Abstract
The influence of water-saving culture on the yield, quality and palatability of rice was investigated using Hinohikari for 3 years from 2012 to 2014. Two water treatments were imposed: continuously flooded paddy field (C) and water-saving paddy field (WS). In WS, irrigation was stopped for 22 days before the panicle initiation stage in 2012, and for 30 days in 2013 and 2014. The total amount of input water (rainfall + irrigation water) in WS was 20.7％ less than that in C in 2012, 27.4％ less in 2013 and 24.3％ less in 2014. The grain yield in WS was around 25％ lower than in C both in 2013 and 2014. On the other hand, the yield decrease rate in WS was only about 5％ in 2012. Thus the water-saving culture did not affect either quality or palatability.
