The threshold of 15-20 cm water depth (below the surface) before irrigation is called ‘Safe AWD” as this will not cause any yield decline. Below this depth, possible yield penalty occurs. In Safe AWD, water savings are in the order of 15-30%. After creating confidence that Safe AWD does not reduce yield, farmers may experiment by lowering the threshold level for irrigation to 20, 25, 30 cm depth, or even deeper. Lowering the threshold level for irrigation will increase the water savings, but some yield penalty may occur. Such a yield penalty may be acceptable when the price of water is high or when water is very scarce.
Here’s how safe AWD can be implemented in your ricefields.
Click on each of the stages. As the irrigate button appears, click on it to irrigate the field.
COPY STEPS HERE
For actual implementation of safe AWD, view the video below. |