Excess water management

Due to the uncertainty of rainfall, excess water may accumulate in the rhizosphere. Excess water may cause anoxia in the rhizosphere and plant roots do not get sufficient oxygen to respire. Turbidity associated with excess water also damages the crop. In rice, excess water accumulation at vegetative stages deters tillering. The crop growth stage in between flowering to maturity is more sensitive to excess water compared to the stage from maximum tillering to flowering. If fields remain flooded beyond the dough stage, the crop will show non-homogenous maturity and harvesting of the crop will be delayed. Management of submergence and drainage are two important options for the management of excess water.