mostly due to climate-induced stresses in the first year and very favorable conditions in the second year. Varietal choice in rice was an option to reduce production losses by selecting the variety according to average field-specific characteristics (drought-prone, favorable, flood-prone). Balanced fertilizer applications also reduced stress-dependent rice yield losses, and helped to maximize grain yield in the favorable year. The rice fertilizer treatment without any application caused lower yields in the subsequent maize crop. No effects of field topography on soil characteristics or on grain yields of rice or maize were detected. The nutrient balance indicated the considerable danger of soil nutrient mining in this cropping system, which could aggravate possible trends of declining soil organic matter concentrations in rice-maize systems that have been shown in previous studies. The authors concluded that combination of adjusted management components can reduce production risk and optimize system productivity. To main system productivity, it seems most promising to combine different management elements, including well-balanced NPK fertilizer rates, recycling of waste products from residue use on the farm as much as possible, and only limited removal of residues from the fields.