Effect of methods of planting and moisture regimes on crop yield and water consumption in Kharif paddy

摘要

In the river command areas establishment of paddy crop by transplanting optimum-aged seedlings is a tedious and labour demanding operation. With the release of the canal water, transplanting work gets hampered due to peak labour and water demands, thus resulting in planting of over or under-aged seedlings which is one of the reasons for the low productivity. Alternative crop stand establishment techniques which require less labour and easy adoption by the farmers are available to enable timely completion of planting (Shekinath Esther and Kandaswamy, 1998). Comparing such methods of planting under the canal irrigated areas for their influence on crop yield and water requirement can be useful to the farmers. With this objective, a field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, UAS (B), Kathalagere, Davanagere district during kharif 1999-2000 on red clay loam soil to evaluate 3 methods of planting and 2 moisture regimes in paddy cv. IR-64. The 3 planting methods were Drum seeding,i.e. sowing pre-germinated seeds using drum seeder, Normal transplanting and Seedling broadcasting, i.e. 25 days old paddy seedlings, were uprooted from nursery with soil adhering to the roots without any washing, and dropped from a height in the standing position on the puddled soil after draining out the water. The 2 moisture regimes were irrigated as per UAS package, i.e., maintaining 2.5 cm submergence up to 20 days from the date of transplanting and later on 5.0 cm submergence till 15 days before harvest and irrigating the soil to maintain between field capacity and saturation (FC-Sat.). The 6 treatment combinations were laid out in Randomised Complete Block Design and replicated for 5 times. The plot size was 5.0 X 6.4 m. The soil in the experimental site had 6.9 pH and total water holding capacity was 18 per cent (weight basis). Plastic spiles of diameter 10.4 cm were used for measuring the irrigation water. The total rainfall occurred during the crop growth period was considered while giving irrigation. To counter lateral seepage of percolated water, buffer channels were established around the plots.