Rainfed rice - IRRI books - International Rice Research Institute

RAINFED RICE A SOURCEBOOK OF BEST PRACTICES AND STRATEGIES IN EASTERN INDIA
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Rainfed rice ecosystems
Rainfed rice is grown on land that is
dependent on rainfall or harvested
rainwater. The rice ecosystems are:
Upland No water stagnation
Lowland Water stagnation
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Shallow 0-30 cm
Semi-deep 30-50 cm
Deepwater 50-100 cm
Very deep water >100 cm
Flood-prone Uncertain flooding
Cropping systems in
different rainfed situations
Upland
Except for limited periods, the land
does not hold moisture in the rooting
zone in excess of that held at field
capacity.
CROP SEQUENCE
The crop sequence can be rice-
chickpea, rice-pea, rice-mustard and
rice-barley. Rice-chickpea is more
remunerative than the other
cropping systems.
CROP MANAGEMENT
Use a drought-tolerant, deep-rooted rice variety of 80-100 days duration
with fertilisers at 40 kg nitrogen (N)/ha and 30 kg P 2 O 5 /ha. Apply ¼ dose
of nitrogen and full dose of phosphorus (P) at sowing, half of N at tillering
after weeding and ¼ at flag leaf stage. Sow rabi (post-rainy season) crops
such as pea and mustard when the residual moisture is adequate and
chickpea and barley when the residual moisture is less.
Lowland
The rooting zone in these lands can be kept saturated for a substantial part
of the rice-growing season, where necessary.
CROP SEQUENCE
SHALLOW LOWLAND
Rice-wheat, rice-lentil, rice-linseed, rice-mustard, rice-pea, rice-sunflower,
rice-mungbean and rice-chickpea are commonly practiced. Rice-wheat is
more remunerative than other cropping systems. Use a rice variety of 100-
120 days duration.
TIPS:
In shallow deep and semi-deep
lowlands, transplant at least 48-
52 seedlings of rice in 1 m 2 (i.e.,
15 cm × 15 cm plant spacing).
Use khesari varieties which are
low in biotic histidine-free amino
acid (BHAA).
SEMI-DEEP LOWLAND
Rice-lentil and rice-linseed can be
practiced in excess moisture where
tillage operations are impossible for
rabi crops. Rice-wheat, rice-mustard
and rice-mungbean can be adopted
in well-prepared soil. Use a rice
variety of 120-140 days duration.