Author(s): D.CHAKRABORTY, S. SAHA, S. HEMBRAM, P. K. PATRA and C. BHATTACHARYYA

Abstract: An experiment was conducted for two consecutive boro seasons in the farmers’ field at Jhargram, West Midnapore, to quantify the extent of possible reduction in grain yield of seven varieties of rice grown under field capacity water regime (FC) in comparison to continuous submergence (CF). While highest grain yield (3.46tha^-1) was recorded under CF, in FC the extent of decrease in rice grain yield was 38.1% compared to that in CF. Rice genotypes exhibited differential response to water management practices. Though UPLRi -7 produced the highest grain yield (4.52 t ha^-1) under CF, under decreased water supply in FC water regime, IR -36 was still the best variety producing the highest average grain yield (3.16 t ha^-1). Compared to CF, FC water regime also resulted in shorter plant height and decreased number of tillers as well as panicles but higher straw yield of rice. The present research work pointed out that without ensuring adequate supply of irrigation water, rice cultivation during boro season may not be profitable in the Red and Laterite Zone of West Bengal. Differential varietal response to field capacity (FC) water regime vis-à-vis continuously submerged (CF) water regime also pointed out to the necessity of selection of varieties that could adopt itself to decreased supply of irrigation water.

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