Finding the ‘Goldilocks’ Zone or Conditions in Rice Irrigation

Dec 15, 2023

By Blair Fannin

Alternate wetting and drying, a rice irrigation practice dating back to the 1980s, is part of a broader Texas A&M AgriLife study investigating its potential to reduce water and fertilizer use.

The practice is a water management system where rice fields are allowed to dry intermittently during growth stages instead of remaining continuously flooded.

The research has sparked broader interest, specifically from Texas rice producers who are participating in field trial studies and those following the main work with controlled plots at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Beaumont and Eagle Lake research station.

Funding for the four-year research project is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

‘Finding the goldilocks zone’

The advantages of alternate wetting and drying could include cost savings for Texas rice farmers through efficient water irrigation practices as researchers continue to seek the most fruitful methods. Another benefit is the potential to reduce methane emissions from flooded rice fields.

“The idea is to not continually pump water into the fields,” said Jake Mowrer, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service state fertility specialist in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Bryan-College Station. “There are efficiencies with regards to water savings, greenhouse gas emissions and fertilizer use, but we need to find this ‘goldilocks zone’ before farmers get out there and adopt.”

Modeling, data gathering

“This is not a new concept,” said Fugen Dou, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientist, crop nutrient management, Beaumont, and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences.

The practice originated in Asia in the 1980s and has since been utilized by rice farmers in Arkansas, Louisiana and California. It’s a relatively new practice for Texas due to emerging challenges from nitrogen loss, weed control and yield penalty.

Dou said the project outcomes could be beneficial for Texas rice farmers.

“Water availability plays a big role with Texas rice, particularly west of Houston,” he said. “They primarily rely on a ratoon crop to make money. (The study results) could be a larger benefit to our farmers to keep farming. We are seeing a lot of urban expansion around Katy and west of Houston. We want to try to do our best to support the growers.”

The project trials will be carried out both at Texas A&M AgriLife’s research stations at Beaumont and Eagle Lake using controlled plots, Mowrer said.

“We will start measuring things in small scale and build upon that,” he said. “At the stations, we will be dealing with multiple varieties of work between our research efforts and then also the trials with rice producers. The results will tell us to either do this or don’t do it. It will really help Texas rice producers.”

Reducing carbon emissions

Nithya Rajan, Ph.D., AgriLife Research agronomist and professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences , said one of the goals of the project is to evaluate the impact of various management strategies on greenhouse gas emissions, especially, methane.

“The water management strategies being tested in the project have the potential to reduce methane emissions,” Rajan said. “Given that rice is traditionally cultivated under flooded conditions, the anaerobic soil conditions create an environment conducive to the release of methane by microorganisms. Implementing alternate wetting and drying cycles can significantly influence the overall greenhouse gas emission footprint of the entire rice cropping system. Although the exact extent of emission reduction remains uncertain, we will employ state-of-the-art instrumentation technologies to monitor emissions in collaboration with regional rice producers.”

The data will really be significant in helping rice producers get more information, providing insights into the carbon footprint and potentially opening avenues to participate in carbon markets.

Researchers will conduct data collection from both experimental plots and large fields and might include drones in producing new data points on weeds and pest challenges.

With traditional irrigation practices, weed control is a big concern.

“Especially with red rice, we don’t want weed control to get out of hand,” Mowrer said. “Overall, it’s a complicated system, but we are determined to find the right solutions to benefit Texas rice farmers.”

Source : tamu.edu

Video: How a Desire to Lead Brought This Wheat Breeder to Canada

Gurcharn Singh Brar is a wheat breeder whose path meandered from the breadbaskets of Punjab, India, to the sprawling fields of the Prairies. In a candid conversation, Brar shared insights into his journey, the challenges faced, and the undying passion that fuels his quest for better crops.

It all began with a childhood rooted in the wheat fields of Punjab, where agriculture isn’t just a livelihood but a way of life. His fascination with wheat and its potential led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences at Punjab Agricultural University. It was during this time that he encountered the spectre of rust diseases, particularly stripe rust, which plagued the region’s wheat crops. Determined to combat this menace, he set his sights on a journey that would take him across continents.

Venturing abroad for his graduate studies, he found himself in Saskatchewan at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), working under the mentorship of renowned researchers like Randy Kutcher and Pierre Hucl. Here, he delved deep into the world of wheat genetics, focusing on stripe rust resistance — a quest that would shape his academic pursuits for years to come.

After completing his master’s and Ph.D. in six and a half years, he embarked on a professional journey that would see him traverse academia and research. From brief stints as a research officer to landing his dream faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Plant Science program, his career trajectory was marked by a strong drive to make a difference in the world of wheat.

Despite the allure of British Columbia’s unique agricultural landscape, he found himself wanting to return to the vast expanses of the Prairies, where wheat reigns supreme. He recently returned to the Prairies and is the new wheat breeder at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

“The opportunity to lead an established wheat breeding program at the University of Alberta was a dream come true. With the necessary resources and infrastructure in place, I’m excited to drive innovation and develop high-yielding wheat varieties tailored to the unique conditions of northern Canada,” he says.

Brar, one of Seed World Canada‘s 2024 Next-Gen Leaders, has become known for identifying novel sources of resistance to priority diseases and his efforts in developing wheat germplasm with multiple disease-resistant traits.

In addition to his groundbreaking research, Brar is committed to mentoring the next generation of agricultural scientists.

“I believe in nurturing talent and empowering students to pursue their passions,” he says. “Watching my students grow and thrive in their research endeavours is hugely rewarding.”

As he looks ahead, Brar’s vision for the future of wheat breeding is clear: “My number one target is to develop high-yielding wheat varieties adapted to the northern climates of Canada. By focusing on early maturity and strong straw traits, we can maximize yield potential while ensuring resilience to environmental challenges.”

His decision to also join the Prairie Recommending Committee for Wheat, Rye, and Triticale (PGDC) executive as member-at-large came from a desire to play an even more important role in the world of Canadian cereals.