Management and Quality Assurance of Irrigation Water in the Sustainable Production of Selenium-Enriched Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.)

Abstract

There is a growing need for strategic actions involving efficient water use, sustainable agricultural production, and food security. Agricultural productivity can be improved through good agricultural practices based on water-quality management, new genetically modified resources, and using precision agriculture. This study aimed to monitor the crop water (supply, irrigation, and flooding) of an advanced rice (Oryza sativa L.) line of the breeding program (OP 1509) subjected to Selenium (Se) enrichment. Water lines in a paddy rice field were monitored by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The parameters of pH, pHs, electrical conductivity, temperature, HCO3−, Cl−, SO42−, PO43−, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ were analyzed. According to the Piper diagram, the samples were classified as sodium chloride bicarbonate (supply) and sodium bicarbonate chloride (irrigation and flooding). The Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) was calculated and indicated that waters are good to use in agricultural practices. According to the Wilcox classification, regarding agriculture use, the samples were classified as C2S1 (supply and irrigation) and C3S1 (flooding). The Selenium contents were analyzed by atomic absorption and significant differences were observed in rice grains, with a maximum content of 10 mg.kg−1. In conclusion, the water quality is in accordance with the parameters for use in this crop and the workflow used improved the grain quality.

Keywords

• Langelier saturation index
• <i>Oryza sativa</i> L.
• Piper and Wilcox diagram
• precision agriculture
• water management and quality