Effect of green manuring with dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) on growth and yield of direct-sown and transplanted rice under intermediate deepwater conditions (0–50 cm)

Abstract

SUMMARYIn intermediate deepwater conditions (0–50 cm) at Cuttack, India during 1990 and 1991, rice and dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) were either mixed-sown in different arrangements (parallel lines and mixed broadcasting) in dry soil by the end of May or rice seedlings were transplanted in plots grown with pure dhaincha after the accumulation of water in the field by mid-July. Incorporation of dhaincha in situ after 48 and 54 days of growth added 60·8–65·2 and 72·9–76·9 kg N/ha in the mixed stands compared with 81·3 and 85·1 kg N/ha in the pure stand in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Although the growth of rice when sown simultaneously with dhaincha was affected initially due to the more vigorous growth and shading by the latter, tillering of rice increased after the incorporation of green manure following an increase in inter-row spacings. The performance of the direct-sown and transplanted rice was similar in 1990, when the water level rose relatively slowly, but in 1991 the transplanted crop yielded significantly less due to the sudden accumulation of water to higher depths (48 cm), resulting in greater mortality of seedlings at planting. However, the grain yield of both directsown and transplanted crops increased with dhaincha green manuring compared with the control (no application of dhaincha) and was equal to the application of 40 kg N/ha applied as urea fertilizer. The highest yield was obtained when rice and dhaincha were grown at a 2:1 ratio in 20 cm wide rows and the clonal tillers uprooted from the adjoining rice rows were planted in lines vacated by dhaincha. The yield was, however, equal to that from treatments where rice and dhaincha were grown in alternate rows at 15 cm spacing or mixed broadcasting. Increase in yield under green manuring was due to greater panicle weight, which was probably due to a continued supply of N following decomposition of organic matter added through dhaincha. Therefore, green manuring of direct-sown rice with dhaincha was beneficial for higher crop productivity under excess water conditions.