Vol. 14 No. 2
Effect of irrigation frequency and planting method on growth, fibre yield and water use by ramie (Boemehria nivea L. Gaud.) in the Indo-Gangetic plains of West Bengal
Author(s): S. MITRA, M. KUMAR, M. SAHA, D. BARMAN, S. SARKAR AND S. P. MAZUMDAR
Abstract: The field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of ICAR-CRIJAF (22º452 N, 88º262 E and 9 m above MSL) located at Barrack pore, West Bengal during the year 2006 to 2008. The experiment comprised of three irrigation treatments (irrigation water/cumulative pan evaporation ratio of 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9) in the main plots and two planting methods (ridge and furrow, and flat-bed) in sub-plots to determine the effects of irrigation frequency and planting methods on fibre yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of ramie. The ramie crop receiving irrigation based on IW/ CPE ratio of 0.6 recorded significantly higher leaf area index (LAI), fibre yield and WUE compared to other irrigation frequencies in all the cuttings except during the monsoon period (coinciding with 3rd and 4th cuttings). Ridge and furrow planting recorded significantly higher LAI (10.2 – 22.2%), fibre yield (7.9 - 17.2%), and WUE (25.0 – 41.0%) of ramie over flat-bed planting throughout the crop growth period. Maximum crop coefficient (kc) value of ramie was recorded with 0.9 IW/CPE ratio both during pre-monsoon (0.63 - 0.94) and post-monsoon (0.88 - 0.96) periods. Similarly, flat-bed planting method recorded 14.5 to 24.5% and 17% higher kc value of ramie over ridge and furrow planting during pre-monsoon (0.57 – 0.95) and post-monsoon (0.69 – 0.88) periods, respectively.
Download Full Article: Click Here