Subhash ChandraYadav, Vimal Raj2017-07-132017-07-132016-08http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810025174Field experiments were conducted during kharif seasons of 2014 and 2015 in A1 and C5 blocks at N.E.B. CRC of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, District Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand) to study the effect of soil type, irrigation levels and seed priming on direct seeded rice (DSR) variety “Narendra-359”. The treatments (6 No.) consisted of 3 irrigation levels (15, 22.5 and 30 mm CPE), 2 seed priming (no and hydropriming), replicated thrice were conducted separately under two soil types (sandy loam and silty clay loam). The experiments were laid out in a factorial randomized block design (Factorial RBD) in each soil type and subjected to combined analysis. Transplanted rice with standard package at each site was taken as control. DSR irrigated at 15 mm CPE recorded the maximum values of growth parameters viz. plant height, tillers/m2, dry matter accumulation and active leaf count followed by 22.5 and 30 mm CPE. Yield attributes like panicles/m2 and filled grains/panicle, grain weight/panicle were also the maximum at 15 mm CPE. Interaction effect between soil type and irrigation levels was significant. Grain yield significantly increased up to 22.5 mm CPE in SL soil while in SCL soil the difference was not significant due to irrigation regimes. The maximum gross and net returns were obtained from 15 mm CPE irrigation level during both the years, but the mean B:C ratio was the maximum at 30 mm CPE (0.97). In both the soils, water productivity decreased with increase in irrigation frequency being the maximum at 30 mm CPE during both the years. Seed priming did not cause significant difference on growth, yield attributes and yield during both the years. Economic returns were found to increase numerically with hydropriming treatment. The SCL soil benefitted significantly growth parameters viz., plant height, tillers/m2, active leaves and dry matter production over SL soil. Among yield attributes, SCL soil recorded significantly higher panicles/m2 (4.9%), filled grains/panicle (10.9%), grain weight/panicle (47.1%) and 1000-grain weight (12.9%) over SL soil (mean values). During both the years, SCL soil recorded significantly higher grain (14.8%) and biological yield (7.1%) as well as HI (7.9%) over SL soil (mean values). The mean values of economic parameters i.e. gross return (`10858/ha), net return (`11357/ha) and B:C ratio (37.5%) were also higher in SCL soil. Besides, IWUE and water productivity were also higher in heavy texture soil. As compared to transplanted, the performance of DSR was poor in SL soil while comparable in SCL soil. Saving in irrigation water in DSR against transplanted was found to be more in SCL soil than SL soil. It can be inferred that for better growth, yield and water productivity DSR should be taken in soils having good water holding capacity.ennullThesis