Sukristiyonubowo1 , Kusumo Nugroho2 and Sofyan Ritung 2
Newly opened wetland rice fields require more water because plough pan layer are not developed. Plough pans are established several years and also depending on intensity of planting rice. Plot scale study was conducted at newly opened wetland rice originated from dry land in Panca Agung village, Bulungan District, Indonesia in 2011. Different water pounding depth including 0.5 cm (macak macak) and intermittent (two weeks wetting and a week was drying cycle) were tested. Rice growth, rice grains yield and water productivity was observed. Water productivity was computed according to the ratio between rice grains yield and water input. Water input was predicted according to the difference between incoming water and outgoing water. In this study water balance was not taken into account in calculating the water input. The results indicated that pounding water layer did not significantly improve on plant height, but significantly increased rice tiller number and grains yield. The highest tiller number and grain yield were reached by pounding water depth of 0-3 cm. The higher water productivity of about 0.96 and 0.30 gram liter-1 were recorded by pounding water depth 0.5 cm followed by pounding water layer of 0-3 cm. In a long term perspective, the implementation of this work would certainly contribute to water management and improve rice grains yield of wetland rice in Indonesia as water become scare.
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