Yield and Growth Response to Transplanted Aman Rice under Raised Bed over Conventional Cultivation Method

M H M Bhuyan,Mst R Ferdousi,M T Iqbal

doi:10.5402/2012/646859

Abstract

Bed planting method for rice production systems is very new and research on it is still at an introductory phase. A field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different agronomic aspects of bed planting on the growth and yield of transplanted aman rice (both irrigated and rain fed). This study also evaluates the water and fertilizer application efficiency of rice cropping system under bed planting method. Results showed that the bed planting method increased grain yield of rice up to 16% than the conventional method. Bed planting also increased the number of panicle m−2, number of grains panicle−1, and 1000-grain weight of rice than conventional method. Sterility percentage and weed infestation were lower in bed planting than conventional method. About 42% of the irrigation water and time for application could be saved through bed planting in transplanted aman rice cropping system. Water use efficiency and crop productivity for grain production were higher in bed planting over conventional method. This study concluded that bed planting method is a new approach for optimum fertilizer and water use efficiency as well as higher yield compared to conventional flat method.

Highlights

Rice is the major staple food in Bangladesh and the majority of its food grain comes from paddy rice
Raised bed reduced irrigation water requirement by 42% and so increased irrigation efficiency. This findings conclude that water and fertilizer use efficiency for grain production and crop productivity were higher in bed planting than conventional method
The potential gains from growing rice production on raised beds are considered to be associated with better agronomic management than conventional method

Summary

Introduction

Rice is the major staple food in Bangladesh and the majority of its food grain comes from paddy rice. Rice production is currently in stagnant condition because farmers do not fully follow the improved techniques in an integrated way, which creates a yield gap. Bed planting rice production systems may be a technique for improving the yield. In conventional tillage system for transplanting rice, land is prepared by puddling the soil. Though transplant aman rice was a rain fed crop, supplemental irrigation was needed for preparation of the plots with conventional treatment and for the bed planting of all plots. Another supplemental irrigation was done for all plots at flowering stage of rice

Materials and Methods

Results

Method of fertilizer application

Discussion

Conclusion