Water Saving Rice Production Using Alternate Wetting and Drying Technique in Rice Based Cropping System in Sindh, Pakistan

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1 Science, Technology and Development 36 (1): 30-35, 2017 ISSN / DOI: /std Pakistan Council for Science and Technology Water Saving Rice Production Using Alternate Wetting and Drying Technique in Rice Based Cropping System in Sindh, Pakistan 1 Abid Majeed, 2 Muhammad Saleem, 3 Sanaullah Jalil, 4 Syed Haider Abbas and 5 Asim Hayat 1 Crop Diseases Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan 2 Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan 3 Rice Programme, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan 4 Wheat Programme, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan 5 Land Resources research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan Abstract: Water plays a vital role in the successful rice production throughout the world. In order to counter the threat of water scarcity, water saving intervention, like alternate wetting and drying (AWD), was applied for evaluation of paddy yield production. Thus, this technique was evaluated at 9 and 13 different locations during rice growing seasons of 2013 and 2014, respectively, in Sindh, Pakistan. The check plot contained the traditional (flooded) rice cultivation technique for the comparison. The yield and yield related components showed significant results over the check plot. The highest average paddy yield recorded 6.04 tonnes per hectare reported during 2013 and 6.61 tonnes per hectare during 2014 in alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technique while the lowest average paddy yield 5.34 tonnes per hectare reported during 2013 and 5.64 tonnes per hectare during 2014 in flooded rice technique. The paddy yield results demonstrated that by utilizing AWD technique, the rice production enhanced 13.20% and 17.06% during 2013 and 2014, respectively, as compared with conventional flooded rice technique. Similar results have also been observed in traits in AWD. This technique saved 39% and 44% irrigation water during 2013 and 2014, respectively, as compared to traditional/conventional rice growing technique, therefore, based on these results, it is concluded that AWD intervention can enhance rice yield production in addition to the saving of irrigation water. Key words: Rice, AWD, Yield, Irrigation, Water saving, Flooding. INTRODUCTION In Asia, water conservation was targeted to rice crop due to excessive consumption of water through traditional (flooded) rice cultivation system. It is estimated that 80% of the resources, containing fresh water, are utilized for irrigation and 50% of the irrigation water is used for rice crop (Bhuiyan, 1992; Dawe et al., 1998). Bouman (2012) reported that 160 million hectares in the whole world are cultivated under rice crop, which utilized 35-45% of the world s irrigation water. Due to the diminishing of water resources; there is an utmost need to implement such technologies by which more rice can be grown with less water. Various techniques are evaluated to save water in the rice fields, e.g. bed and furrow and direct dry seeding of rice (Soomro et al., 2015). The Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) intervention has shown favorable impacts in reducing water requirements (Miah et al., 2009). The application of irrigation water in less or more quantities can adversely affect the crop yield (Saleem Corresponding Author: Abid Majeed, Crop Diseases Research Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan abid.majeed@gmail.com 30 et al., 2011). The AWD planting system makes an efficient use of optimum moisture. It overcomes the water scarcity upto 30%, as compared to traditional permanent water ponding flooded practice without affecting crop yield (ACIAR, 2013). There is a slow adaptation of water-saving irrigation interventions. Thus, there is a dire need to initiate campaign about these water efficient irrigation technique, like AWD, and provide key information regarding different aspects of improved rice production technology among farming community in rice based cropping system of Sindh, in order to boost its production and net income without extra expenditures. These interventions can, therefore, play an important role in enhancing rice productivity, producing more rice with less water and accept the challenge of diminishing water resources in near future. The main objective of this investigative research was to assess the extent in farmer implementation of AWD water saving intervention through site specific

2 trials at different locations of district Larkana, Sindh, in order to determine and demonstrate its impact on crop growth and productivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted in different districts of Sindh, Pakistan, during 2013 and During this period, 9 and 13 locations were chosen, respectively, to evaluate the paddy yield production under AWD technique along with the check plot, which contained Rice Crop Complete Block Design (RCBD). Fertilizers were applied according to the recommended doses 120:75:60 kg per hectare). Weeds and insect pests were controlled chemically. The data of agronomic traits, like number of tillers per plant, plant height, spikelets per panicle, panicle length, 1000-grains weight and paddy yield, were collected and analyzed statistically at 05% probability level (Steel et al., 1997). The application of irrigations on various days is given in Figs Traditional Rice Planting Irrigation (Inches) Irr. (Inches) Days after Transplanting (DAT) Fig. 1: Irrigation regimes in flooding. AWD-2013 Irrigation (Inches) Days after Transplanting (DAT) Irr. (Inches) Fig. 2: Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technique in rice during

3 Irrigation (Inches) AWD Days after Transplanting (DAT) Irr. (Inches) Fig. 3: Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technique in rice during RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Number of tillers per plant: The results of agronomic traits revealed significant differences by utilizing alternate wetting and drying technique over traditional flooded method of rice sowing. The data showed that maximum number of tillers per plant and were reported during the year 2013 and 2014, respectively, which were significantly higher than conventional practice (11.27 and number of tillers per plant during 2013 and 2014 respectively) (Tables 1-2). The pooled analysis depicted that number of tillers enhanced 10.6% during the year 2013 and 13.7% during the year 2014 by implementing AWD intervention over the traditional flooded sowing of rice (Table 3). Table 1: Effect of water saving techniques on growth and paddy yield of rice during 2013 at different locations of district Larkana, Sindh. Sites Treatment Plant height (cm) Tillers/plant Spikelets/ panicle Panicle length (cm) Grain wt. (1000) g Paddy yield (t/ha) Mud Bahoo Control (T 0 ) a NS a a a NS AWD (T 1 ) b b b b Khadker Control (T 0 ) NS 9.33 NS NS NS b NS AWD (T 1 ) a Machi-A Control (T 0 ) a 9.90 b b NS b b AWD (T 1 ) b a a a a Machi-B Control (T 0 ) a b NS NS NS NS AWD (T 1 ) b a Naudero Control (T 0 ) NS 9.50 NS NS a NS b AWD (T 1 ) b a Arija Control (T 0 ) a 9.50 NS b NS b NS AWD (T 1 ) b a a Pull-A Control (T 0 ) NS NS b a b b AWD (T 1 ) a b a a Pull-B Control (T 0 ) NS NS b a NS NS AWD (T 1 ) a b Bughti Farm Control (T 0 ) NS NS NS NS NS NS AWD (T 1 )

4 Table 2: Effect of water saving techniques on growth and paddy yield of rice during 2014 at different locations of district Larkana, Sindh. Sites Treatment Plant height (cm) Tillers/plant Spikelets/ panicle Panicle length (cm) Grain wt. (1000) g Paddy yield (t/ha) Panhwar Village Control (T 0 ) NS 9.50 b b NS b b AWD (T 1 ) a a a a Chana Pull Control (T 0 ) a NS NS NS b NS AWD (T 1 ) b a Machi Control (T 0 ) b a b a NS AWD (T 1 ) a b a b Mud Bahoo Control (T 0 ) NS NS NS NS b NS AWD (T 1 ) a Royal Bughti Village Control (T 0 ) NS NS b NS NS b AWD (T 1 ) a a Govt Seed Farm Control (T 0 ) a a b NS NS b AWD (T 1 ) b 9.50 b a a Abbasi Farm Control (T 0 ) NS 9.50 b NS b NS NS AWD (T 1 ) a a Shahabad Village Control (T 0 ) NS b NS b b b AWD (T 1 ) a a a a Dudai Village Control (T 0 ) NS 9.50 b NS NS NS NS AWD (T 1 ) a Luhar Village Control (T 0 ) b b b NS NS b AWD (T 1 ) a a a a Sangi Farm Control (T 0 ) NS NS NS NS NS NS AWD (T 1 ) QARRI Farm Control (T 0 ) a NS b NS NS NS AWD (T 1 ) b a Pulpoto Village Control (T 0 ) b b NS NS NS b AWD (T 1 ) a a a Table 3: Mean paddy yield and yield contributing attributes attained with different water-saving production systems. Plant height (cm) Tillers plant -1 Spikelets Panicle length 1000-grain Paddy yield % increase Treatment panicle -1 (cm) weight (g) (t ha -1 ) in yield Control b a b b a a a a a b b b AWD a a a a a a a a a a a a Plant height: The plant height at various locations was found non-significant and a higher value was recorded in conventional practice than that of AWD technique during both years (2013 and 2014) (Tables 1-2). The plant height was found 5.18% lower during the year 2013 and 1.14% less on an average during the year 2014 (Table 3). The excessive irrigation water in conventional practice of rice sowing enhanced the vegetative growth of rice plant, which caused crop lodging at the time of maturity, therefore, less plant height helped in minimizing crop lodging. Spikelets per panicle: Number of spikelets per panicle showed significant differences in the results on all the sites, except one location in AWD plots during the years 2013 and Table 3 showed that an average number of spikelets per plant during the year 2013 and were recorded during the year 2014, which were higher than that of and spikelets per plant in control plots during the years 2013 and 2014, respectively. It revealed that 33 AWD technique had significant impact on spikelets per plant on conventional practice (control). Panicle length: The AWD planting system exhibited significant effect over the traditional flooded rice sowing practice (control) for panicle length on all locations of Larkana, during the years 2013 and 2014 (Tables 1-2). The panicle length of all locations was at par in AWD and control during the year 2013, while AWD expressed significant result for panicle length 31.9 cm in AWD over 25.2 cm in control during the year 2014, on an average basis (Table 3) grain weight: 1000-grain weight was significantly enhanced by utilization of water-saving intervention (AWD) than that of conventional practice used by the farmers. On the mean basis of all locations of the years 2013 and 2014, the 1000-grain weight showed 1% and 4% increase, respectively, in AWD technique over the control (Table 3). Miah (2010) also reported that alternate wetting and drying

5 technology had positive impact for 1000-grain weight in paddy crop. Paddy yield: The highest result for paddy yield reported tonnes per hectare during 2013 and tonnes per hectare during 2014 in AWD. On the other hand, tonnes per hectare and tonnes per hectare, the highest paddy yield was recorded in conventional practice (control) during 2013 and 2014, respectively. This was significantly lower than that of AWD (Tables 1-2). The mean analysis expressed that paddy yield increased 13.20% during 2013 and 17.06% during 2014, over the conventional practice of rice sowing (Table 3). These results showed that the AWD technology not only saved water but also enhanced the paddy yield. Ramasamy et al. (1997), Won et al. (2005) and Yang et al. (2007) also reported similar findings. Zhang et al. (2008) and Yang et al. (2004) narrated in their study that the AWD helped rice crop in enhancing photosynthetic rate, root oxidation activity and harvest index, which resulted in high paddy yield alongwith the grain quality. Zhi (1996) described that AWD enhanced the roots growth through promoting space for assimilated translocation under appropriate moisture condition and also improved paddy yield than conventional practice. Water saving: By implementing AWD technique, irrigation water was saved 39% during 2013 and 44% during 2104, as compared with traditional flooded practice (Figs. 1-3). A number of other studies reported that AWD technique saved the irrigation water from 20% to 70%, without any significant decline in the yield (Bouman and Tuong, 2001; Singh et al., 1996; Uphoff, 2001 and Guerra et al., 1998). Similarly, the water-saving technique AWD showed high potential in improvement of soil environment and rice yield production along with water saving (ACIAR, 2013; Zhi, 1996 and Dung et al., 2009). Hosen (2012) reported that this technique helped the farmers to overcome their problems. A significant and positive correlation was observed between AWD technique, yield and yield related components like grains per panicle, number of productive tillers per plant and 1000 grains weight. AWD helped in terms of crop lodging, insect pests management, wastage of water and salinity, caused by excessive use of water in flooded irrigation practice. Cabangon et al. (2014) observed similar findings in this regard. The AWD planting system proved an efficient and effective technique for water saving in rice crop. CONCLUSION Paddy yield was significantly enhanced by implanting the AWD technique as compared to conventional practice of rice sowing. The AWD technology increased paddy yield by 13% in 2013 and 17% in Positive and linear correlations were found between AWD and yield components viz. productive tillers and 1000 grain weight. The AWD Sci. Technol. Dev., 36 (1): 30-35, planting system showed a remarkable potential for saving water, and increasing rice yield. It was evident from the results of these field trials that using AWD technique, farmers can increase rice yield while reducing irrigation water under agro-ecological condition of Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan. REFERENCES ACIAR (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.), Progress report: rice-based systems research program: food security in Lao PDR, Cambodia and Bangladesh, pp Bhuiyan, S.I., Water management in relation to crop production: case study on rice. Outlook Agric., 21(4): Bouman, B.A.M. and T.P. Tuong, Field water management to save water and increase its productivity in irrigated lowland rice. Agric. Water Manage., 49: Bouman, B., Does rice really use too much water? Bas Bouman s blog - Global Rice Science Partnership. International Rice Research Institute. Cabangon, R., R. Lampayan, B. Bouman and T.P. 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