On-farm evaluation of low input rice production system under tank-fed system

Low input water saving rice production system was evaluated in the fields of farmers in different Mandals of Visakhapatnam district under District Agro-Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centre. The trials were taken up in well-and tank-irrigated red clayey loams during Kharif season for three consecutive years. System of rice intensification (SRI) recorded more tillers (44.2/m²), higher number of grains per panicle (252.2) and higher grain yield (6540.7 kg/ha) compared to other farmers practicing flood irrigation where the number of productive tillers was 22.4/m, grains per panicle were 195.0 and the yield recorded was 5420.3 kg/ha. On account of water saving too SRI consumed less water (977.0 mm) compared to farmers’ practice (1332.0 mm). The water use efficiency in SRI was 6.7 kg/ha/mm which was much higher compared to flood irrigation (4.1 kg/ha/mm). These advantages were reflected in B-C ratio which was higher in SRI (2.05) compared to farmers’ practice of rice cultivated under flood irrigation (1.72). Statistically significant and consistent results at different locations over a period of three years proved the advantage of SRI method over flood irrigation in terms of yield and water saving.