Natural Resources, School of

 

Date of this Version

2004

Citation

Mahmood, R., Legates, D. R., Meo, M. 2004. The role of soil water availability in potential rainfed rice productivity in Bangladesh: Applications of the CERES-Rice model. Applied Geography, 24: 139-159

doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2004.03.001

Comments

(c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

Soil water stress and its impact on the monsoon season potential rainfed rice productivity in Bangladesh is investigated. A crop growth simulation model, CERES-Rice, is applied to 16 locations representative of the major rice growing regions of Bangladesh to determine the impact of soil water stress on the regional scale potential yield for four transplanting dates: 1 June, 1 July, 15 July, and 15 August. A quantified estimate of potential yield loss for four regions and for Bangladesh as a whole is calculated for water stress during flowering and maturing stages. For example, in Bangladesh, average potential yield for 1 June transplanting date, under low water stress during both flowering and maturing stages, is 7218 kg ha–1. On the other hand, high water stress during maturing, flowering, and both flowering and maturing stages, results in yield reduction of 37%, 46%, and 73%, respectively. Model applications show that for a 15 July transplanting date, average potential yield under low water stress during both flowering and maturing stages is 6077 kg ha–1. However, the loss of potential yields are 39%, 57%, and 70% for this transplanting date, due to high water stress during maturing, flowering, and both flowering and maturing stages, respectively. For a 15 August transplanting, average potential yield is 4217 kg ha–1 and loss is 32%, 38%, and 38% for high water stress during maturing, flowering, and both flowering and maturing stages, respectively. The results of this study can be further utilized for future agricultural planning in Bangladesh and other parts of monsoonal Asia.

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