Effects of Bed and Furrow
Irrigation System on the Growth,
Production and Water use
Efficiency of Lowland Rice
Machungo C, Wanjogu R.K, Owilla, B , Njoka, J.J
Anzwa, M.
NIB RESEARCH WORKSHOP 13th & 14th June
INTRODUCTION
Water
shortage in has necessitated the
development of efficient water use methods
for growing major crops.
In traditional agronomic and water use
practices (Irrigated puddled paddy fields), the
farmers apply much more water for paddy
crop than the actual requirements.

INTRODUCTION
Growing
paddy on beds and furrows is an
alternate, which utilizes much less water.
In
Pakistan water efficiency of rice under bed
and furrow systems increased to 0.39 kg/m3
of water compared to 0.20 kg/m3commonly
obtained under the traditional flood irrigation
method
Rice seedlings transplanted on beds and furrows
Rice paddy growing on beds and furrows
OBJECTIVE
Determine
the effects of bed and furrow
irrigation system on growth, production and
water use efficiency of lowland rice.
Specific Objectives
Determine
the effect of bed and furrow
irrigation system on growth and yield of
lowland rice
Determine
the WUE of the bed and furrow
irrigation system for lowland rice
Optimize
the design of bed and furrow
method of irrigation to maximize, water saving
and crop yield
Treatments
Description (Bed & Furrow
Number of rows
Configuration)
T1
Bed 75cm and furrow 75 cm with
Four rows on bed
depth of 20 cm
T2
Bed 75 cm and furrow of 38 cm with
Four rows on bed
depth of 20 cm
T3
T4
Bed 75cm and furrow 38 cm with
Two rows on bed
depth of 20 cm
Two rows on
middle furrows
Rice: Flooded Basin: Traditional transplanting on puddled
soil (Control)
8
METHODOLOGY
Varieties

NERICA 4, Bas 370 and IR 2793
Factorial
Split
Experiment
plot RCBD Design
Main plot

Variety – Sub plot

Spacing – Sub- sub plot Factor
Crop Management- As per recommended practice
9
Data Collection
Growth
Plant height
Tiller counts
Yield
28, 42, 56 , 70 & 84DAS
parameters
Tiller counts at harvest – PT, NPT & TT
Panicle data- FG, SG, TG & Sterility
1000 grain weight
Yield Kg/Ha
Data Collection
Weeds
Total, Grass, Broadleaf, Sedges
 Volume
of water delivered to each
plot/irrigation

Rate of infiltration
 Rainfall
 Depth
data
of water
RESULTS
Bed (75)furrow(75)
Bed (75)furrow(38)
Bed (75)furrow(38)- 2 rows
Basin
Plant Height (cm)
140
120
NERICA 4
100
80
60
40
20
0
28
42
56
Days After Sowing
70
84
Number of tillers/plant
Bed (75)furrow(75)
Bed (75)furrow(38)
Bed (75)furrow(38)- 2 rows
Basin
40
35
30
NERICA 4
25
20
15
10
5
0
28
42
56
Days After Sowing
70
84
Bed (75)furrow(75)
Bed (75)furrow(38)- 2 rows
Bed (75)furrow(38)
Basin
Plant Height (cm)
140
120
BASMATI 370
100
80
60
40
20
0
28
42
56
70
Days After Sowing
84
Bed (75)furrow(75)
Bed (75)furrow(38)- 2 rows
Bed (75)furrow(38)
Basin
Number of tillers/Plant
50
BASMATI 370
40
30
20
10
0
28
42
56
70
Days After Sowing
84
Bed (75)furrow(75)
Bed (75)furrow(38)
Bed (75)furrow(38)- 2 rows
Basin
Plant Height (cm)
70
60
IR 2793
50
40
30
20
10
0
28
42
56
70
Days After Sowing
84
Number of tillers/plant
Bed (75)furrow(75)
Bed (75)furrow(38)
Bed (75)furrow(38)- 2 rows
Basin
60
50
IR 2793
40
30
20
10
0
28
42
56
Days After Sowing
70
84
300
Total
Grass
Broadleaf
Sedges
No. of weeds/M2
250
NERICA 4
200
150
100
50
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
300
Total
Grass
Broadleaf
Sedges
250
Number of weeds/M2
BASMATI 370
200
150
100
50
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
300
Total
Grass
Broadleaf
Number of weeds/M2
250
Sedges
IR 2793
200
150
100
50
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
80
NERICA 4
% Crop Water Use Efficiency
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
% Crop Water Use Efficiency
80
BASMAI 370
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Bed (75)furrow(75) Bed (75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
70
IR 2793
60
% CWUE
50
40
30
20
10
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
20
PT
NPT
NERICA 4
Number of tillers
16
12
8
4
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
40
PT
35
NPT
Basmati 370
Number of tillers
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)2 rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
35
PT
Number of Tillers
30
NPT
IR 2793
25
20
15
10
5
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
16
14
NERICA 4
12
% Sterility
10
8
6
4
2
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation method
Basin
20
BASMATI 370
% Sterility
16
12
8
4
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
IR 2793
16
14
% Sterillty
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
3500
3000
NERICA 4
Yield Kg/Ha
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
1750
1700
BASMATI 370
1650
Yield Kg/Ha
1600
1550
1500
1450
1400
1350
1300
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
Bed
(75)furrow(38) (75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
2500
IR 2793
Yield Kg/Ha
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Bed
(75)furrow(75)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)
Bed
(75)furrow(38)- 2
rows
Irrigation Method
Basin
CONCLUSION
The
irrigation method did not have a
significant effect on growth measured height
and number of tillers over time.
Weed
density was significantly higher in the
bed and furrow systems compared to the
basin
Crop water use efficiency higher in the bed
furrow system vs. the basin.
CONCLUSION
 The
yields did not differ significantly
between the f bed furrow system and the
basin for the lowland varieties (Basmati 370
& IR2793.
The
bed furrow systems evaluated did not
show significant differences for most
parameters evaluated.
CONCLUSION
To
overcome the scarcity of irrigation water
and generate higher crop yield, the bed and
furrow method could be recommended for
paddy cultivation
CONCLUSION
However, more field investigations are required
To
refine to the configurations of bed and
furrows and rice planting system
 To
quantify amount of water saved
Cost benefit analysis – Establish benefits of
Bed and furrow system vs Basin.

THANKYOU