Abstract

Drip irrigation studies were conducted in aerobic rice during dry season, 2012 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. Three levels of lateral distances (0.6 m, 0.8 m or 1.0 m) with two discharge rates (0.6 or 1.0 lph emitters) were experimented. Among two-discharge rates, 1.0 lph drippers out performed 0.6 lph drippers in terms of water productivity and grain yield. Among the lateral distances, 0.8 m lateral distance was adjudged as optimum spacing for its better performance in growth, physiological and yield attributes than rest of the lateral distances. Interactively, laterals spaced at 0.8 m with 1.0 lph drippers exhibited better performance by way of growth parameters (plant height, tiller density, root biomass and total dry matter accumulation), physiological attributes (Yw, Chlorophyll content, catalase activity and malondialdehyde content), yield and its components (productive tillers, spikelet numbers, filled grain percentage and harvest Index) along with water productivity. Therefore, it is suggested that the lateral spacing of 0.8 m with 1.0 lph drippers with the plants spaced at 20x10 cm is the best treatment for aerobic rice cultivation in enhancing the values for grain yield and water productivity in the areas of limited water availability.

Keywords: Aerobic rice, Discharge rates, Lateral distance and Drip irrigation