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Enhancing water productivity using alternative rice growing practices: a case study from Southern India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 September 2018

J. Deelstra ,
U. S. Nagothu ,
K. R. Kakumanu ,
Y. R. Kaluvai  and
S. R. Kallam
J. Deelstra*
Affiliation:
NIBIO – Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
U. S. Nagothu
Affiliation:
NIBIO – Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, P.O. Box 115, NO-1431 Ås, Norway
K. R. Kakumanu
Affiliation:
Centre for Natural Resource Management (CNRM), National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayathi Raj, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500 030, Telangana, India
Y. R. Kaluvai
Affiliation:
WALAMTARI, Hyderabad, India
S. R. Kallam
Affiliation:
ITC PSPD LIMITED, 106 Sardar Patel Road, Secunderabad, Telangana, India
*
Author for correspondence: J. Deelstra, E-mail: johannes.deelstra@nibio.no
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Abstract

Saving water in irrigated agriculture is a high priority in areas with scarce water resources and impacted by climate change. This paper presents results of measurements on water productivity (WP) under alternative rice growing practices such as alternating wetting and drying, direct seeded rice, modified systems of rice intensification and conventional paddy rice (NI) in two selected districts (Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and Nalgonda in Telangana, India). Under alternative practices, the yields varied from 5.72 to 6.11 t/ha compared with 4.71 t/ha under paddy rice. The average water application varied from 991 to 1494 mm under alternative practices while average application in conventional paddy rice was 2242 mm. Higher yield and lower water application led to an increase in WP varying from 0.45 to 0.59 kg/m3 under alternative practices compared with 0.22 kg/m3 under conventional paddy rice. The measurements showed that less water can be used to produce more crop under alternative rice growing practices. The results are important for water-scarce areas, providing useful information to policy makers, farmers, agricultural departments and water management boards in devising future climate-smart adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Keywords

Alternative rice growing practicesricewater productivity
Type
Crops and Soils Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 156 , Themed Issue 5: Themed Issue: Assessment and monitoring of crop water use and productivity under present and future climate , July 2018 , pp. 673 - 679
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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