Abstract
The system of rice intensification (SRI) uses less water and enhances rice yield through synergy among several agronomic management practices. This claim was investigated to determine the effects of crop growth, yield and irrigation water use, using two thirds of the recommended SRI practices and two rice varieties, namely Tainan11 (TN11) and Tidung30 (TD30). Irrigation regimes were (a) intermittent irrigation with three-day intervals (TD303 and TN113); (b) intermittent irrigation with seven-day intervals (TD307 and TN117) and (c) continuous flooding (TD30F and TN11F). Results showed that intermittent irrigation of three- and seven-day intervals produced water savings of 55% and 74% compared with continuous flooding. Total water productivity was greater with intermittent irrigation at seven-day intervals producing 0.35 kg·grain/m3 (TN117) and 0.46 kg·grain/m3 (TD307). Average daily headed panicle reduced by 166% and 196% for TN113 and TN117 compared with TN11F, with similar reduction recorded for TD303 (150%) and TD307 (156%) compared with TD30F. Grain yield of TD30 was comparable among irrigation regimes; however, it reduced by 30.29% in TN117 compared to TN11F. Plant height and leaf area were greater in plants exposed to intermittent irrigation of three-day intervals.
Highlights
Rice (Oriza stiva L.) is a major staple food for much of the world’s population and the largest consumer of water in the agricultural sector [1]
Plants grown under intermittent irrigation of three-day intervals were significantly taller compared to the others at both panicle initiation and heading stages, whereas comparable results were observed between continuous flooding (CF) and intermittent irrigation intervals of seven days at heading
The study has shown that not all the specific attributes of system of rice intensification (SRI) management are required in order to have a positive effect on plant growth, increased yields, and enhanced water productivity
Summary
Rice (Oriza stiva L.) is a major staple food for much of the world’s population and the largest consumer of water in the agricultural sector [1]. Asia contributes more than 90% of the world’s total rice production while using more than 90% of the total irrigation water [6]. Rice is a very important and valuable crop to Taiwan’s economy. It yields more than 1.73 million tonnes from 271,077 hectares of land for a production value of NT$41.48 billion (about US$1.37 billion) in 2014 [8]. Rapid urbanization and industrialization along with high irrigation water consumption from the agriculture sector (80%) have been major contributing factors [9]; this situation is exacerbated by climate change.
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