Experimentation on cultivation of rice irrigated with a center pivot system

Authors: STEVENS, WILLIAM - University Of Missouri; Vories, Earl; HEISER, JAMES - University Of Missouri; RHINE, MATTHEW - University Of Missouri

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/14/2011
Publication Date: 3/1/2012
Citation: Stevens, W.E., Vories, E.D., Heiser, J.W., Rhine, M.D. 2012. Experimentation on cultivation of rice irrigated with a center pivot system. In: Lee, T. S. editor. Irrigation Systems and Practices in Challenging Environments. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech. p. 233-254.

Interpretive Summary: Rice is the staple food for one half of the world’s population and is consumed mainly by humans rather than fed to livestock. Demographers predict the Earth’s population will increase to nine billion people by 2045 and to keep pace with increased food demand rice farmers will need higher yields, increased hectares of production, and more efficient use of water resources. Center pivot sprinkler irrigation is a viable method for producing rice, particularly in fields that are not suited for traditional flood irrigation. Selecting rice cultivars and hybrids with disease resistance and making timely application of chemicals for pest control are critical for producing a successful crop. Irrigation scheduling is recommended to avoid excessive or inadequate applications of water with center pivot sprinkler irrigation and to produce optimum yields. Rice producers will benefit from this technology by having more options to available for producing a crop with worldwide demand and consumers will benefit from a more stable supply of an important food crop.

Technical Abstract: Rice is the staple food for one half of the world’s population, consumed mainly by humans rather than fed to livestock. Rice is an efficient food for supplying carbohydrates, vitamins, and nutrients in diets. Demographers predict the Earth’s population will increase to nine billion people by 2045 and to keep pace with increased food demand, rice farmers will need higher yields, increased hectares of production, and more efficient use of water resources. Irrigation practices are needed to grow rice with less water and on well-drained soils that are not currently used for traditional flooded rice culture; however, most rice cultivars do not tolerate extended periods of water stress. Irrigation scheduling based on water balance models or soil moisture sensors is recommended to avoid excessive or inadequate applications of water and produce optimum yields. Similarly, selecting rice cultivars and hybrids with disease resistance and making timely application of chemicals for pest control are critical for producing a successful crop. This report provides a summary of the available research along with some of the experiences the authors have encountered in rice production research, focusing on the use of center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems for rice production. However, the principles are relevant to other sprinkler equipment such as linear move or floppy sprinkler systems. Sprinkler irrigation for rice production can be a water-saving alternative to conventional flood irrigation, but there is not a lot of information currently available to producers interested in adopting the system.