Effect of irrigation regimes and staggered transplanting on growth and yield of summer rice (Oryza sativa L.) in South Odisha

A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture Research Farm, Bagusala, M.S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha during summer season, 2018-19. The soil of experimental field was sandy clay loam in texture, slightly acidic in reaction (pH 6.4) low in available nitrogen (208 kg/ha) and high in both phosphorus (139 kg/ha) and potassium (390 kg/ha). The field experiment was laid out in split-plot design with three replications and 12 treatments combination. The treatments were comprised of three water regimes assigned in main plot (Continuous ponding, continuous soil saturation and saturation after hair crack) and four transplanting dates in sub plots (Transplanting on 23^rd and 31^st January, 6^th and 13^th February). The experimental results revealed that irrigation treatments failed to exhibit significant effect on growth parameters like plant height, tillers/clump, LAI, dry matter production and CGR until the peak crop growing period up to 60 DAT excepting plant height at 60 DAT. Crop growth parameters except LAI were significantly influenced by irrigation regimes at harvest. Irrigation regimes had the remarkably effect of grain yield and WUE but it had no significant effect on straw yield. Irrigation with continuous ponding produced the highest grain yield (4.57 t/ha) which was at par with continuous soil saturation (4.30 t/ha). The WUE was significantly increased with saturation after hair (49.62 kg/ha/cm). Dates of transplanting significantly reflected all the crop growth parameters throughout the crop growing period. Transplanting on 23^rd January significantly recorded the highest grain yield (4.72 t/ha) and maximum straw yield was obtained in 31^st January (7.99 t/ ha) being at par with 23^rd January (7.63 t/ha). Significantly the highest WUE was obtained in transplanting date of 23^rd January (47.09 kg/ha/cm).

Highlights

• The transplanted rice applied with irrigation regime of continuous ponding at the depth of 5±2 cm and continuous saturation with the depth of 3 cm during summer improved the crop growth parameters and enhanced the yield and WUE was positively increased under reduced irrigation of saturation after hair crack with 3 cm depth.

• Transplanting of rice on 23^rd January increased all crop growth parameters, grain yield and WUE over other dates of transplanting.