Growth and yield assessment of direct seeded basmati rice under different irrigation schedules

A field experiment was conducted to study the growth and yield of various varieties of basmati rice under different irrigation schedules in kharif, 2015. The treatments included combinations of five irrigation schedules viz. control, irrigation/saturation at 0.3 and 0.4 bar suction, irrigation at 2 days interval through sprinkler at 125 and 150% PE with three varieties viz. Basmati-370, Pusa-1121 and Pusa-1509. Plant height, maximum number of tillers/m² and dry matter accumulation/m², leaf area index, CGR, RGR and yield attributes as well as grain yield and straw yield were recorded maximum with control. However, among the irrigation schedules applied for aerobic system, irrigation at 2 days interval through sprinkler at 150% PE recorded significantly higher but at par values for all the growth parameters, yield attributes and yield with control. Pusa-1509 was found to be the best in terms of growth parameters, yield attributes, grain and straw yields. Also, Pusa1509 recorded significantly higher values over Basmati-370 but was found close to Pusa-1121.