Effect of Two Periods of Mid-Season Drainage on Growth Parameters of Two Rice Varieties

Intermittent irrigation is a method to increase water productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.). In this study, the effects of this type of irrigation combined with two periods of midseason drainage on growth parameters of two rice cultivars were investigated in subsurface drained paddy fields. The experiment was laid out as split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2014 growing season. The main factor consisted of drainage systems in the study field including three conventional subsurface drainage systems with drain depths and spacing of, respectively, 0.9 m and 30 m (D_0.9L₃₀), 0.65 m and 30 m (D_0.65L₃₀), and 0.65 m and 15 m (D_0.65L₁₅). In addition, a bi-level subsurface drainage system with drain spacing of 15 m and drain depths of 0.65 and 0.9 m as alternate depths (bilevel), and a treatment without subsurface drainage (control) were included in the study. Sub-factors including rice cultivars Hashemi and Daylamani Tarom were planted in the study area. Midseason drainage was conducted in two periods of 10- day (25 to 34 days after transplanting) and 5-day (43 to 47 days after transplanting). During the growing season, sampling was done to determine leaf area index (LAI), total shoot dry weight (TDW), crop growth rate (CGR), relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area ratio (LAR) and net assimilation rate (NAR). Conducting such water management through subsurface drainage systems increased most of the studied parameters of Hashemi cultivar so that significant differences were found between CGR, NAR, and RGR of D_0.9L₃₀ and the control treatment. Maximum dry weights of Hashemei and Daylamani cultivars were 858.8 and 1006.6 g m^-2 related to D_0.65L₁₅ treatment and maximum leaf area indexes of these cultivars were 4.87 and 5.43 related to bilevel and control treatments, respectively. However, there were not significant differences among different treatments for each cultivar. Based on the results, two periods of midseason drainage through subsurface drainage would improve rice growth characteristics if proper drainage time is selected.