Technologies to enhance the productivity and profitability in mechanised semi dry rice cultivation

Abstract

Experiments was conducted during dry season at Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute (TNAU), Kumulur in split plot design with three replication using ADT 49 (Medium duration) rice variety with the objectives to find out alternate method of sowing to overcome the labour scarcity in dry condition, to find out better spacing and crop geometry under mechanised sowing in dry condition and to study the effect of water level and seed rate on productivity under semi dry condition.The main plot treatment consisted of four levels of irrigation viz. Irrigation at critical stages up to 45 DAS (PI) and submergence of 2.5 cm(I1), Supplemental irrigation through Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) from 45 DAS (PI) up to harvest(I2), Continuous submergence of 2.5 cm (Farmers practices under wet condition)( I3) and Farmers practices (Farmers practices under dry condition).The sub plot treatment consisted of four levels of crop geometry with different levels of seed rate viz., Mechanised sowing @ 30 kg/ha (22.5x10 cm)( S1), Mechanised sowing 40 kg/ha (25 x15 cm)( S2), Mechanised sowing 50 kg/ha(25 x 8 cm) (S3) and Broad casting @ 75 kg/ha (S4). The experiment results showed that mechanised sowing of seed @ 40kg ha-1(25x 15 cm) by multi crop planter under dry condition along with supplemental irrigation through Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method of irrigation had recorded highest establishment percentage, optimum number of productive tillers, highest number of grains per panicle, highest grain yield (7.91 t ha-1), net income (71,746 Rs ha-1), BCR (3.56) and highest water use efficiency (0.60 kg ha-1 mm-1) and net changes in income of Rs. 60,574 ha-1 when compare to farmers practices under semi dry rice cultivation.