Sidhu, Prabhjyot KaurKuldeep Kaur2018-09-222018-09-222018http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810073957The anthesis and physiological maturity of rice cultivars was predicted within -7 to +11 days and -22 to +7 days, respectively by CERES-Rice and -2 to +13 and -5 to +10 days, respectively by InfoCrop-Rice model. The calibration and validation of the CERES-Rice showed good agreement between the observed and simulated values with RMSE value of 5.11 and 8.11 for anthesis and maturity respectively and InfoCrop model 4.59 and 7.65 for anthesis and maturity respectively. The calibration and validation of the CERES-Rice and InfoCrop showed good agreement between the observed and simulated values with RMSE value 277.10 kg/ha and 328.31 kg/ha for grain yield respectively. Keeping in view the observed trends in climate variability, phenology and yield of rice were simulated under climatic scenarios of changes in temperature (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 oC from normal) and solar radiation (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 12.5, 15.0 20.0 % from normal) and their combined interactive effects during whole season, vegetative phase, grain filling phase, 0-30 days after transplanting (DAT), 30-60 DAT, 60-90 DAT. In general, with an increase in temperature above normal, the CERES-Rice model predicted advancement in phenological development in rice and vice versa. However, contrary to general observation by several studies InfoCrop-Rice model predicted delay in phenological development in rice and vice versa. Among the two models, the unexpected results simulated by the InfoCrop-Rice model indicate that the programming logic in case of InfoCrop model needs further scrutiny and appropriate refinement. The yield of rice cultivars, in general, under different transplanting dates was decreased with increase in temperature and decrease in radiation and vice-versa. When the temperature and solar radiation were increased from normal, the grain yield of rice using CERES-Rice and InfoCrop-Rice model decreased maximum in whole season change followed by grain filling phase change and vegetative phase change in decreasing order. Amongst the growth periods maximum decrease in yield was observed in 0-30 DAT followed by 30-60 DAT and 60-90 DAT in decreasing order. The CERES-Rice model predictions showed that rice cv PR 118 (long duration cultivar) was more tolerant to heat and radiative stress than cv.PR 115 (short duration cultivar) and hence may be recommended for cultivation due to its tolerant traits towards maintaining its yield as well as harvest index. The InfoCrop-Rice model predicted the transplantation on 15 June with urea application of 135 to145 kg/ha is best option for optimizing rice yield but InfoCrop-Rice model did not respond to change in plant population. Hence as is indicative from several unexpected results simulated by the InfoCrop-Rice model, the present version 2.1 of the model needs further scrutiny and refinement. The CERES-Rice model predicted that among the growing windows, transplantation of rice on June 15 with plant population of 44.4 m-2 and urea application of 125 to130 kg/ha is the best for optimizing rice yield in the state.ennullThesis