Effect of planting and irrigation management strategies on growth, yield and water productivity of indica rice in Iran

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of different planting and irrigation management strategies on growth, yield and water productivity in rice. The experiment was arranged as a split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments included the main plot assigned to three planting methods (transplanting at puddled bed [TPB], transplanting at non-puddled bed [TNPB], and direct-seeded rice [DSR]) and the sub-plot assigned to three irrigation systems (continuous flooding irrigation (CFI), alternate wetting and drying [AWD], and drip irrigation [DI]). The results showed that plants at TPB produced highest yield (3,962.7 kg·ha–1), whereas yield was reduced by 20% and 27.2% at TNPB and DSR, respectively. The DSR practice resulted in the highest total water input (TWI) (8,682.4 m3·ha–1), whereas TPB treatment allowed a 17.3% depletion of TWI and a 39.3% enhancment of total water productivity compared with DSR. The plants grown under CFI and AWD treatments indicated 8.9% and 7.6% higher yield compared with DI-treated plants, whereas DI system showed higher water-saving capacity compared with AWD and CFI. Our results highlight that combined application of AWD system and TPB method has a great potential to reduce TWI without negatively affecting yield.