WATER PRODUCTIVITY IN RICE GENOTYPES UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.973562507013

• Palavras-chave: Oryza sativa, water efficiency, yield, rainfed, climate change, genotypes.

• Keywords: Oryza sativa, water efficiency, yield, rainfed, climate change, genotypes.

• Abstract:

  The present study evaluated water productivity (WPE) and water conversion efficiency (WCE) in 36 rice genotypes (Oryza sativa L.) under rainfed conditions in Tabasco, Mexico, with the objective of identifying promising materials for areas with limited water availability. The experiment was established at the Huimanguillo Experimental Field of INIFAP, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Key agronomic variables such as plant height, number of grains per panicle and grain yield were recorded, as well as water indicators derived from crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The results showed highly significant differences (P<0.001) among genotypes for all variables evaluated. Genotype T30 (Gulf FL-16) presented the highest yield (4127.2 kg ha-1) , the highest water productivity (0.54 kg m-3) and the lowest ETc (1.98 m3kg-1) , standing out as the most efficient in the use of water resources. Likewise, genotypes T15, T4, T16 and T25 also showed high efficiency and agronomic performance. These findings reflect the existence of genetic variability that can be used for breeding and validation programs for varieties adapted to the humid tropics. It is concluded that, under rainfed conditions and climate change scenarios, the selection of water-efficient genotypes represents a key strategy for the sustainable increase of national rice production.