Yield, water use efficiency and water productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) relative to irrigation management and crop establishment methods

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Centre, RPCAU, Pusa, Bihar during Kharif, 2017. The soil of the experimental plot was sandy loam in texture with low in available N, P2O5 and K2O. The experiment was laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. A total of twelve treatment combinations were used viz., three irrigation levels (I) in main plots and four crop establishment methods (E) in sub-plots. Irrigation level includes I1 - Continuous submergence throughout crop growth, I2-Saturation maintenance upto PI and (5±2cm) after PI and I3 -Alternate wetting and drying (5 cm irrigation at 3 DADPW) up to PI and (5±2 cm) after PI while the methods of establishment includes E1- Normal transplanting, E2- Direct w.et seeding on puddled soil, E3- Direct dry seeding and E4- Broadcasting on un-puddled soil. Grain as well as straw yield were significantly influenced by different crop establishment methods but not significantly affected by different irrigation levels. Water use efficiency and water productivity were also significantly affected by different crop establishment methods but water productivity was not significantly affected by different irrigation managements.