Alternate wetting and drying reduces aquifer withdrawal in Mississippi rice production systems

Atwill, R. L.; Krutz, L. Jason; Bond, Jason A.; Golden, Bobby R.; Spencer, G. Dave; Bryant, Corey; Mills, Brian E.; Gore, Jeff

doi:10.1002/agj2.20447

Cited by 13 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Conversely, Massey et al (2014) noted that grain yield for the inbred cultivars CL131 and CL151 was 10.8% and 8.5% greater when managed under AWD than a constant 5-to 10-cm flood. On-farm, field-scale research conducted in the Delta region of Mississippi and spanning 19 site years seems to confirm the small plot data noted above that an AWD irrigation threshold of −10 cm below the soil surface maintains rice grain yield relative to a constant 5-to 10-cm flood (Atwill et al, 2020). There remains, however, concerns about the effect of AWD irrigation threshold on rice grain quality.…”

Section: Rice Grain Yield and Seed Qualitysupporting

confidence: 61%

“…For example, at the plot scale, an AWD irrigation threshold of −45 kPa at 10 cm below the surface of a Calloway silt loam and a Sharkey clay reduced water applied 33.5% relative to a constant 5‐ to 10‐cm flood (Chlapecka et al., 2021). At the field scale, maintaining an AWD irrigation threshold of −10 cm below the surface of soils ranging in texture from silt loam to clay reduced irrigation applied 39% relative to the producer's standard management practice (Atwill et al., 2020). Similarly, Massey et al., 2014 noted that AWD water management in Sharky and Dowling clays reduced irrigation applied 20%–38% relative to comparable straight‐levee systems using multiple‐inlet rice irrigation in Mississippi from 2010 to 2012.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, decreasing irrigation costs would increase the optimal irrigation threshold as the net returns to capturing any additional yield would be increased. Research conducted at the farm scale in Mississippi determined that transitioning from conventional flood to AWD could increase net returns up to $238 ha −1 depending on pumping depth and diesel prices (Atwill et al., 2020).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, an AWD irrigation threshold of −15, −30 or −45 kPa at the 10-cm depth increased the IWUE of XP753 58%-104% relative to a conventional 5-to 10-cm flood. Similarly, an on-farm study conducted in the Delta region of Mississippi from 2015 to 2017 demonstrated that AWD increased the IWUE of rice cultivars across 19 site years 59% relative to the producer standard (Atwill et al, 2020). Clearly, AWD can increase the amount of grain produced per millimeter of water applied to producer fields; however, the management strategy must be profitable for producers to adopt the technology.…”

Section: Irrigation Water Use Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Establishment of thresholds for alternate wetting and drying irrigation management in rice

et al. 2023

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The long-term viability of rice production in the midsouthern United States could be affected by irrigation management strategy. This study was conducted to determine if rice sustainability can be improved through manipulation of the irrigation threshold. The effects of an alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation threshold and cultivar on water applied, rice grain yield, seed quality, irrigation water use efficiency, and net returns were investigated at Stoneville, MS, on a Sharkey clay (very fine, smectitic, thermic Chromic Epiaquert) during the 2015 through 2017 growing seasons. Water applied increased exponentially from 316 mm for the AWD threshold of −40 cm to 1061 mm for the conventional flood. For both hybrid and inbred lines, rice grain yield decreased linearly at a rate of 14 kg ha −1 for each centimeter decrease in irrigation threshold. Alternate wetting and drying irrigation threshold had no effect on seed quality parameters including chalk, milling total, and milling whole. Net returns were higher for AWD compared to a conventional flood for all cultivars. The economically optimal irrigation threshold was dependent on cultivar and rice price. Converting from a conventional flood to AWD will likely improve the sustainability of rice production in the midsouthern United States.

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Section: Rice Grain Yield and Seed Qualitysupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Irrigation Water Use Efficiencymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Establishment of thresholds for alternate wetting and drying irrigation management in rice

et al. 2023

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“…(Figure 1). Through additional rainfall capture during drying periods, AWD decreases irrigation water use and associated pumping costs by 18-44% (Linquist et al, 2015;Atwill et al, 2020). As a water saving strategy, AWD is incentivized through conservation payments in the U.S. (Reba and Massey, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-Technical Changes for Sustainable Rice Production: Rice Husk Amendment, Conservation Irrigation, and System Changes

et al. 2021

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Rice is a staple food and primary source of calories for much of the world. However, rice can be a dietary source of toxic metal(loid)s to humans, and its cultivation creates atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions and requires high water use. Because rice production consumes a significant amount of natural resources and is a large part of the global agricultural economy, increasing its sustainability could have substantial societal benefits. There are opportunities for more sustainable field production through a combination of silicon (Si) management and conservation irrigation practices. As a Si-rich soil amendment, rice husks can limit arsenic and cadmium uptake, while also providing plant vigor in drier soil conditions. Thus, husk addition and conservation irrigation may be more effective to attenuate the accumulation of toxic metal(loid)s, manage water usage and lower climate impacts when implemented together than when either is implemented separately. This modified field production system would take advantage of rice husks, which are an underutilized by-product of milled rice that is widely available near rice farm sites, and have ~10% Si content. Husk application could, alongside alternate wetting and drying or furrow irrigation management, help resolve multiple sustainability challenges in rice production: (1) limit arsenic and cadmium accumulation in rice; (2) minimize greenhouse gas emissions from rice production; (3) decrease irrigation water use; (4) improve nutrient use efficiency; (5) utilize a waste product of rice processing; and (6) maintain plant-accessible soil Si levels. This review presents the scientific basis for a shift in rice production practices and considers complementary rice breeding efforts. It then examines socio-technical considerations for how such a shift in production practices could be implemented by farmers and millers together and may bring rice production closer to a bio-circular economy. This paper's purpose is to advocate for a changed rice production method for consideration by community stakeholders, including producers, millers, breeders, extension specialists, supply chain organizations, and consumers, while highlighting remaining research and implementation questions.

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On‐farm response of inbred and hybrid rice cultivars to furrow irrigation

Spencer,

Gore,

Mills

et al. 2023

Agronomy Journal

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Alternate wetting and drying water management reduces irrigation demand compared to a continuous flood in the drill seeded, delayed‐flood rice (Oryza sativa L.) production system, but land preparation is time‐ and labor‐intensive. This research was conducted to determine whether rice grown in a furrow‐irrigated, raised seedbed system has similar water requirements and profit expectations to alternate wetting and drying. The effects of growing either inbred or hybrid rice under alternate wetting and drying or furrow irrigation management on water applied, grain yield, and net returns were investigated on paired production fields in the Delta region of Mississippi. For both inbred and hybrid rice lines, water applied averaged 587 and 565 mm, respectively, and did not differ between furrow‐irrigated and alternate wetting and drying production (p > 0.05). Compared to alternate wetting and drying, furrow‐irrigating inbred rice cultivars either maintained or decreased yield 16% (p = 0.0207). Conversely, seeding hybrid rice in furrow‐irrigated systems reduced yield 7% regardless of year (p = 0.0083). For both inbred and hybrid rice cultivars, transitioning from AWD to furrow irrigation decreased the average net returns $9.80 and $124.02 ha−1, respectively, and ranged from +$94.48 to ‐281.98 ha−1 over three years and three rice prices. Transitioning from AWD to a furrow‐irrigated rice will likely have no effect on freshwater demand but will introduce substantial agronomic and economic risk to the production system.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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Alternate wetting and drying reduces aquifer withdrawal in Mississippi rice production systems

Cited by 13 publications

References 21 publications

Establishment of thresholds for alternate wetting and drying irrigation management in rice

Establishment of thresholds for alternate wetting and drying irrigation management in rice

Socio-Technical Changes for Sustainable Rice Production: Rice Husk Amendment, Conservation Irrigation, and System Changes

On‐farm response of inbred and hybrid rice cultivars to furrow irrigation

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