Effects of irrigation regimes and brown manuring on physiological parameters and yield of direct seeded rice (TRY 3) under sodic soil condition

Direct seeded rice (DSR) production has been recognised as a more efficient way for conserving both labour and water. However, in regards to irrigation and brown manuring (BM), DSR has gotten relatively little attention. Hence, a field study was conducted to findout the effect of irrigation and brown manuring on physiological characters and yield of DSR (TRY 3) under sodic soil condition. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design and each replicated thrice. The main plots consist of irrigation after 10 cm (M1) and 15 cm (M2) depletion of field water tube and irrigation after the disappearance of ponded water (M3). The sub plots consist of sesbania BM at 15 (S1), 20 (S2) and 25 kg ha-1 (S3), PE Pretilachlor at 0.45 kg ha-1 fb PoE Bispyribac sodium at 25 g ha-1 + hand weeding (HW) on 45 DAS (S4), HW (S5) and weedy check (S6). Results revealed that higher SPAD value was recorded under M3 which was on par with M1. Among sub plots maximum SPAD value was recorded with S5 followed by S4 and S2. Treatment M2 recorded maximum proline content. There is no significant difference found in relative water content (RWC). However, higher RWC content was observed in M3. At the same time, higher grain and straw yield were recorded under M3 with S5, followed by M1 with S5. However, due to a large amount of water required and the higher labour costs associated with hand weeding, M1 with S2 was the best choice for increasing DSR productivity.