Effect of irrigation scheduling on yield and water-use efficiency of direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during
the rainy season of 2015 on clay loam soil to evaluate the effect of irrigation scheduling on yield and
water-use efficiency (WUE) of direct-seeded rice (Oryza sativa L.). Four levels of irrigation scheduling
as 0 kPa, 10 kPa, 20 kPa and 10 kPa throughout growing season except 40 kPa at tillering to flowering
stage were taken in randomized block design with three replications. Results revealed that scheduling
of irrigation at 0 kPa (saturated condition) recorded the highest grain yield (4.83 t/ha), plant height
(99.5 cm), effective tillers (370), panicle length (27.7 cm) and 1000-grain weight (23 g) and remained
at par with 10 kPa irrigation thresholds (98.3 cm). However, the maximum net return (Rs 45.1×103
/ha) was recorded with irrigation scheduling at 10 kPa which remained at par with 0 kPa. The
highest WUE (4.75 kg ha/mm) was recorded with 10 kPa throughout the growing season except 40
kPa during tillering to flowering stage which was found significantly at par with 10 kPa during the
season of study.