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Rice production is the agricultural activity with the highest energy consumption and carbon emission intensity. Water and fertilizer management constitutes an important part of energy input for rice production and a key factor affecting greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields. Water–fertilizer integration management (AIM) is an automated water and fertilizer management system for large-scale rice production, which can effectively save water and fertilizer resources. At present, the energy utilization and environmental impact of AIM in rice production are not clear. To clarify whether AIM is a water and fertilizer management measure that combines energy conservation and carbon emission reduction, a comparative study between the widely used farmers' enhanced water and fertilizer management (FEM) in China and AIM was conducted in this paper. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the rice yield, carbon emission, energy utilization, and economic benefits of the two management methods. The results showed that AIM reduced water and fertilizer inputs, energy inputs, and economic costs by 12.18–28.57%, compared to FEM. The energy utilization efficiency, energy profitability, and energy productivity under AIM were improved by 11.30–12.61%. CH4 and N2O emissions and carbon footprint were reduced by 20.79%, 6.51%, and 16.39%, respectively. Compared with FEM, AIM can effectively improve the utilization efficiency of water and fertilizer resources and reduce carbon emissions. This study presents a mechanized water and fertilizer management approach suitable for large-scale rice production systems in China. By analyzing rice yield, resource utilization efficiency, and environmental benefits, AIM can serve as a crucial management strategy for enhancing productivity, economic returns, and environmental conservation within profitable rice production systems. In the future, further investigation into the impact of AIM on the microbial mechanisms underlying rice yield formation and greenhouse gas emissions is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study evaluated the impact of wheat straw return and microbial agent application on rice field environments., Methods: Using Rice variety Chuankangyou 2115 and a microbial mix of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum . Five treatments were tested: T 1 (no straw return), T 2 (straw return), T 3 , T 4 , and T 5 (straw return with varying ratios of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum )., Results: Results indicated significant improvements in rice root length, surface area, dry weight, soil nutrients, and enzyme activity across T 2 -T 5 compared to T 1 , enhancing yield by 3.81-26.63%. T 3 (50:50 microbial ratio) was optimal, further increasing root dry weight, soil enzyme activity, effective panicle and spikelet numbers, and yield. Dominant bacteria in T 3 included MBNT15 , Defluviicoccus , Ro kubacteriales, and Latescibacterota . Higher Trichoderma harzianum proportions (75% in T 5 ) increased straw decomposition but slightly inhibited root growth. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between yield and soil microorganisms like Gemmatimonadota and Firmicutes at the heading stage. Factors like dry root weight, straw decomposition rate post-jointing stage, and elevated soil enzyme activity and nutrient content from tiller to jointing stage contributed to increased panicle and spikelet numbers, boosting yield., Conclusion: The optimal Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum ratio for straw return was 50:50, effectively improving soil health and synergizing high rice yield with efficient straw utilization., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wen, Ma, Wu, Yang, Yuan, Chen, Luo, He, Huang, Deng, Li, Yang, Chen, Ma and Sun.)

Objective: The effect of radiotherapy on moderate and severe Thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) was evaluated by various objective and quantitative indexes including T2 signal intensity ratios of orbital MRI inferior rectus and ipsilateral temporal muscle (T2SIR), extraocular muscles (EOM) volume, and the degree of exophthalmos using clinical research with prospective, randomized, double blind, self controlled., Methods: The patients with TAO who in the moderate and severe active period and had similar double eyes condition in the Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology of Xiangya No. 2 Hospital of Central South University from 2011.2 to 2014.2 were selected as objects in this study. The related body check was finished after the research group was built. For the object, one eye of patient having random radiotherapy was chosen as the experimental eye. The other eye in the same patient with pseudo radiotherapy (merely known by operator, doctors in department of ophthalmology and patients were double blind) was selected as the control eye. The radiotherapy plan was made by the operator according to the CT results. The T2 signal intensity ratios of orbital MRI inferior rectus and ipsilateral temporal muscle (T2SIR), extraocular muscles (EOM) volume, and the exophthalmos degree was compared by MRI check to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy., Results: The T2 signal intensity ratios of orbital MRI inferior rectus and ipsilateral temporal muscle (T2SIR), extraocular muscles (EOM) volume, and the exophthalmos degree between both eyes (experimental and control eyes) had significant differences and these data had statistical significance., Conclusions: The treatment of radiotherapy is effective for the TAO in the moderate and severe active period.