Comparison of aerobic rice cultivation using drip systems with conventional flooding.

In this study, yield and water productivity response of rice to various irrigation levels applied with subsurface and surface drip systems in 2019 and 2020 in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey was evaluated in comparison with conventional flooding (CF). The treatments consisted of two irrigation methods namely surface drip (DI) and subsurface drip systems (SDI), three irrigation levels designated as plant pan coefficients (I_1.00: Evaporation from Class A pan (Ep) × 1.00; I_1.25: Ep × 1.25 and I_1.50: Ep × 1.50) and CF as control. The effects of drip systems and coefficients on yield and yield components were statistically significant (P < 0.01). DI produced higher yield than SDI. CF produced significantly greater yield than both DI and SDI systems. With two drip systems, average water savings of 60.5% in I_1.00, 54.5% in I_1.25 and 49% in I_1.50 were achieved as compared to CF. However, yield reductions of 15% in I_1.50, 20% in I_1.25, 29% in I_1.00 were observed for DI; corresponding values for SDI were 20, 28 and 44%, respectively. Drip irrigation in aerobic rice production system had almost twice the water productivity based on total irrigation water applied (WP_I) or total water input (irrigation + rainfall) (WP_I+P) compared with CF. During the study years, the highest WP_I and WP_I+P values were found in DI-I_1.00 (0.81–0.73 kg/m³) and (0.85 and 0.74 kg/m³), respectively. In conclusion, DI-I_1.50 treatment is recommended for sustainable aerobic rice production since DI-I_1.50 resulted in water saving of 49% but yield decrease of 15% as compared to CF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]