Performance of rice on beds and puddled transplanted flats in Punjab, India

Transplanted and direct seeded rice on fresh and permanent beds (TRB, DSRB) were compared with puddled transplanted rice (PTR) on sandy loam and loam soils in Punjab, India. The treatments were irrigated daily (CF or “continuous flooding” of flats and furrows) or 2d after the floodwater had disappeared. The furrows in DSRB-CF on the loam drained within 8-10 h, while they remained shallow flooded on the sandy loam. Highest grain yield occurred in PTR-CF, followed in order by PTR-2d, TRB-2d and DSRB-2d on both soils. Yields of TRB on the sandy loam were reduced due to nematode infestation, while yields of DSRB were reduced due to severe Fe deficiency, except for DSRB-CF on the sandy loam. DSRB also required 2-4 hand weedings to supplement herbicide application, while TRB required 1-2 weedings. On these soils, successful production of DSRB may require early Fe sprays prior to the appearance of Fe deficiency symptoms, measures to control nematodes, and early irrigation to germinate weeds followed by herbicide application prior to sowing,