Effects of Water-Saving and Controlled Drainage Water Management on Growth Indices of Mechanically Transplanted Rice Under Side Deep Fertilization Conditions

This study aimed to improve water use efficiency at side deep fertilization paddy fields and reduce the direct discharge of tailwater from upstream dry-farming into Erhai Lake. Field experiments were conducted at Erhai Lake Basin in 2023 and 2024. In this study, paddies were used as storage basins. Two water managements were set with three replicates: flooding irrigation with deep storage and controlled drainage (CKCD), and water-saving irrigation with deep storage and controlled drainage (CCD). The rice growth indicators were observed. The results show that, in 2023, compared with CKCD, the root volume, root-to-shoot ratio, stem node spacing, stem diameter, plant height, tiller number, leaf area index and yield of CCD increased by 13.6, 19.6, 12.1, 4.1, 9.4, 3.0, 21.9, and 6.5%, respectively. For CCD, the total irrigation amount decreased by 27.3%, while irrigation productivity increased by 46.7%. In 2024, there were similar trends as in 2023. However, the tiller number and leaf area index of CCD decreased by 11 and 1.5%, respectively. Additionally, in CCD, the total irrigation amount decreased 52.5%, and the irrigation productivity increased by 1.4 kg/m³. There were similar regulars in soil temperature and its relationship with other growth indicates in 2023 and 2024. Soil temperature in CCD was generally higher than in CKCD. It positively correlated with stem diameter, but negatively with root volume. Additionally, root volume positively correlated with plant height and dry matter accumulation. Overall, the CCD approach could promote the indices of rice growth, increase the paddy capacity of tailwater storage, and reduce water consumption to further achieve water savings and increased yields.