ALTERNATE WETTING AND DRYING TECHNIQUE AND ITS IMPACTS ON RICE PRODUCTION

The agriculture sector has been facing challenges due to climate change particularly increasing global water scarcity which threatens irrigated low land rice production. Alternate Wetting and drying (AWD) is a water management system where rice fields are not continuously submerged and the fields are allowed to dry intermittently during the rice-growing period. AWD technique is a necessity for modern farming of rice as it is profitable over the continuous flooding irrigation system which prevents the wastage of scarce and vital water resources, irrigation cost and protects the environment from degradation. It also protects human health from diseases like Malaria as there is an absence of continuous flooding for the mosquito to lay eggs. It helps to enhance food security by increasing the production, nutrient content, and minimizing the toxic elements in rice. However, if this technique is not done properly in the field from time to time, we can also get negative impacts. It varies according to soil condition, irrigation timing, environment, etc.