Optimizing Growth and Yield in Aerobic Rice through IoT-based Drip Irrigation and Fertigation

D. V. S. Akshay *

Department of Agronomy, Agricultural College, Bapatla (ANGRAU), India.

R. M. Kumar

Department of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, India.

S. Prathibha Sree

Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla (ANGRAU), India.

B. Sreedevi

Department of Agronomy, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, India.

M. B. B. Prasad Babu

Department of Soil Science, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, India.

A. S. Sakhare

Department of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

Aim: A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different IoT based drip irrigation and fertigation management practices on growth and yield of aerobic rice.

Study Design: The experiment was laid out in a strip plot design with 4 main plots (Horizontal) and 3 sub-plots (Vertical) that are allocated randomly and replicated thrice.

Place and Duration of Study: kharif and rabi seasons of 2022-23 & 2023-24 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad.

Methodology: The horizontal plot treatments were Nitrogen management practices (4) i.e., Control (N1), 100 % RDN (100% inorganic) (N2), 100 % RDN (50% inorganic & 50% organic) (N3) and 125 % RDN (100 % inorganic) (N4). Vertical plots treatments were Irrigation management practices (3) which include Saturation (I1), 10 % DASM (I2) and 20 % DASM (I3). Organic nutrient sources were given as soil application and the inorganic sources were applied through fertigation. Sensor based (IoT) irrigation scheduling was done.

Results: Nitrogen application of 125% RDN with 100% inorganic consistently resulted in higher growth parameters (plant height (110.4 cm and 93.9 cm), number of tillers m-2 (392.2 and 291.8) and plant dry weight (11814.8 kg ha-1 and 9557.0 kg ha-1) during kharif & rabi respectively) followed by 100% RDN (100% inorganic) and 100% RDN (50% inorganic & 50% organic) in pooled data. Saturation irrigation resulted in taller plants with greater growth parameters (plant height (109.8 cm and 91.0 cm), number of tillers m-2 (412.3 and 283.6) and plant dry weight (10916.0 kg ha-1 and 9463.4 kg ha-1) during kharif & rabi respectively) compared to deficit irrigation treatments. Treatment of 125% RDN with 100% inorganic resulted in the higher yield attributes (no. of panicles m-2 (154.3 and 141.1), no. of filled grains panicle-1 (142.3 and 124.0), panicle weight (3.1 g and 3.3 g) during kharif & rabi respectively) and yield (4790.2 kg ha-1 and 4583.8 kg ha-1) which was statistically similar with 100% RDN (100% inorganic) and 100% RDN (50% inorganic & 50% organic). Saturation expressed higher yield attributes (no. of panicles m-2 (149.5 and 139.2), no. of filled grains panicle-1 (135.0 and 121.6), panicle weight (3.0 g and 3.2 g) during kharif & rabi respectively) and yield (4554.0 kg ha-1 and 4425.5 kg ha-1) which was on par with 10% DASM. The interaction was found to be non-significant.

Conclusion: Nitrogen application of 125% RDN and 100% RDN through fertigation were found to have statistically similar growth, yield parameters and yield. IoT based irrigation at 10% DASM was found to be on par with saturation treatment among all the growth, yield parameters and yield of aerobic rice.

Keywords: Aerobic rice, IoT, sensor, nitrogen, drip irrigation


How to Cite

Akshay, D. V. S., R. M. Kumar, S. Prathibha Sree, B. Sreedevi, M. B. B. Prasad Babu, and A. S. Sakhare. 2024. “Optimizing Growth and Yield in Aerobic Rice through IoT-Based Drip Irrigation and Fertigation”. International Journal of Plant & Soil Science 36 (7):190-200. https://doi.org/10.9734/ijpss/2024/v36i74720.