Abstract:
The low water productivity is making rice production unsustainable in Pakistan. Therefore, this study evaluated the water saving and productivity benefits of rice on furrow irrigated narrow beds (NB-65cm furrow spacing with 2 crop rows), drip irrigated wide beds (WB-130cm furrow spacing with 5 crop rows) and lfood irrigated flat basin (FB) as control. The irrigation was scheduled at above field capacity (30kPa matric potential). The calibrated Aqua Crop FAO model was used for evaluating the root zone and atmospheric water balance and water productivity based on evapotranspiration (WPET). The field results indicated, comparable yield for the NB treatment but increased (2.4%) the water productivity based on irrigation input (WPi), saved (3%) irrigation water and reduced (3%) deep drainage losses than the FB treatment. However, the WB treatment reduced (7.5%) crop yield, but increased the WPi (242%) and saved (73%) irrigation water. Thus, optimally managed furrow and drip irrigated raised beds can be helpful for the sustainable production of rice by reducing irrigation applications, eliminating the puddling and standing water under the conventional flat basin flooding method.
Keywords:
Irrigation
,
Rice
,
AquaCrop model
,
Evaporation
,
Deep drainage losses
,
raised bed