Ingeniería de Sistemas de Riego y Drenaje

Comparison of Yield and Water Productivity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Hybrids in Response to Transplanting Dates and Crop Maturity Durations in Irrigated Environment

Abstract

Akhter M, Ali M, Haider Z, Mahmood A and Saleem U

Water scarcity, due to abruptly accruing phenomenon of climate change, is perilously disturbing agricultural crops such as rice as well as its quality in many countries of the world. It is an acute threat to livelihood of residents of those countries where water resources are already a limiting factor to agriculture. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to ascertain and compare yield and water productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) hybrids in response to transplanting dates and cultivar duration in irrigated sub-tropical regions of Punjab, Pakistan. The experiment was conducted in experimental fields of Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku. It was determined that the water productivity was increased with the shifting of transplanting date towards shorter water demand period and variety to shorter life duration. Water stress is more damaging to those varieties or hybrids that have longer life cycle as compared to early maturing hybrids and varieties. Conclusively, same method may be used to test other rice varieties and hybrids to ascertain their minimum water requirements for maximum yield returns.