Investigating alternate wetting and drying irrigation method over conventional practice for Boro rice production in Bangladesh: a sustainable water management practice in agriculture

Water scarcity, intensified by accelerating climate change, has prompted the development of sustainable irrigation methods such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD). This study evaluates the effectiveness of AWD in enhancing water use efficiency and productivity during Boro rice cultivation in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh and Sherpur districts, where groundwater depletion is a critical concern. Data were collected from 80 randomly selected farmers, 40 adopting AWD and 40 using conventional irrigation, across four subdistricts through structured interviews. Analytical methods included descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression, Water Productivity Index (WPI), and Attitude Index (AI). Socioeconomic differences between groups were identified, and regression results indicated a significant negative relationship between irrigation water use, duration, and groundwater depth under AWD. AWD practitioners achieved a 37% reduction in water use and a 65% increase in water productivity compared to traditional methods. Notably, maximum water savings (5118 m3/ha) and highest water productivity (1.27 kg/m3) were recorded in Mymensingh and Sherpur, respectively. The Mann–Whitney U test confirmed statistically significant differences in water use between the two systems. Although farmer attitudes varied, AWD consistently outperformed conventional methods. The study highlights the importance of promoting AWD through targeted support from the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), non-government organizations (NGOs), and relevant institutions for sustainable groundwater management.