Influence of various irrigation regimes on growth and yield of wet seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Thamirabarani command area

Abstract

Field trial was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam during Pishanam 2019-2020 to assess the impact of various irrigation regimes on growth and yield of wet seeded rice under the Thamirabarani command area. Randomized block design was followed with ten irrigation treatments namely irrigation at 5 cm, 10 cm and 15 cm depletion of water level, irrigation at 10 cm depletion up to maximum tillering (MT) and thereafter 5 cm depletion 10 days prior to harvest (DPH), irrigation at 15 cm depletion up to MT and thereafter 5 and 10 cm depletion 10 DPH, Alternate wetting and drying (AWD), AWD up to MT and thereafter 5 and 10 cm depletion 10 DPH and Continuous flooding. Field water tube (FWT) was used to check the field water status. Observations on growth parameters like plant height, number of tillers m-2 and dry matter production were recorded during active tillering, panicle initiation and at harvest stages. Grain and straw yield were also recorded. AWD (T7) recorded higher plant height, number of tillers m-2 and dry weight in all the stages and it was on par with irrigation at 5 cm depletion of water in FWT (T1). AWD also registered greater grain and straw yield, and was similar to irrigation at 5 cm depletion of water in FWT.