Evaluation of Crop and Soil Dynamics under Various Moisture Regimes and Moisture Conservation Techniques in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Aim: The present investigation was conducted to validate the various moisture regimes in transplanted rice and to study the effect of different moisture conservation techniques on performance of rice and soil after harvest of crop.

Study Design: Experiment was laid out in split plot design (SPD).

Place and duration of Study: The present investigation was conducted during the kharif season of 2018 and 2019 at the Crop Research Centre of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut (U.P.), India.

Methodology: The main factor consists of the moisture regimes viz. irrigation as CF (I1), at FC (I2) and at 25%DASM (I3), the sub factors consist of six moisture conservation techniques viz. control, application of wheat residues @ 5t/ha, Pusa hydrogel @7.5 kg/ha, seed treatment with PF-6, PF-2 and IRRI-1 @ 4g/kg seed. Observation on plant growth attributes viz., plant height and leaf area index were recorded at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest stage of the crop, while chlorophyll content was recorded at 30 and 60 DAT. The harvest index was calculated on the net plot area basis. Observation on soil dynamics viz., available NPK and OC were recorded both before and after harvesting of crop.

Results: Among different moisture regimes, the highest plant height, LAI and chlorophyll content was found under CF (I1) followed by FC (I2) during both the years. Among MCTs, the highest values of growth attributes and harvest index of rice were found with application of wheat residue @ 5 t/ha followed by Pusa hydrogel @ 7.5 kg/ha during both the years. Maximum value of harvest index was recorded under CF during first year, while it was highest under FC during 2019. Slight improvement in available nutrients were observed at 25% DASM treatment of moisture regimes and wheat residues @ 5 t/ha treatment of moisture conservation techniques over their other counterparts during both the years of experimentation.

Conclusion: On the basis of study, it may be concluded that irrigation should be scheduled at FC (2-3 days after disappearance of water on surface) in transplanted rice and application of wheat residues @ 5 t/ha in rice is an appropriate moisture conservation technique for improving the physiological growth and productivity, besides enhancing the soil fertility.