Effect of number and age of seedlings on growth, yield, nutrient uptake and economics of rice (Oryza sativa) under system of rice intensification in temperate conditions

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during the Kharif 2007 and 2008 at Rice Research and Regional Station Khudwani to evaluate the effect of number of seedlings/hill and their age on growth, yield and nutrient uptake of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) under system of rice intensification (SRI).The 12 treatments combinations of 1, 2 and 3 seed- lings/hill, transplanted at an age of 14, 21, 28 and 35 days were laid out in RBD with 3 replications. The seedlings were transplanted in a square pattern at 25cm 25cm spacing. The crop was supplied with fertilizers dose of 100: 19.5: 21 N:P:K kg/ha + 5t/ha FYM. The plots were irrigated with intermittent drainage and weeded by conoweeder twice after initial herbicide application. The results revealed that transplanting 1 and 2 seedlings produced similar growth, yield attributes and yields but significantly higher than 3 seedlings/hill. Transplanting 1 or 2 seedlings/hill gave yield advantage of around 7% over 3 seedlings/hill. Among the seedling ages 14 and 21 days old seed- lings resulted in significantly higher growth, yield attributes and yield than 28 and 35 days old seedlings. Twenty one days old seedlings are more robust and convenient to transplant and produced grain yield at par with 14 days old seedlings, but produced 5.8% and 13.9 % more grain yield than 28 and 35 days olds seedlings respec- tively.