Impact of Different Soil Moisture Regimes under Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) on the Growth and Yield of Wetland Paddy

Water management plays a crucial role in optimizing rice production while ensuring sustainability. This study conducted in the School of Agricultural Sciences, KITS, Coimbatore, evaluates the impacts of different soil moisture regimes under alternate wetting and drying on the growth and yield of wetland paddy. The study was performed following a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with eight different treatments, each replicated three times. Among the treatments, T3 (Irrigation immediately after the development of hairline cracks) demonstrated the highest effectiveness, followed by T4 (Irrigation at 5.0 cm fall of water table below the soil surface). The enhanced performance of T3 attributed to improved soil aeration which promotes root growth and nutrient uptake, leading to increased crop growth and yield.