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Open research questions in Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement

156 gap statements mined from Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 877 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • One limitation is the physical barrier created by the large amounts of biomass (5–6 Mg ha−1), which can hinder proper seed placement and seedling emergence (McKenzie-Gopsill and Farooque 2023).

    Reducing the interval between termination of a legume cover crop (Persian clover) and rice sowing increases soil mineral nitrogen and plant development · 2026 · DOI

  • Maintaining soil health and productivity in the face of increasing population pressure and limited agricultural resources. Managing soil physical and hydraulic properties to improve crop yields and reduce erosion. Balancing the need for sustainable agricultural practices with the need for increased food production.

    Inclusion of Phaseolus vulgaris in fallow rice systems improves soil physical, physico-chemical and hydraulic properties under acidic sub-tropical conditions in Bangladesh · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to investigate the effects of including Phaseolus vulgaris in fallow rice systems on soil physical, physico-chemical, and hydraulic properties. Prior work has focused on the effects of land-use and management practices on soil properties, but the specific effects of including legumes in rice systems are not well understood.

    Inclusion of Phaseolus vulgaris in fallow rice systems improves soil physical, physico-chemical and hydraulic properties under acidic sub-tropical conditions in Bangladesh · 2026 · DOI

  • This study also has certain limitations, as it only focused on the seedling stage of daylily, while the response patterns to NPK ratios during the full growth period (especially the bolting, budding, and harvesting stages) remain unclear.

    Effects of different NPK ratio combinations on growth, physiology, and soil physicochemical properties of daylily seedlings · 2026 · DOI

  • The effects of nitrogen-splitting regimes on rice yield and grain quality are not well understood. The relationships between nitrogen application timing, rhizosphere ecological clusters, and yield-quality trade-offs are not well understood.

    Nitrogen application timing drives stage-specific rhizosphere ecological clusters that regulate the yield-quality trade-off in hybrid rice · 2026 · DOI

  • Excessive basal and tillering nitrogen (BTN) application in rice production causes substantial N losses and environmental costs, yet practical soil fertility thresholds to guide safe BTN reduction (RBTN) have not been established.

    Soil Fertility Dominates the Optimal Allocation of Basal and Tillering Nitrogen in Rice Production · 2026 · DOI

  • Furthermore, although physiological responses at the whole-plant and biochemical levels were systematically characterized—spanning dry matter accumulation, enzyme activity, and yield components—the molecular regulatory mechanisms driving the distinct NR and GS responses to K in cultivars with contrasting N efficiency remain unclear.

    Effects of Potassium Management on Yield Formation and Nutrient Utilization in Japonica Rice Cultivars with Contrasting Nitrogen Efficiency Under a Simplified Nitrogen Regime · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies can focus on the genetic basis of photosynthesis and its improvement. The use of advanced technologies such as genome editing can aid in the development of more efficient rice varieties.

    Exploring wild rices for photosynthetic efficiency improvement in rice · 2026 · DOI

  • Genetic improvement in rice through enhancing harvest index is saturated. There is a need to explore new avenues for improvement, such as enhancing photosynthesis traits.

    Exploring wild rices for photosynthetic efficiency improvement in rice · 2026 · DOI

  • Previous studies have focused on specific regions or short-term analysis, limiting the evaluation of bioenergy resource potential. The construction of datasets and analysis for administrative units is limited.

    Bioenergy Resource Mapping of Rice Paddy Fields across the Korean Peninsula Using MODIS Satellite Data and AI-based Crop Models · 2026 · DOI

  • The limitation of previous studies in evaluating bioenergy resource potential due to focus on specific regions or short-term analysis. The need for long-term time series data to evaluate bioenergy resource potential.

    Bioenergy Resource Mapping of Rice Paddy Fields across the Korean Peninsula Using MODIS Satellite Data and AI-based Crop Models · 2026 · DOI

  • The conventional rice-wheat system is associated with yield reduction and soil degradation. There is a need to diversify the conventional rice-wheat system with legumes and vegetables.

    Effect of moisture regimes and crop diversification on system productivity and soil health under North Bihar conditions · 2026 · DOI

  • Limited availability of nutritionally rich rice germplasm. Lack of effective biofortification strategies to improve dietary quality and food security. Technical challenges in identifying and validating marker-trait associations in rice.

    Phytochemical evaluation, mineral assessment and SSR based marker-trait association of temperate rices of Northwestern Himalayas: a case study · 2026 · DOI

  • Further studies are needed to validate the associations between SSR markers and nutritional traits in larger populations. The development of functional foods using the identified nutritionally superior rice genotypes. Investigation of the potential applications of SSR markers in marker-assisted breeding programs.

    Phytochemical evaluation, mineral assessment and SSR based marker-trait association of temperate rices of Northwestern Himalayas: a case study · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of research on the effect of biochar and hydrochar concentrations on rice seed germination and growth. The existing research on biochar and hydrochar is limited to their use as soil conditioners.

    Effect of Biochar and Hydrochar Concentrations on Enhancing Germination and Seedling Growth in the Exposed Arable Crop Oryza Sativa · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand better how continuous cropping affects soil properties over time, particularly in tropical lowland areas. The effects of long-term cultivation on soil physicochemical properties in Dong Thap Province, Vietnamese Mekong Delta, are not well understood.

    Long-term cultivation effects on soil physicochemical properties in Dong Thap Province, Vietnamese Mekong Delta · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should focus on crop development, agronomic management, cropping system optimisation, climatic resilience, and mechanisation. Prioritising early maturing cultivars is essential for their integration into rice-based systems.

    Integrating Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) into Rice-based Cropping Systems through Crop Diversification in a Changing Climate Scenario · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to develop cultivars that are resistant to photoperiod. The sensitivity to day length of modern quinoa genotypes restricts its production in a range of agroclimatic conditions.

    Integrating Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) into Rice-based Cropping Systems through Crop Diversification in a Changing Climate Scenario · 2026 · DOI

  • The long-term effects of sewage sludge application on soil health and crop productivity are not well understood. There is a need to assess the potential risks of heavy metal contamination from sewage sludge application.

    Optimizing Soil Health and Productivity in Intensive Rice-Wheat Systems Using Conjoint Application of Sewage Sludge · 2026 · DOI

  • Research quantifying rice injury after multiple exposures to sub-lethal concentrations of paraquat is not available. There is a need to evaluate rice growth and yield after exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of paraquat multiple times during the rice life cycle.

    Rice performance following exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of paraquat at multiple growth stages · 2026 · DOI

  • The lack of calibrated parameters for major national cultivars limits the application of crop models for management analyses and climate risk assessments in Brazil.

    Calibration and evaluation of CSM–CERES–Rice for Brazilian upland and lowland rice: implications for yield prediction across water regimes · 2026 · DOI

  • Prior studies have focused on gene bank accessions under conventional management. There is a lack of studies evaluating rice landraces under organic conditions.

    Characterization and evaluation of Nepalese rice landraces using agro-morphological traits · 2026 · DOI

  • The limited understanding of the relationship between rice genotype and starch digestibility. The lack of studies investigating the effects of rice genotype on starch biosynthesis and enzymatic digestibility.

    Rice Genotype Related to Starch Biosynthesis: Effects on Rice Starch Structure and Enzymatic Digestibility during Shochu and Sake Production · 2026 · DOI

  • Soil degradation and declining soil fertility are significant concerns in intensive agricultural systems. The creation of dike systems has limited the deposition of alluvial soil, exacerbating soil degradation. Climate change and soil management practices may also influence soil degradation.

    Long-term cultivation effects on soil physicochemical properties in Dong Thap Province, Vietnamese Mekong Delta · 2026 · DOI

  • The need to evaluate the performance of tropical japonica genotypes under rainfed lowland rice ecosystem - The lack of information on the yield and grain quality of tropical japonica…

    Evaluation of Tropical Japonica Rice Genotypes Performance Under Rainfed Lowland Rice Ecosystem · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need to investigate the effects of including Phaseolus vulgaris in fallow rice systems on soil physical, physico-chemical, and hydraulic properties (“Inclusion of Phaseolus vulgaris in fallow rice systems improves soil physical,…”, 2026); (2) The effects of nitrogen-splitting regimes on rice yield and grain quality are not well understood (“Nitrogen application timing drives stage-specific rhizosphere ecological…”, 2026); (3) Excessive basal and tillering nitrogen (BTN) application in rice production causes substantial N losses and environmental costs, yet practical soil fertility thresholds to guide safe BTN reduction (RBTN) have not been established (“Soil Fertility Dominates the Optimal Allocation of Basal and Tillering Nitrogen…”, 2026); (4) There is a need to explore new avenues for improvement, such as enhancing photosynthesis traits (“Exploring wild rices for photosynthetic efficiency improvement in rice”, 2026); (5) There is a need to diversify the conventional rice-wheat system with legumes and vegetables (“Effect of moisture regimes and crop diversification on system productivity and…”, 2026). 156 gap statements have been mined from Rice Cultivation and Yield Improvement papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 877 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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