Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin

Almasbek Berdibek; Bakhytzhan Shayanbekova; Akbope Aibekkyzy; Parida Sultanbekova; Aigul Alibekova; Galiya Omarova; Adylkhan Balmakhanov; Gulzhan Kalmanova; Bakhyt Seitmuratov

doi:10.18393/ejss.1833718

Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin

Abstract

Rice production in the Aral Sea basin is constrained by high water demand, severe soil salinity, and heavy weed pressure. This study evaluated an integrated irrigation strategy that combines provocative pre-sowing irrigation (Stale Seedbed Technique) with stage-specific regulation of floodwater depth, as a sustainable alternative to conventional continuous deep flooding. Field experiments were conducted over three seasons (2022–2024) on saline loam soils at the Karaul-Tyube Experimental Farm (Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan), using two locally adapted rice varieties (Syr-Sulu and Avangard) in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Complementary pot experiments were used to isolate the effects of static water depths (5–25 cm) during key growth stages. Provocative irrigation (1100–1200 m³ ha⁻¹) applied before sowing induced massive germination of Echinochloa spp. (280–336 seedlings m⁻²) and Phragmites australis (45–62 seedlings m⁻²), enabling their mechanical removal and establishing nearly weed-free, herbicide-free rice stands. Simultaneously, pre-sowing leaching reduced salinity in the 0–40 cm layer from moderately–highly saline to slightly saline, with 0–10 cm dry residue decreasing four- to fivefold over the season. Stage-specific water management—shallow flooding (≈5 cm) during emergence and tillering, deeper water (≈20 cm) at panicle initiation, and moderate depths during ripening- significantly improved stand establishment, tiller number, spikelet fertility, and final grain yield. Compared with conventional continuous flooding, the optimized regime reduced seasonal irrigation input by 15–20% (≈3,500 m³ ha⁻¹) and improved specific water use by 150 m³ per 100 kg of grain, while increasing grain yield by 15.3–20.6%. Water balance analysis showed that these gains were achieved primarily by reducing non-productive percolation and eliminating drainage discharge losses. The integrated strategy provides a robust, scalable framework for water-efficient, herbicide-free rice cultivation in arid, salinity-affected regions.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Soil Sciences and Plant Nutrition (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Almasbek Berdibek This is me
0009-0008-6454-2438
Kazakhstan

Bakhytzhan Shayanbekova ^* This is me
0000-0003-0399-6387
Kazakhstan

Akbope Aibekkyzy This is me
0009-0004-0451-2449
Kazakhstan

Parida Sultanbekova This is me
0000-0003-4194-1854
Kazakhstan

Aigul Alibekova This is me
0009-0009-0434-9211
Kazakhstan

Galiya Omarova This is me
0000-0001-7776-6600
Kazakhstan

Adylkhan Balmakhanov This is me
0000-0002-7609-1346
Kazakhstan

Gulzhan Kalmanova This is me
0009-0007-6296-4998
Kazakhstan

Bakhyt Seitmuratov This is me
0009-0007-6566-830X
Kazakhstan

Publication Date

January 2, 2026

Submission Date

May 12, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 28, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833718

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA82YZ36GP

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Berdibek, A., Shayanbekova, B., Aibekkyzy, A., Sultanbekova, P., Alibekova, A., Omarova, G., Balmakhanov, A., Kalmanova, G., & Seitmuratov, B. (2026). Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, 15(1), 74-89. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833718

AMA

1.Berdibek A, Shayanbekova B, Aibekkyzy A, et al. Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin. EJSS. 2026;15(1):74-89. doi:10.18393/ejss.1833718

Chicago

Berdibek, Almasbek, Bakhytzhan Shayanbekova, Akbope Aibekkyzy, et al. 2026. “Integrating Provocative Irrigation and Stage-Specific Floodwater Depth to Enhance Rice Productivity and Water-Use Efficiency in the Saline Aral Sea Basin”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 (1): 74-89. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833718.

EndNote

Berdibek A, Shayanbekova B, Aibekkyzy A, Sultanbekova P, Alibekova A, Omarova G, Balmakhanov A, Kalmanova G, Seitmuratov B (January 1, 2026) Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15 1 74–89.

IEEE

[1]A. Berdibek et al., “Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin”, EJSS, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 74–89, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.18393/ejss.1833718.

ISNAD

Berdibek, Almasbek - Shayanbekova, Bakhytzhan - Aibekkyzy, Akbope - Sultanbekova, Parida - Alibekova, Aigul - Omarova, Galiya - Balmakhanov, Adylkhan - Kalmanova, Gulzhan - Seitmuratov, Bakhyt. “Integrating Provocative Irrigation and Stage-Specific Floodwater Depth to Enhance Rice Productivity and Water-Use Efficiency in the Saline Aral Sea Basin”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science 15/1 (January 1, 2026): 74-89. https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1833718.

JAMA

1.Berdibek A, Shayanbekova B, Aibekkyzy A, Sultanbekova P, Alibekova A, Omarova G, Balmakhanov A, Kalmanova G, Seitmuratov B. Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin. EJSS. 2026;15:74–89.

MLA

Berdibek, Almasbek, et al. “Integrating Provocative Irrigation and Stage-Specific Floodwater Depth to Enhance Rice Productivity and Water-Use Efficiency in the Saline Aral Sea Basin”. Eurasian Journal of Soil Science, vol. 15, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 74-89, doi:10.18393/ejss.1833718.

Vancouver

1.Almasbek Berdibek, Bakhytzhan Shayanbekova, Akbope Aibekkyzy, Parida Sultanbekova, Aigul Alibekova, Galiya Omarova, Adylkhan Balmakhanov, Gulzhan Kalmanova, Bakhyt Seitmuratov. Integrating provocative irrigation and stage-specific floodwater depth to enhance rice productivity and water-use efficiency in the saline Aral Sea Basin. EJSS. 2026 Jan. 1;15(1):74-89. doi:10.18393/ejss.1833718

Cited By

Stage-sensitive conjunctive use of river and collector–drainage water sustains rice production under saline soil conditions in the Kazakh Aral Sea Region: A three-year field study

EURASIAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE (EJSS)

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1909238