Effect of age of seedlings at staggered planting and nutrient management on the growth performance of aromatic fine rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. BRRI dhan38)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during June to December 2014 with a view to finding out the effect of age of seedlings at staggered planting and nutrient management on growth of aromatic fine rice (cv. BRRI dhan38). The experiment comprised three ages of seedlings viz., 30, 45 and 60-day old and six treatment of nutrient managements viz. control (no manures and fertilizers),  recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers, 50% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + cowdung @ 5 t ha-1, 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + cowdung @ 5 t ha-1,  50% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 and 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The effect of age of seedlings and nutrient management and their interaction were significant on crop growth characters of aromatic fine rice. The result revealed that the highest plant height, total tiller hill-1, total dry matter production hill-1 and CGR were found when 30-day old seedlings were transplanted. Among the nutrient managements the highest growth parameters was obtain in 75% of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers + poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 due to the continuous supply of nutrients by the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizer which led to better growth in plants. In 30-day old seedlings with 75% inorganic fertilizer + poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 treatment performed best in case of all growth parameters, while the lowest one was observed in 60-day old seedlings with control. Therefore, 30-day old seedlings with 75% inorganic fertilizer + poultry manure @ 2.5 t ha-1 treatment might be a promising practice in aromatic fine rice cultivation in terms of growth performance.