Effect of Silicon (Si) and Surface Irrigation on Rice Crop in the Ramganga Region of Western India
Ram Kumar
College of Agriculture Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh-244102, India.
Chandrabhan Kumar
College of Agriculture Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh-244102, India.
Padam Singh
College of Forestry, Ranichauri, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali Uttarakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal-246123, India.
Ramesh Pal
College of Agriculture Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh-244102, India.
Deepak Kumar Mishra
College of Technology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut-250110, India.
P. K. Singh
Department of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, College of Technology, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (Uttarakhand) -263145, India.
Thi Thi Myint
Department of Capacity Building, Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education, Yezin Agricultural University-15013, Myanmar (Burma).
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This research conducted at the College of Agriculture Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, comprehensively examined the influence of various surface irrigation levels, represented by standing water depths plus silicon (Si), on rice crop performance. Among the seven treatments tested, ranging from 1.5 cm to 4.0 cm of standing water under surface irrigation combined with 2 ml/l silicon (Si) spray, T6 emerged as the most successful. In T6, rice plants cultivated with an average standing water depth of 4.0 cm exhibited superior growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), net return, and economic viability compared to other treatments, including the control group. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining an optimal water depth of 4.0 cm under surface irrigation, complemented by silicon (Si) spray application at 2 ml/l, for maximizing rice crop productivity, economic returns, and overall agricultural sustainability. The cost benefit-ratio (CBR) further supported the economic feasibility of this approach, highlighting its potential for enhancing both agricultural yield and economic gains for farmers in similar agro-climatic regions. The study demonstrated that maintaining a standing water depth of 4.0 cm, coupled with silicon (Si) spray at a concentration of 2 ml/l, led to superior outcomes in terms of plant growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), net return, and overall economic viability at treatment T6, and compared control treatment T7. The outcomes emphasize the importance of this particular water depth and the application of silicon (Si) in enhancing rice crop productivity.
Keywords: Surface irrigation, silicon, rice, net income, benefit-cost ratio