EVALUATION OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS FOR RICE PRODUCTION ON ST. CROIX, USVI

Rice is normally grown for production under flooded paddy conditions. The Virgin Islands have limited fresh water resources that limit rice production utilizing the flooded paddy system. Three varieties of rice, 'Bengal', 'Cybonet' and 'Neptune' were grown to compare production under both drip and flood irrigation conditions. There was no visible difference in growth, flowering or maturity between the flooded paddy and drip irrigation conditions. There was no difference between treatments for plant height within a variety. The flooded paddy rice had better weed control than the drip production. 'Cybonet' shoots were shorter and matured two weeks earlier than both 'Bengal' and 'Neptune'. Rice production for 'Cybonet' was better with drip irrigation than flood irrigation, 2,565 and 2,015 lb/acre respectively. 'Bengal' had the best production, 3,720 lb/acre and benefited from flooded as compared to drip irrigation, 3,505 lb/acre. 'Neptune' did better with drip irrigation, 3,240 lb/acre, than with flooded, 2,930 lb/acre. Rice can be successfully grown in the Virgin Islands with drip irrigation and have yields comparable to a flooded paddy system