Seed Hydro-Priming and In-Situ Moisture Conservation of Direct Seeded Rice: Effects on Emergence, Productivity, Root Behaviour and Weed Competitiveness

Abstract

Uplands of eastern Himalayan region (EHR) of India occupy larger area under direct seeded (dibbling of seeds) rainfed rice. However, this region is associated with lower productivity of rice, which is mainly due to poor crop germination, establishment, frequent occurrences of intermittent soil moisture stress and weed infestation. One of the affordable approaches to alleviate shortfall associated with low productivity of rice in the region is seed hydro-priming (SP) with in situ soil moisture conservation measures. Therefore, an experiment on rain-fed direct seeded rice was conducted during two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) at EHR of India (27°95′N latitude and 94°76′E longitude, 662 m above MSL) to evaluate the effect of seed priming with different durations (0, 12, 18 and 24 h) and in situ furrows at various row intervals as moisture conservation measure on rice establishment, productivity, root behaviour and weed competitiveness. Results revealed that seed priming for 24 h duration significantly (p < 0.05) improved by 35.9 % crop establishment, 32.5 % rice productivity, lowered root parameters and 19.6 % higher weed competitiveness. Similarly, in situ moisture conservation at continuous row also registered 32.1 % superior crop establishment, 34.5 % higher rice productivity, retarded root growth and 25.5 % more competitiveness against weed. However, adoption of seed priming for 24 h along with in situ furrows (continuous and alternate rows) as moisture conservation measure increases weed smothering efficiency over normal practices.