Abstract
A possibility of paddy rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation with reflective mulching materials as a tool of low input and high-yielding culture was examined. The albedo increased and water temperature in the daytime decreased by mulching of white styrofoam board or reflective film over the interrow space. Leaf area indexes in the mulching plots decreased as compared to the control plot due to the decline in leaf weight ratio and the increase in specific leaf weight. By mulching, the dry matter production at early growth stage increased in a year 1999 under relatively low sunshine but it tended to decrease in another year 2000 under intense sunshine, high temperature and low humidity. Furthermore, dry matter production in the latter half of growth tended to increase in both years, and the percentage of ripened grains elevated as well as the number of ripened grains. In both years, the grain yield increased about 10% and the damage due to grass leaf roller (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis) reduced, by mulching.
