DefinePK

Abstract

Rice production in Asia needs to increase to feed a growing population. Though a complete assessment of the level of water scarcity in Asian rice production is still lacking, there are signs that declining quality of water and declining availability of water resources threatening the sustainability of the irrigated rice-based production system. In this research work, rice on bed-furrow planting (Raised Bed Technology) was evaluated for water productivity and irrigation water saving. The water balance approach was carried out for different levels of puddled soil with careful measurements of irrigation depth, variation in evapotranspiration, percolation rate and runoff etc. The five treatments i.e. To=No puddling, T2=2 passes of puddler with self-propelled puddler, T4=4 passes of puddler with self-propelled puddler, T6=6 passes of puddler with self-propelled puddler, Tc =conventional with three replications of each treatment were used. Finally, the total water applied for each level of puddled soil was calculated. More percolation losses were observed in Tc (991mm) and less in T6 (734.5mm). Seepage losses were more in Tc (695.5mm) and minimum in T4 (223.9mm). Maximum rice yield (653.16 g/m2) was recorded inT6 and minimum (450.5 g/m2) in Tc. Maximum water productivity of 0.56 Kg/m3 was achieved in T6 and minimum water productivity of 0.25Kg/m3 in Tc due to more consumption of irrigation water. Thus, puddling in furrows for rice on beds should be adopted to reduce water losses and increase water productivity.