Vol. 10, Issue 10 (2021)

Author(s):
Monisha V, Thavaprakaash N, Djanaguiraman M and Vaiyapuri K

Abstract:
Drought stress causes severe reduction in growth and yield of crops, especially in rice. Selenium (Se) aids in drought mitigation and improves the yield levels of crops. A field investigation was made to know the effects of foliar spraying of Se on growth, tiller production and yields of rice under drought stress during summer season of 2021 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. Main plot consisted of two drought stress levels viz., drought stress for 20 days at panicle initiation (PI) stage (D₂) and drought stress for 25 days at PI stage (D₃), compared with D₁ (irrigation as in System of Rice Intensification method). Sub plot comprised of two Se foliar spray levels such as 10 ppm (S₂) and 20 ppm (S₃) in comparison with control (S₁). Results revealed that there was a significant reduction of growth characters (plant height, leaf area index and drymatter production), tiller production m^-2 and grain and straw yields besides inducing earliness of phenophases (50% flowering and physiological maturity) due to drought stress. Whereas, Se foliar spraying improved the growth characters, tillers production, yields (grain and straw) in addition, delayed phenophases under drought stress condition and control. Hence, the field investigation confirmed the reduction of growth and yield due to drought stress and mitigating effect and yield improvement due to foliar spraying of Se in rice.