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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189559
Title: RICE PRODUCTION SYSTEM AND STUDY METHODOLOGY AFFECT RICE IRRIGATION-WATER USE ESTIMATES

Author
item SMITH, M - MS STATE UNIV
item MASSEY, JOSEPH - MS STATE UNIV
item BRANSON, JEFF - UNIV OF AR COOP EXT SVC
item EPTING, JOSH - MS YMD JOINT WATER MGMT D
item PENNINGTON, DEAN - MS YMD JOINT WATER MGMT D
item TACKER, PHIL - UNIV OF AR COOP EXT SVC
item THOMAS, JIM - MS STATE UNIV
item Vories, Earl
item WILSON, CHUCK - UNIV OF AR COOP EXT SVC

Submitted to: Irrigation Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2006
Publication Date: 11/1/2007
Citation: Smith, M.C., Massey, J.H., Branson, J., Epting, J., Pennington, D., Tacker, P., Thomas, J., Vories, E.D., Wilson, C. 2007. Rice production system and study methodology affect rice irrigation-water use estimates. Irrigation Science. 25(2):141-147.

Interpretive Summary: Rice production requires large amounts of irrigation water each year. Irrigation inputs for rice were compared in Mississippi and Arkansas in 2003 and 2004 on naturally sloping and precision-graded fields. In both states, irrigation was greatly affected by production system, with naturally sloping fields (35% of the production area in Mississippi) requiring more irrigation water than fields mechanically graded to a consistent slope (60% of area). Fields devoid of slope (5% of area) required the least irrigation. Using disposable irrigation pipe to separately deliver irrigation to each paddy reduced irrigation inputs in both states when compared to a single water-entry point for the field. This information will help rice producers to use less irrigation water, saving both water and the energy required for pumping.

Technical Abstract: Rice irrigation-water use was estimated in Mississippi (MS) and Arkansas (AR) in 2003 and 2004. Irrigation inputs were compared on naturally sloping and precision-graded fields. In MS, rice production consumed, on average, 895 mm water, but irrigation inputs were greatly affected by production system. Naturally sloping systems accounted for 35% of the production area and consumed an average of 1034 mm of irrigation. Fields mechanically graded to a consistent slope of approximately 0.1% (i.e., generally straight-levee systems) consumed an average of 856 mm irrigation and accounted for 60% of the production area. Fields devoid of slope (i.e., zero-grade system) accounted for 5% of the production area and consumed 382 mm irrigation. In AR, naturally sloping rice production consumed an average of 789 mm compared to 653 mm with a precision-graded system. Using 38-cm diameter disposable irrigation pipe to deliver irrigation to each paddy independently reduced irrigation inputs by 28% in MS and 11% in AR when compared to a single-point (levee-gate) distribution system. The difference between the irrigation inputs estimated in MS and AR was the result of divergent study objectives and methodology.