Abdulai Yakubu¹, Joseph Ofori², Christiana Amoatey¹, Davie M. Kadyampakeni³

Show more
¹ School of Graduate Studies, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
² Soil and Irrigation Research Centre (SIREC), University of Ghana, Ghana.
³ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Show less

Abstract: The most limiting factors for irrigated rice farming are water and nitrogen. Efficient water and nitrogen management has remained critical for sustainable rice production in irrigated rice farming system. Due to rapid global population growth and climate change, future rice production will depend heavily on developing strategies and practices that use water and nitrogen efficiently. The study therefore set to evaluate agronomic, water productivity and economic analysis of irrigated rice under various nitrogen and water management methods. To achieve the set objectives, field and pot experiments were carried out at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, University of Ghana, Kpong in 2015 and 2016 cropping season. The field experiment was laid in a split plot design with water management treatments as main plots and N fertilizer as subplot treatment. The pot experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with five replications. The water management treatments were; continuous submergence (SC), alternate wet and dry soil condition (AWD) and moist soil condition (MC). Nitrogen fertilizer rates were; no N fertilizer (N0), 60 kg N/ha (N1) and 90 kg N/ha (N2). Data such as yield and yield parameters of rice, water use, water productivity, costs and returns were recorded. Results obtained from both pot and field experiments revealed that rice yields were at par in AWD and SC but yields were lower in MC treatment. With N fertilizer, higher yields were observed with 90 kg N/ha. The interaction effect of submerged with 90 kg N/ha gave the highest grain yield. N fertilizer effect on water use and water productivity was ranked as N2 > N1 > N0 while water management effect on water use and water productivity was ranked in this order: SC > AWD > MC and MC > AWD > SC respectively.

Keywords: Irrigated Rice, Nitrogen, Water Management, Yield, Water Productivity

Cite this paper: Yakubu, A. , Ofori, J. , Amoatey, C. and Kadyampakeni, D. (2019) Agronomic, Water Productivity and Economic Analysis of Irrigated Rice under Different Nitrogen and Water Management Methods. Agricultural Sciences, 10, 92-109. doi: 10.4236/as.2019.101008.

References

[1]   Kumar, V., Mukesh, M., Prabhakar, P.K. and Prakash, S. (2015) Physico-Chemical and Cookingg Characteristics of Azad Basmati. International Food Research Journal, 22, 1380-1389.

[2]   Maclean, J.L., Dawe, D., Hardy, B. and Hettel, G.P. (2002) Rice Almanac. International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, 253 p.

[3]   MOFA (2009) Evaluation of the Ghana Rice Campaign. A Marketing Campaign implemented by Engineers without Borders and the Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture to Stimulate the Rice Value Chain, April 2009.

[4]   FAOSTAT (2012) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Data. Statistical Databases.
http://faostat.fao.org/default.aspx?lang=en

[5]   Tuong, T.P., Bouman, B.A.M. and Mortimer, M. (2005) More Rice, Less Water—Integrated Approaches for Increasing Water Productivity in Irrigated Rice-Based Systems in ASIA. Plant Production Science, 8, 231-241.
https://doi.org/10.1626/pps.8.231

[6]   Singh, K.B., Gajri, P.R. and Arora, V.K. (2002) Modelling the Effects of Soil and Water Management Practices on the Water Balance and Performance of Rice. Agricultural Water Management, 49, 77-95.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3774(00)00144-X

[7]   MOFA (2014) Agricultural Sector Annual Progress Report. MoFA, 1-115.

[8]   UNEP (2008) Vital Water Graphics—An Overview of the State of the World’s Fresh and Marine Waters. 2nd Edition, United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi.

[9]   Ramasamy, S.H., Berge, F.M. and Purushothaman, S. (1997) Yield Formation in Response to Drainage and Nitrogen Application. Field Crops Research, 51, 65-82.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(96)01039-8

[10]   Belder, P., Bouman, B.A.M., Cabangon, R., Guoan, L., Quilang, E.J.P., Yuanhua, L. and Tuong, T.P. (2004) Effect of Water-Saving Irrigation on Rice Yield and Water Use in Typical Lowland Conditions in Asia. Agriculture Water Management, 65, 193-210.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2003.09.002

[11]   Yang, X.G., Bouman, B.A.M., Wang, H.Q., Wang, Z.M., Zhao, J.F. and Chen, B. (2005) Performance of Temperate Aerobic Rice under Different Water Regimes in North China. Agriculture Water Management, 74, 107-122.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2004.11.008

[12]   Zhang, H., Xue, Y.G., Wang, Z.Q., Yang, J.C. and Zhang, J.H. (2009) An Alternate Wetting and Moderate Soil Drying Regime Improves Root and Shoot Growth in Rice. Crop Science, 49, 2246-2260.
https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2009.02.0099

[13]   Molden, D., Murray-Rust, H., Sakthivadivel, R. and Makin, I. (2003) A Water Productivity Framework for Understanding and Action. In: Kijne, J.W., Barker, R. and Molden, D., Eds., Water Productivity in Agriculture: Limits and Opportunities for Improvement, CAB International, Wallingford, 1-18.
https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851996691.0001

[14]   Witt, C., Buresh, R., Balasubramanian, V. and Dobermann, D.D. (2002) Improving Nutrient Management Strategies for Delivery in Irrigated Rice in Asia. Better Crops International, 16, 24-31.

[15]   Cabangon, R.J., Castillo, E.G. and Tuong, T.P. (2011) Field Crops Research Chlorophyll Meter-Based Nitrogen Management of Rice Grown under Alternate Wetting and Drying Irrigation. Article in Fuel and Energy, 121, 136-146.

[16]   Singh, S.P. and Pillai, K.G. (1994) Response to Nitrogen in Semidwarf Scented Rice Varieties. International Rice Research Newsletter, 19, 17.

[17]   Mannan, M.A., Bhuiya, M.S.U., Akhand, M.I.M. and Zaman, M.M. (2012) Growth and Yield of Basmati and Traditional Aromatic Rice as Influenced by Water Stress and Nitrogen Level. Journal of Science Foundation, 10, 52-62.

[18]   Azarpour, E., Moraditochaee, M. and Bozorgi, H.R. (2014) Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Management on Growth Analysis of Rice Cultivars. International Journal of Biosciences, 4, 35-47.

[19]   Rezaei, M., Vahed, H.S., Amiri, E., Motamed, M.K. and Azarpour, E. (2009) The Effects of Irrigation and Nitrogen Management on Yield and Water Productivity of Rice. World Applied Sciences Journal, 7, 203-210.

[20]   Mae, T. (1997) Physiological Nitrogen Efficiency in Rice: Nitrogen Utilization, Photosynthesis, and Yield Potential. Plant Soil, 196, 201-210.
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004293706242

[21]   Tuong, T.P. (2003) Rice Production in Water-Scarce Environments. In: Kijne, J.W., Barker, R. and Molden, D., Eds., Water Productivity in Agriculture: Limit and Opportunities for Improvement, 53-67.
https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851996691.0053

[22]   Khairi, M., Nozulaidi, M., Afifah, A. and Jahan, S. (2015) Effect of Various Water Regimes on Rice Production in Lowland Irrigation. Australian Journal of Crop Science, 9, 153-159.

[23]   Bouman, B.A.M. and Tuong, T.P. (2001) Field Water Management to Save Water and Increase Its Productivity in Irrigated Rice. Agricultural Water Management, 49, 11-30.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3774(00)00128-1

[24]   Marazi, A.R., Khan, G.M., Sing, K.N. and Bali, A.S. (1993) Response of Rice (Oryza sativa) to Different Nitrogen Levels & Water Regimes in Kashmir Valley. Indian Journal of Agricultural Science, 63, 726-727.

[25]   Awad (2001) Rice Production at the North of Delta Region in Egypt as Affected by Irrigation Intervals and Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Mansoura University, 26, 1151-1159.

[26]   Tabbal, D.F., Bouman, B.A.M., Bhuiyan, S.I., Sibayan, E.B. and Sattar, M.A. (2002) On-Farm Strategies for Reducing Water Input in Irrigated Rice; Case Studies in the Philippines. Agricultural Water Management, 56, 93-112.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-3774(02)00007-0

[27]   Akram, H.M., Ali, A., Sattar, A., Rehman, H.S.U. and Bibi, A. (2013) Impact of Water Deficit Stress on Various Physiological and Agronomic Traits of Three Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars. The Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 23, 1455-1423.

[28]   Odhiambo, L.O. and Murthy, V.V.N. (1996) Modelling Water Balance Components in Relation to Field Layout in Lowland Paddy Fields, Model Application. Agricultural Water Management, 30, 185-199.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-3774(95)01214-1

[29]   Wardana, I.P., Gania, A.S., Abdulrachman, P.S., Bindraban and Keulenb, H.V. (2010) Enhancing Water and Fertilizer Saving without Compromising Rice Yield through Integrated Crop Management. Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Science, 11, 65-73.
https://doi.org/10.21082/ijas.v11n2.2010.p65-73

[30]   Talpur, M.A., Ji, C., Junejo, S.A., Tagar, A.A. and Ram, B.K. (2013) Effect of Different Water Depths on Growth and Yield of Rice. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8, 4654-4659.
https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR12.1693

[31]   Dahmardeh, K., Rad, M.R.N. and Hadizadeh, M. (2015) Effects of Potassium Rates and Irrigation Regimes on Yield of Forage Sorghum in Arid Regions. International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, 6, 207-212.

[32]   Ceesay, M., Reid, W.S., Fernandes, E.C. and Uphoff, N.T. (2006) The Effects of Repeated Soil Wetting and Drying on Lowland Rice Yield with System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Methods. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 4, 5-14.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2006.9686007

[33]   Barker, R., Dawe, D. and Inocencio, A. (2003) Economics of Water Productivity in Managing Water for Agriculture. In: Kinje, J.W., Barker, R. and Molden, D., Eds., Limits and Opportunities for Improvements, CABI, Oxford, 19-36.
https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851996691.0019

[34]   Visperas, R.M., Bouman, B.A.M., Peng, S. and Castan, A.R. (2005) Yield and Water Use of Irrigated Tropical Aerobic Rice Systems. International Rice Research Institute, 74, 87-105.

[35]   Abdul-Ganiyu, S., Kyei-Baffour, N., Agyare, W. and Dogbe, W. (2015) An Evaluation of Economic Water Productivity and Water Balance of Dry Season Irrigated Rice under Different Irrigation Regimes in Northern Ghana. African Journal of Applied Research, 1.