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Irrigation Management for Optimizing Rice Yield and Nitrate Leaching

A A Sarkar
CSO

Dr. M. H. Ali
SSO
BINA

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Field and lysimeter experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), for optimizing rice yield and nitrate leaching. The different irrigation practices were: continuous ponding by 3-5 cm, continuous saturation, alternate wetting (5 cm) and drying for 3, 5, and 7 days after disappearance of the ponded water, thereby referred to as T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, and T₅, respectively. The results revealed that yield obtained under different irrigation practices did not differ significantly, but irrigation water required in alternate wetting and drying methods (T₃ to T₅) were 44 to 54% less than that of continuous ponding and 23 to 36% less than that of saturation method (T₂). Nitrate leaching during crop growing period in lysimeter ranged from 1.5 to 2.0 kg/ha. The cumulative NO₃-N concentration data showed that the total NO₃-N loss were higher in continuous ponding and continuous saturation under field condition. Thus, it revealed that the alternate wetting and drying of 5 to 7 days seemed to be the best irrigation strategy for rice irrigation considering yield, water saving and nitrate management.

Keywords: Nitrate leaching, Rice, Irrigation management

Location: Mymensingh

Start Date: 01-01-2000

End Date: 31-05-2007

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

To optimize rice yield, water use and groundwater pollution by NO₃^–N under field and lysimeter conditions.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted in two different environments; one with free hydrologic condition following traditional cultivation practices in the field and another in a controlled condition in brick made lysimeter. However, the treatments and management practices were same for both the conditions. There are ten lysimeter tanks (drainage type) having a surface area of 2m² (2m x 1m) with soil depth of 1.5 m for each tank. The investigation was carried out in 5 tanks, one treatment in each tank without replication. Each tank has separate arrangements for irrigation, drainage and soil water measurements, etc. described elsewhere (Hassan et al., 1995).Water management practices used for the study were: T₁ = Continuous ponding (3-5 cm); T₂ = Continuous saturation; T₃ = Alternate flooding (5 cm) and drying for 3-days after disappearance of the ponded water; T₄ = Alternate flooding (5 cm) and drying for 5-days after disappearance of the ponded water and T₅ = Alternate flooding (5 cm) and drying for 7 days after disappearance of the ponded water. In the field, the experiment was set up in randomized completely block design (RCBD) with four replications. The unit plot size was 5 m x 4 m. Line to line and plant to plant distances within line were maintained as 20 cm and 15 cm, respectively. The experiment was fertilized with the recommended doses of Urea @215 kg/ha, TSP@180 kg/ha and MP@100 kg/ha. A high yielding rice variety BINAdhan-6 was used in the experiment. Seedling of 35 to 40 days old were transplanted variably on second or third week of January of the experimental years and the crop was harvested on maturity at 130 to 140 days in May of the preceding years. As suggested practice, urea was applied as top dressing in equal three installments at 7, 39, and 64 days after transplanting. Weeding, spraying of insecticides, etc were done as per need of the crop. The land surrounding the experimental plots was cropped every year with the same seedlings as a buffer crop and to minimize advection. The same layout was used every year for the experiment. In between harvest and beginning of the next experiment, the soil of the plots was transplanted with rice crop as mass cultivation in monsoon. Soil samples from each treatment plot for both the field and lysimeter were also collected up to 90 cm depth at land preparation and at harvest to determine the NO₃-N content in profile.

Source of Information: A Research Report, BINA/Ag.Engg.Division-8, Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, p.25, (2010)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Different irrigation strategies showed insignificant effect on the yield of rice. The alternate wetting and drying up to 5 to 7 days showed the lowest nitrate leaching presenting the lowest risk of groundwater contamination. Considering the nitrate loss, yield, water saving and irrigation water productivity, the alternate wetting and drying of 5 to 7 days seemed to be the best irrigation strategy for rice irrigation.

Knowledge Management: Report/Proceedings