Rice crop is sensitive to water stress causing reduction in quality and quantity of yield. Therefore management of irrigation is of uttermost importance and must be practiced from the nursery stage of rice.

1
Introduction
Rice crop is sensitive to water stress causing
reduction in quality and quantity of yield.
Therefore management of irrigation is of
uttermost importance and must be practiced from
the nursery stage of rice. A few amendments in
cultural practices can help in economic
management of irrigations. The cultural practices
include, ploughing by mould-board plough and
puddling twice by disc harrow improve the water
use efficiency and yield. Maximum water-use
efficiency for rice can be obtained with check
basins type of irrigation design of size 250-300
square meter area.
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Nursery Irrigation Strategies

• Seedbeds must be located away from electric light
  in a fertile field that is easy to irrigate
  drain. It is estimated that 150-200 mm of water
  is needed for nursery bed preparation and 250-400
  mm of water to raise the seedlings.
• Rice nursery should be watered daily in the
  morning and evening. Water should be gently
  sprinkled over the bed with a garden rose can.
  Nursery can also be watered by letting in water
  into the canal surrounding the nursery bed.
• Standing water to a depth of 2-3 cm should be
  maintained at least 2-3 days before uprooting the
  seedlings.

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Nursery Irrigation Strategies

• Wet Bed Nursery
• It is practiced in areas with adequate water
  supply. Nursery site should be without shade and
  with adequate irrigation and drainage.
• Soil should be thoroughly puddled and leveled.
  Drainage channels must be constructed between
  seed beds for proper removal of water. Before
  sowing, nursery is irrigated and excess water
  drained.
• Allow enough water to saturate the soil for 3-5th
  day after sowing. From 5th day onwards increase
  water depth of 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm depending on the
  height of seedling.

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Nursery Irrigation Strategies

• Dry Bed Nursery
• The site should be free from shade and with
  adequate irrigation facilities and the nursery
  should be maintained without any moisture stress.
  Beds are separated by irrigation channels 30 cm
  wide .
• Allow the water to run in channels so as to
  maintain soil moisture at saturation. Maintain
  soil moisture at optimum level for 20-30 days.
  Regulate the water supply, if necessary, to
  control the rate of seedling growth.

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Nursery Irrigation Strategies

• Modified Mat Nursery
• Sprinkle water immediately to soak the bed after
  sowing. Protect the nursery from heavy rains for
  the first 5 Days after sowing.
• On the 6th day after sowing, flood the nursery
  with sufficient water and maintain 1 cm water
  level around the mats.
• Later, water the beds until 15 days after sowing
  as and when needed. Keep the beds sufficiently
  moist. Drain the water 2 days before lifting the
  seedling-mats.

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Nursery Irrigation Strategies

• Dapog nursery
• In case of Dapog Nursery, the site should be a
  leveled and the area should be near the water
  source.
• The beds should be watered lightly with a rose
  can and pressed down lightly by hand or with a
  wooden flat board twice a day for 3 to 6 days.
  This keeps roots of seedlings in contact with
  water retained on the surface and prevents them
  from drying.
• From 7th days of sowing 1 to 2 cm water should be
  maintained in the seed beds for optimum growth of
  seedlings in a short time.

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Dry bed Rice nursery
Wet Bed Rice Nursery
Dapog nursery of Rice
Modified mat nursery in Rice