Developing management

recommendations for tropical

aerobic rice in the Philippines
and Mapping suitable areas
using GIS
Vincent Dioshua Yambao
LWRE Major
CEAT-UPLB
RICE
staple food of billions
of people around the
world
On an average, rice provides more than 42 percent of
our daily calorie intake
Rice in Asia
• Rice is the biggest and
cheapest source of energy

• Accounts for more than 90% of

global rice production

• Around 138 million ha of rice

were harvested in Asia, 48
million of which were harvested
in SEA (2012)
Rice is unique in a way because it can be grown in a wide
range of environments where other crops cannot thrive in.

Classifications of Rice Environments:

1. Altitude: Upland or Lowland
2. Hydrologic characteristics: Rain-fed or Irrigated
Irrigated rice
• More than 75% of global rice
supply comes from 79 million ha
of irrigated lowlands
• Philippines: Occupies 1.7 million
ha and produces more than 50%
of annual rice supply
• Plays a significant role in
alleviating poverty, achieving
economic development and
food security
Phases of irrigated rice cultivation
Land preparation
• Involves soaking, plowing
and puddling of soil
• Provides weed control
• Reduces soil permeability
• Better soil condition for
successful crop
establishment
Phases of irrigated rice cultivation
Crop establishment:
A. Transplanting
-seedlings are transferred
from a seedbed to a wet field
B. Direct seeding
-dry seeds or pre-germinated
seeds are broadcasted or
planted by machine
 Water use in irrigated rice

• Water is lost during land preparation

• The field is kept flooded with 8-10 cm of water
• Water is supplied through irrigation
• Total water input 1000-2000 mm
• Large water losses from seepage, evaporation and
percolation
Water scarcity
Causes of water
scarcity:
1.Decreasing resources
2.Decreasing water
quality
3.Malfunctioning of
irrigation systems
Challenge for Agriculture
• 15-20 million ha of Asia’s irrigated rice will suffer from water
scarcity by 2025.

Water-saving technologies:
1. Alternate wetting and drying (AWD)
2. Saturated soil culture (SSC)
Results in reduced water losses, but yield decline with current
lowland varieties.
 With the decreasing water resources and increasing rice demand
from the growing population, agriculture is faced with a challenge to
produce more rice while using less water
Aerobic rice Traditional flooded rice
 2.1 Synthesis
2. MATERIALS A. Terminology

AND METHODS B. Design and location of

experiments
C. Calculations and statistical
analysis
2.2 Suitability mapping
A. Study Area
B. Data collection and
processing
C. Suitability analysis
 Literature review of aerobic rice
technology in the country

Study of the detailed methodology

of each experiment

Synthesizing results of experiments

with similar treatment factors

Finding out how different factors

affect yield and WP of aerobic rice

Developing management
recommendations that maximize the
yield potential and WP of aerobic
rice
 2.1.1 Terminology
• Treatment Factors: water management schemes, level of nitrogen
application, row spacing, type of establishment, irrigation
methods, ground cover type
• Non-treatment Factors: naturally occurring pests, micro-nutrient
imbalances
• Site Characteristics: agro-meteorological conditions,
groundwater table, soil type
• Notation: experiment + year,season + location (ex. WxN 2004DS
Dapdap)
 2.1.2 Location and Design of Experiments

Field experiments were conducted in Tarlac, Bulacan, Los Baños and

Nueva Ecija
The experiments were laid out in a split-plot design, wherein two
variables under study were each assigned a plot size.
2004DS WxN Dapdap
2.1.3 Calculations and Statistical Analysis

Equation 1:
WPIR = Y/I
where
WPIR – the water productivity with respect to irrigation and rainfall (kg/m3)
Y - grain yield (kg/ha)
I - water input from irrigation and rainfall (m3/ha)
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was done to determine significant
differences in yield and WPIR between treatment factors.

CropStat v. 7.2
• Provides balanced analysis of variance for split-plot designs
• Data was imported from Excel files containing yield and WPIR for
each treatment and repetition
Table 1. Calculation of LSD values per type of comparison
Type of comparison Least Significant Difference at 0.05
probability level
Two main plot means (averaged
over all sub-plot treatments) 2𝐸𝑎
𝑇𝑎 ×
𝑟×𝑏

Two subplot means (averaged over

all main-plot treatments) 2𝐸𝑏
𝑇𝑏 ×
𝑟×𝑎

Two subplot means at the same

main-plot treatment 2𝐸𝑏
𝑇𝑏 ×
𝑟

Two main plot means at the same or

different sub-plot treatments 2 × [(𝑏 − 1) × 𝐸𝑏 + 𝐸𝑎
𝑟×𝑏

Ea= error a (MS), Eb= error b (MS), r = no. of replications, a = no. of main-plot treatments, b = no. of
sub-plot treatments

T-values: obtained from tabular T-values using n (degrees of freedom) of error A and error B.
2.2 Suitability 2.2 Suitability mapping
Analysis A. Study Area
B. Data collection and
processing
C. Suitability analysis
Study Area
Oriental Mindoro Province
• Rich and arable land
suitable for agriculture
• Has high potential for
aerobic rice
• Around 20,000 ha of land is
cultivated for upland rice
 Table 2. Source of spatial data used for suitability
mapping

Data Source Format Description

Precipitation and https://worldclim.org/ Raster Average

Temperature temperature and
precipitation in
Oriental Mindoro

Digital elevation https://gdemdl.aster.jspacesy Raster Digital elevation

Model stems model of Mindoro
Island (30 m x 30 m)

Soil Map Department of Agriculture Vector Soil texture data

through BSWM with eight
classifications based
on USDA soil
textural triangle

Land use NAMRIA Vector Provides the land

classification Map use type of each
polygon
 Quantum GIS (QGIS)

• Free and open-source Geographic

Information System
• Provides standard GIS-functionality
• Support most vector and raster file types
Rainfall and Temperature

• Obtained from Worldclim.org

• Raster maps (global scale)
• Mean monthly weather data
• Clip raster function in QGIS
• Rainfall were clustered while T
was averaged (May-August)
Slope

• Source: ASTER Global DEM

• 4 tiles were downloaded from to cover the entire province
• Raster files were merged using mosaic raster function in QGIS
• Slope map was derived from the DEM
Soil Type

• Source: BSWM, DA
• Vector shapefile soil textural class per polygon
• Raster conversion
• Reclassified: freely-draining soils have higher suitability
Table 3. Suitability factors in identifying rainfed areas for aerobic rice
Factor Weight (%) Description Suitability
Scale
4-month clustered 40 900 to 1300 3
rainfall (mm)
>1300 2

700 to 900 1

<700 0
Average monthly 25 28 to 32 3
temperature (°C)
22 to 28 2
15 to 22 1

Suitability Criteria
<15 0
Soil texture 20 Sand, sandy loam, loamy sand 3

Sandy clay loam, silty loam, 2

loam

Clay, silty clay, clay loam,

sandy clay 1
Slope (%) 15 0 to 3 3

3 to 8 2

8 to 13 1

>13 0
Land use CONSTRAINT Arable, grassland, perennial 1
crops
0
Built up areas, forests, inland
waters
 4-month clustered
Reclassified slope
baseline rainfall
map
map
Land use
constraint map
Average mean
Reclassified
Data collection, monthly
temperature map Raster calculator
Start processing and temperature map
analysis Weighted overlay
overlay
Soil texture map
Reclassified soil
of Oriental
texture map
Mindoro

Raster conversion
Suitability map for
tropical aerobic rice
Slope map of Reclassified in Oriental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro rainfall map

End

Figure 1. Process flow for the generation of suitable rainfed areas for tropical aerobic rice in Oriental Mindoro
Table 4. Suitability factors in identifying rainfed areas for aerobic rice
Factor Weight (%) Description Suitability
Scale
Proximity from 40 >2000 m 3
point of diversion
1500 to 2000 2

500 to 1500 1

<500 0
Soil texture 30 Sand, sandy loam, loamy sand 3

Sandy clay loam, silty loam, 2

loam

Suitability Criteria
Clay, silty clay, clay loam,
sandy clay 1
Slope (%) 30 0 to 3 3

3 to 8 2

8 to 13 1

>13 0
Existing Irrigable CONSTRAINT
area
 Raster conversion

Screener map for

Point of diversion Reclassified
existing irrigated
proximity map proximity map
areas

Data collection, Soil texture map

Reclassified soil Weighted
Start processing and of Oriental
texture map overlay
analysis Mindoro

Target areas for

tropical aerobic
rice in Oriental
Slope map of Reclassified slope Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro map

End

Figure 2. Process flow for the generation of target irrigated areas for tropical aerobic rice in Oriental Mindoro
 3.1 Synthesis

3.3 Results and

A. Water
B. Nitrogen application and timing

Discussion C. Row spacing

D. Establishment Method
E. Irrigation method
F. Ground Cover
G. Aerobic rice varieties
3.2 Suitability analysis
A. Suitable rainfed areas
B. Target irrigated areas
 Water

Water management Field instructions:

schemes: • Manual dry seeding at 2-3
W1= irrigation twice a week cm depth, 25 cm rows
W2= irrigation once a week • 4-5 days after sowing: 1 cm
W3= irrigation once in 2 flash irrigation
weeks • Emergence to tillering: 2
Variety: Apo cm irrigation depth
• Tillering onwards: 4 cm
irrigation depth
 Water

• Field experiments were done during the DS

• Most experiments had low yields (<2 t ha-1)
• Irrigation interval significantly affected yield
• Irrigation twice a week: At least 900 mm of water to have good
yields (3 t ha-1)
• Other intervals: At least 700 mm of water can result in yields
averaging 2.5 t ha-1
 Result comparison
Table 5. Grain yield and WPIR under different water regimes
Experiment Water regime Irrigation input Grain yield, t/ha WPIR, kg/m3
WxN 2005DS W1 1070 3.39 a 0.4 b
PhilRice W2 630 3.47 a 0.6 a
W3 590 3.43 a 0.6 a

WxN 2007DS W1 1000 3.56 a 0.36 b

Bulacan W2 700 2.89 b 0.41 b
W3 560 3.12 b 0.63 a
*Column means followed by the same letter are not significantly different at 5% level of significance
 Nitrogen Level

• Nitrogen rates: 0 to 165kg N/ha

• Four replications
• Variety: Apo
• Three splits; 33.33% 10-14DAE, 33.33% MT, 33.33% PI
 Table 6. Effect of nitrogen application on grain

Nitrogen Level
yield

EXPERIMENT NITROGEN GRAIN

R AT E Y I E L D, T / H A

NxRS 2004WS N0 2.93 c

Notes San Ildefonso N60 4.17 b
• Nitrogen is an important nutrient for N90 4.61 a
N120 3.95 b
aerobic rice N150 3.53 b
• Yield increased with increasing N-
rates WxN 2005WS N0 1.7 c
• N-rate of 90-120 kg N/ha is the most Dapdap N60 3.1 b
optimal N90 3.3 a
N120 3.8 a
• Higher application rates has smaller N150 4.0 a
effects, result in lodging
WxN 2007DS N0 2.12 b
Bulacan N60 3.53 a
N120 3.69 a
N165 3.41 a

*Column means followed by the same letter are not

significantly different at 5% level of significance
 Nitrogen Timing (N-splits)

Fixed N-rate of 100 kg N-splits:

N/ha NS1: 0-30-30-30-10
Application schedule: NS2: 0-20-50-30-0
basal, 10-14DAE, 30- NS3: 0-20-30-50-0
35DAE, 45-50DAE and at NS4: 23-23-29-25-0
flowering NS5: 18-0-29-43-10
Nitrogen timing

Table 7. Effect of nitrogen timing on grain yield

E X P E R IM EN T NS N -S P L I T GRAIN
Y I E L D,
T/HA Notes
• NS4 had the highest biomass during
NSxR 2004WS NS1 0-30-30-30-10 3.90 mid-tillering
PhilRice NS2 0-20-50-30-0 3.48
• N-split had no significant effects on
NS3 0-20-30-50-0 3.51
NS4 23-23-29-25-0 3.24 yield
NS5 18-0-29-43-10 3.36 • Split of 23-23-29-25-0 had lowest
mean yields
NSxR 2005WS NS1 0-30-30-30-10 6.10 • Split of 0-30-30-30-10 consistently
PhilRice NS2 0-20-50-30-0 5.80 had the highest yields
NS3 0-20-30-50-0 5.69
NS4 23-23-29-25-0 5.40
NS5 18-0-29-43-10 6.10
Row spacing
Table 7. Effect of row spacing on grain yield of
aerobic rice

E X P E R IM EN T RS R O W -TO- R OW GRAIN Notes

S PAC I N G Y I E L D, • Row spacing had no significant
T/HA effects on grain yield
• Row spacing of 25-30 cm is optimal
NxRS 2004WS RS1 25 3.83 a
Bulacan RS2 30 3.86 a
RS3 35 3.82 a

NxRS 2005WS RS1 25 3.84 a

Bulacan RS2 30 3.91 a
RS3 35 3.61 b

NxRS 2004WS RS1 25 2.31 a

IRRI RS2 35 1.79 b
Establishment method
Table 8. Effect of establishment method on grain
yield

E X P E R IM EN T S E E D IN G M E T H O D GRAIN Notes:
Y I E L D, • Establishment method does not
T/HA seem to have any effect on
performance of aerobic rice
ExV 2005DS Drum seeding 3.30 a • Drum seeding and hand row
PhilRice Hand row seeding 3.27 a
seeding should be preferred
Broadcast 3.60 a

ExV 2007DS Drum seeding 0.87 a

PhilRice Hand row seeding 1.10 a
Broadcast 1.18 a
 Irrigation method
Janaka (2009): IxM 2009DS CLSU
Variety: Apo
Irrigation application: soil moisture content at 22.6% (50% MAD)
• Surface irrigation: Check basin irrigation
• Modified sprinkler system following LESA technique; periodic
move sprinkler system (90s)
Irrigation method

Table 9. Grain yield under varying irrigation methods

E X P E R IM EN T I R R I G AT I ON TWI, GRAIN W P IR ,
MM Y I E L D, KG / M 3
T/HA

IxM 2009DS surface 800 4.7 a 0.59 b

CLSU sprinkler 514 4.8 a 0.93 a

Notes:
• Sprinkler irrigation provides: less water losses, uniform distribution and suitable
for sandy soils
 Ground cover
Table 10. Grain yield under varying irrigation methods

E X P E R IM EN T GROUND GRAIN W P IR ,
COV E R Y I E L D, KG / M 3
T/HA

WxM 2009DS bare soil 3.4 a 0.43 a

CLSU rice straw 3.7 b 0.47 b

IxM 2009DS bare soil 4.4 b 0.69 c

CLSU rice straw 4.8 ab 0.76 b
plastic film 5.1 a 0.83 a

Notes:
• Ground covers have significant effects on yield and water productivity
• Rice straw is mulch is the best option
 Variety

Apo (PSB-Rc-9):
• First-generation aerobic rice variety
• 115-day rice
• Consistent yields: 5 to 6 t ha-1
• Can tolerate prolonged droughts (3.5 t ha-1)
• Requires 600-1080 mm of water
 Variety

Magat PSB-Rc-80

• Drought-tolerant lowland • Aerobic rice developed by

rice IRRI
• Yields ranging from 3.5 to 6 t • Yields ranging from 1.6 to 4 t
ha-1 ha-1
• Requires 900 to 1300 mm of • Requires at least 700 mm of
water water
Suitable rainfed
areas

Figure 1. Suitable areas for tropical aerobic rice in Oriental Mindoro