2015, Vol. 3, Issue 3, Part A

author(s)
Shiwaji Hembram, B. K. Saren

abstract
A field experiment was conducted during rabi season of 2013 to find out the effect of water regime and plant geometry on plant height, productivity and water use efficiency on rice Oryza sativa L.) The result showed that 4th March transplant rice performed batter in terms of yield, yield attributes characters and water use efficiency with different plant geometry and water regime management practices. The design of the experiment was Split-plot with three replications. Two levels of water management in main plot treatments W1 = Water was applied when soil dries up to hair line cracks and filled up to 3cm and W2 = Water was applied when thin layer of water in the plot and filled up to 3cm height. In sub plot two type of Plant geometry treatment P1 = 20 cm× 20 cm and P2 = 25 cm× 25 cm (plant to plant). With the dose of NPK was 100 kg kg/ha N, 50 kg/ha P2O5 and 50 kg/ha K2O respectively applied with basal dose N: P2O5: K2O i.e. 40:50:50. The experiment findings revealed that water regime influenced the yield and water use efficiency of the rice crop. Grain yield was found significantly higher under alternate drying and wetting treatment (8%) than that of continuous standing water. Crop geometry does not affect significantly but with spacing of 25 X 25cm (plant to plant) produced higher biological, grain and straw yield and harvest index too over 20x20cm (plant to plant) spacing. Alternate drying and wetting treatment saved 25% water than continuous water stagnation treatment. Among the different treatment combinations water regime (alternate drying and wetting) combined with planting spacing 25x25cm significantly better results in respect of grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, water use efficiency and yields of the crop than other combination of treatment.