Mulching as an adaptation technology for rice farmers to combat the weed problem under water scarce conditions. ‘A case study in Nilwala downstream, Matara district, Sri Lanka’

• Published in: Procedia engineering 2018, Vol.212, p.496-502
• Main Authors: Ratnayake, U.A.J., Weerasinghe, K.D.N., Vitharana, W.A.U., Naverathna, C.M., Amarasinghe, G.D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acid sulphate; Polythene mulch; Rice
• ISSN: 1877-7058; 1877-7058
• DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2018.01.064

Rice farmers in southern Sri Lanka are dragged to vulnerable end due to irregular water regimes linked to climate and weather change. Problems are much aggravated after implementing the Nilwala flood protection scheme, to improve the drainage to evacuate flood without provisions for irrigation. The newly emerged problems are reported to be development of acid sulphate conditions, due to water scarcity, and associated problems of nutrient fixation and toxicities. Thus the objective of the study was to introduce a technology for the farmers to improve their paddy production. A field experiment was conducted in Yala 2014 to study the polythene mulching to improve rice production through favorable soil water regime and weed management. In the experiment both seed broadcasting, and transplanting has been established, with and without polythene mulch using the rice variety At 362. Results revealed that mulching maintained the soil moisture at favorable levels during the dry spells where by reducing nearly 100% of weeds. Significantly higher grain yield and plant growth reported with mulching over control. The technology has recommended and disseminated to farmers for seed paddy production without weeds contamination which is one of the major threat confronted by the paddy farmers in Sri Lanka.