Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Site Logo
ARS Home About Us Helptop nav spacerContact Us En Espanoltop nav spacer
Printable VersionPrintable Version     E-mail this pageE-mail this page
Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture
Search
  Advanced Search
 
Programs and Projects
Subjects of Investigation
Water Quality
Irrigation
Soil Quality
Precision Agriculture
Missouri Caves
STEWARDS database
Cooperative Projects
Research Briefs
Videos
 

Research Project: OPTIMIZING IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT FOR HUMID CLIMATES

Location: Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research

Title: Experimentation on cultivation of rice irrigated with a center pivot system

Authors
item Stevens, William -
item Vories, Earl
item Heiser, James -
item Rhine, Matthew -

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: August 14, 2011
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Citation: Stevens, W.E., Vories, E.D., Heiser, J.W., Rhine, M.D. 2012. Experimentation on cultivation of rice irrigated with a center pivot system. In: Lee, T. S. editor. Irrigation Systems and Practices in Challenging Environments. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech. p. 233-254.

Interpretive Summary: Rice is the staple food for one half of the world’s population and is consumed mainly by humans rather than fed to livestock. Demographers predict the Earth’s population will increase to nine billion people by 2045 and to keep pace with increased food demand rice farmers will need higher yields, increased hectares of production, and more efficient use of water resources. Center pivot sprinkler irrigation is a viable method for producing rice, particularly in fields that are not suited for traditional flood irrigation. Selecting rice cultivars and hybrids with disease resistance and making timely application of chemicals for pest control are critical for producing a successful crop. Irrigation scheduling is recommended to avoid excessive or inadequate applications of water with center pivot sprinkler irrigation and to produce optimum yields. Rice producers will benefit from this technology by having more options to available for producing a crop with worldwide demand and consumers will benefit from a more stable supply of an important food crop.

Technical Abstract: Rice is the staple food for one half of the world’s population, consumed mainly by humans rather than fed to livestock. Rice is an efficient food for supplying carbohydrates, vitamins, and nutrients in diets. Demographers predict the Earth’s population will increase to nine billion people by 2045 and to keep pace with increased food demand, rice farmers will need higher yields, increased hectares of production, and more efficient use of water resources. Irrigation practices are needed to grow rice with less water and on well-drained soils that are not currently used for traditional flooded rice culture; however, most rice cultivars do not tolerate extended periods of water stress. Irrigation scheduling based on water balance models or soil moisture sensors is recommended to avoid excessive or inadequate applications of water and produce optimum yields. Similarly, selecting rice cultivars and hybrids with disease resistance and making timely application of chemicals for pest control are critical for producing a successful crop. This report provides a summary of the available research along with some of the experiences the authors have encountered in rice production research, focusing on the use of center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems for rice production. However, the principles are relevant to other sprinkler equipment such as linear move or floppy sprinkler systems. Sprinkler irrigation for rice production can be a water-saving alternative to conventional flood irrigation, but there is not a lot of information currently available to producers interested in adopting the system.

   

 
Project Team
Vories, Earl - Earl
Sudduth, Kenneth - Ken
Sadler, Edward - John
 
Publications
   Publications
 
Related National Programs
  Climate Change, Soils, and Emissions (212)
  Water Availability and Water Management (211)
 
 
Last Modified: 05/22/2013
ARS Home | USDA.gov | Site Map | Policies and Links 
FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Nondiscrimination Statement | Information Quality | USA.gov | White House