Impact of alternate wetting and drying on rice physiology, grain production, and grain quality

As the world’s population increases, demands on staple crops like rice (Oryza sativa L.) will also increase, requiring additional fresh water supplies for irrigation of rice fields. Safe alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is a water management technique that is being adopted across a number of countries to reduce the water input for rice cultivation. The impact of AWD on plant growth, yield and grain quality is not well understood. A field trial of AWD was conducted at Mymensingh, Bangladesh over two boro (dry) seasons using eight field plots, four under AWD and four continuously flooded (CF). This manuscript describes the results of check cultivar BRRI dhan28 which was replicated in 35–40 rows per plot giving a total of 140–160…