Effect of Silicon (Si) and Surface Irrigation on Rice Crop in the Ramganga Region of Western India

Abstract

This research conducted at the College of Agriculture Sciences and Engineering, IFTM University in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, comprehensively examined the influence of various surface irrigation levels, represented by standing water depths plus silicon (Si), on rice crop performance. Among the seven treatments tested, ranging from 1.5 cm to 4.0 cm of standing water under surface irrigation combined with 2 ml/l silicon (Si) spray, T6 emerged as the most successful. In T6, rice plants cultivated with an average standing water depth of 4.0 cm exhibited superior growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), net return, and economic viability compared to other treatments, including the control group. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining an optimal water depth of 4.0 cm under surface irrigation, complemented by silicon (Si) spray application at 2 ml/l, for maximizing rice crop productivity, economic returns, and overall agricultural sustainability. The cost benefit-ratio (CBR) further supported the economic feasibility of this approach, highlighting its potential for enhancing both agricultural yield and economic gains for farmers in similar agro-climatic regions. The study demonstrated that maintaining a standing water depth of 4.0 cm, coupled with silicon (Si) spray at a concentration of 2 ml/l, led to superior outcomes in terms of plant growth, yield, water use efficiency (WUE), net return, and overall economic viability at treatment T6, and compared control treatment T7. The outcomes emphasize the importance of this particular water depth and the application of silicon (Si) in enhancing rice crop productivity.