IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN DRIP IRRIGATED CASTOR (Ricinus communis L.) By B.RAVI KUMAR B.Sc. (Ag). THESIS SUBMITTED TO ACHARYA N. G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE ACHARYA N. G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY RAJENDRANAGAR, HYDERABAD-500 030. July, 2010 CERTIFICATE Mr. B.RAVI KUMAR has satisfactorily prosecuted the course of research and that the thesis entitled “IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN DRIP IRRIGATED CASTOR” submitted is the result of original research work and is of sufficiently high standard to warrant its presentation to the examination. I also certify that the thesis or part thereof has not been previously submitted by him for a degree of any university. Date: (Dr. V.PRAVEEN RAO) Place: Hyderabad Major Advisor I CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled “IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN DRIP IRRIGATED CASTOR” submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN AGRICULTURE of the Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, is a record of the bonafied research work carried out by B.RAVI KUMAR under my guidance and supervision. The subject of the thesis has been approved by the Student’s Advisory Committee. No part of the thesis has been submitted for any other degree or diploma. The published part has been fully acknowledged. All assistance and help received during the course of the investigation has been duly acknowledged by the author of the thesis. (Dr. V.PRAVEEN RAO) Chairman of the Advisory Committee Thesis approved by the Student’s Advisory Committee Chairman : (Dr. V.PRAVEEN RAO) Professor, Department of Agronomy College of Agriculture Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500030 Member : (Dr. V.RAMULU) Senior scientist (Agronomy) Water Technology Center College of Agriculture Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500030 Member : (Dr. M.UMA DEVI) Principal Scientist (Soil Science) Water Technology Center College of Agriculture Rajendranagar, Hyderabad – 500030 II CONTENTS Chapter Title Page No. I INTRODUCTION 1-4 II REVIEW OF LITERATURE 5-18 III MATERIAL AND METHODS 19-50 IV RESULTS 51-113 V DISCUSSION 114-128 VI SUMMARY 129-135 LITERATURE CITED 136-141 III LIST OF TABLES Table Page Title No. No. 1 Summary of seasonal evapotranspiration requirement of castor 15 2 Physical and chemical properties of soil in the experimental 20 field 3 Moisture retention characteristics of the experimental soil 21 4 Irrigation water quality analysis data 22 5 Previous cropping history of the experimental field 23 6 Details of irrigation treatments 26 7 Field water supply of castor at different crop growth sub- 29 periods under different irrigation treatments 8 Fertigation schedule for castor 33 9 Initial and final plant stand of castor as influenced by different 52 irrigation treatments 10 Plant height (cm) of castor at different growth stages as 53 influenced by different irrigation treatments 11 Leaf area index of castor at different growth stages as 56 influenced by different irrigation treatments 12 Dry matter (g/plant) of castor at different growth stages as 60 influenced by different irrigation treatments 13 Days to flowering and capsule infestation of castor as 63 influenced by different irrigation treatments 14 Relative growth rate (g/g/day) of castor at different growth 64 stages as influenced by different irrigation treatments 15 Crop growth rate (g/0.6 m2/day) of castor at different growth 65 stages as influenced by different irrigation treatments 16 Net assimilation rate (g/m2/day) of castor at different growth 67 stages as influenced by different irrigation treatments 17 Leaf area duration (m2/day) of castor at different growth 68 stages as influenced by different irrigation treatments 18 Number of spikes / plant and capsules / plant of castor as 70 influenced by different irrigation treatments 19 Spike length (cm) of castor as influenced by different irrigation 74 treatments 20 Yield attributes of castor as influenced by different irrigation 76 treatments IV Table Page Title No. No. 21 Castor bean yield, total dry matter production and harvest 80 index of castor as influenced by different irrigation treatments 22 Oil content and oil yield of castor as influenced by different 84 irrigation treatments 23 Water productivity of castor as influenced by different 86 irrigation treatments 24 Crop evapotranspiration of castor at different crop growth sub 88 periods under different treatments 25 Reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) at different crop 88 growth subperiods at Rajendranagar 26 Crop evapotranspiration rate of castor at different crop growth 89 subperiods under different treatments 27 Crop coefficient of castor in relation to ETo by Penman 92 Mohteith and FAo modified Penman Method as influenced by different irrigation treatments 28 Crop coefficients of castor in relation to ETo by FAO Adjusted 93 Pan evaporation method and free water evaporation from USWB class pan evaporimeter as influenced by different irrigation treatments. 29 Economic returns of castor at optimum levels of water under 98 spectrum of appraised prices 30 Detailed cash flow and economic indices for check basin and 100 surface drip irrigated castor 31 Regression of crop evapotranspiration (Etc) of castor (from I2 102 treatment) on reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo) derived by different methods. 32 Empirical estimates for the relationship between been yield 106 and growth and yield components 33 Correlation matrix between bean yield / plant, growth and 111 yield attributes of castor V LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. Page Title No. No. 1 Weekly meteorological data during crop growth period of 25 castor 2 Drip irrigation field experiment layout plan for castor crop 31 3 Reference crop evapotranspiration 42 4 Plant height at harvest of castor as influenced by different 54 irrigation treatments 5 Leaf area index at 120 DAS of castor as influenced by different 57 irrigation treatments 6 Dry matter per plant of castor at harvest as influenced by 61 different irrigation treatments 7 Total number of capsules per plant of castor as influenced by 71 different irrigation treatments 8 Test (100-seed) weight of castor as influenced by different 77 irrigation treatments 9 Bean yield per plant of castor as influenced by different 78 irrigation treatments 10 Castor been yield and total dry matter production as influenced 81 by different irrigation treatments 11 Cumulative crop evapotranspiration of castor under different 90 treatments 12 Crop coefficient curves for castor 94 13 Linear crop water production functions for castor 96 14 Quadratic crop water production functions for castor 96 15 Regression of crop Etc on ETo derived by Penman Monteith 103 method 16 Regression of crop Etc on ETo derived by Modified Penman 103 method 17 Regression of crop Etc on ETo derived by Adjusted Pan 104 Evaporation method 18 Regression of crop ETc on USWB class A pen evaporation 104 19 Regression of bean yield on plant height 107 VI Fig. Page Title No. No. 20 Regression of bean yield on leaf area index 107 21 Regression of bean yield on spikes /plant 108 22 Regression of bean yield on primary spike length 108 23 Regression of bean yield on secondary spike length 109 24 Regression of bean yield on capsules/plant 109 25 Regression of bean yield on seeds/capusle 110 26 Regression of bean yield on test (100-seed) weight 110 27 Relationship between seasonal crop Etc and leaf area index 112 28 Relationship between seasonal crop Etc and leaf area duration 112 VII LIST OF PLATES Plate Page Title No. No. 1 Sowing of castor in experimental plot 142 2 Castor crop at flower initiation stage 142 3 Castor crop in Surface irrigated check basin method (I ) 143 8 4 Castor crop in Surface drip irrigated method (I ) 143 6 5 Castor crop in Surface drip irrigation at capsule development 144 stage (I ) 6 6 Access tube for measuring soil moisture 144 VIII ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I deem it as a great pleasure to express my heart felt gratitude and respect to the chairman of my advisory committee, Dr. V. Praveen Rao Professor (Agronomy) and IFFCO Chair, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar for suggesting one of his novel thoughts having blend of scientists and farmers vision as my research work. His meticulous guidance, untiring interest and well timed suggestions right from the initial stages till the completion of my research work, are unparalleled. I am indeed greatly indebted for the affectionate encouragement and cooperation received from him. I sincerely extend my profound gratitude and appreciation to the members of my Advisory Committee, Dr. V. Ramulu, Senior Scientist (Agronomy) and Dr. M. Uma devi, Principal Scientis, (Soil science and Agricultural chemistry) at Water technology centre, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, for their valuable help. I deem it my privilege in expressing my fidelity to Dr. M. Deveneder Reddy, Principal scientist and Head, Water Technology centre, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar .for his guidance and cooperation. I sincerely extend my profound gratitude and appreciation to Dr. K. Avil kumar, Senior Scientist (Agronomy), Water Technology Centre, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad; Venkatiah, Scientist (Entomology) R.A.R.S, Jagtial and Dakshina murthy, Scientist (Agronomy), College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. I allocate my highest respect and heartful regards from my inner core of heart to my ever loved parents, Sri. Rajalingam and Smt. Rajamani who have given me life and taught the concepts of life and their dedicated efforts to educate me to this level. With boundless affection, I owe an encompassing debt to my most beloved my sisters Rajamani, Radha, laxmi, Sravanthi, Baby and munny and my sister-in-laws Swetha, mounika and Samata for constant encouragement throughout my career ix