Rice cultivation on dry land during dry season supported by deep well irrigation and soil amelioration

Abstract

Dryland has a great potential regardless of limitations. Increasing rice productivity can be done by water and land management on the dryland especially on dry season. This study aimed to determine rice cultivation in dry land during the dry season which is supported by deep well irrigation and soil amelioration with organic fertilizers and rice husk charcoal. The research was conducted on dry land at Logandeng, Playen, Gunung Kidul, Special Region of Yogyakarta Indonesia during the 2019 dry season, July to November. Water requirement was fulfilled from deep well irrigation. Soil quality was improved through amelioration with organic fertilizers and rice husk charcoal, with the treatments without amelioration (TA), amelioration with organic fertilizer 3 ton ha−1 (AB), amelioration with organic fertilizer 3 ton ha−1 plus rice husk charcoal 1 ton ha−1 (ABS) and amelioration with organic fertilizer 3 ton ha−1 plus rice husk charcoal 1 ton ha− 1 and mulch of rice husk charcoal 0.5 ton ha−1 (ABSM). This research used a randomized completely block design, with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The results showed by 5 cm of flooding was reached the zero level in 8 hours and the water depth reached 20 cm for the next 16 hours. Supplementary irrigation every two days, with a flooding of 5-10 cm, was sufficient for rice cultivation during the dry season. ABS treatment can increase the yield component such as dry grain yield by 7.10 ton ha−1, dry straw by 5.98 ton ha−1, and dry root by 2.76 ton ha−1 and carbon absorption from grain by 3.81 ton ha−1, straw by 2.68 ton ha−1 and root by 1.18 ton ha−1 (p<0.05; n=20). ABS was decreased soil Eh (p<0.05; n=20), and increased soil organic carbon dan cation exchange capacity (p<0.05; n=15). ABS was the best ameliorant for rice cultivation on dry land during dry season.