Effect of Seeding Rate for Mat type Nursery on growth, Yield and Economic Efficacy of Mechanically Transplanted Fine Basmati Rice

Abstract

Mechanical transplanting with mat type nursery is quite a new planting technique for rice. However, optimization of seeding rate for producing mat type nursery is crucial to acquire suitable seedlings and planting density for better yield of mechanically transplanted rice (MTR). Current 2-years field study was conducted to determine effect of seeding rate (80, 90, 100 and 110 g per tray) for preparing nursery mats of fine basmati rice on plant growth, grain yield and economic benefits. Seeding rate significantly affected the growth, yield and related traits of fine basmati rice. Increase in seeding rate from 80 to 110 g per tray successively increased number of plants per tray and per hill after transplanting while decreased the root length and root/ shoot ratio of rice. Plant height was not affected significantly by seeding rate. Highest increase in number of productive tillers (8%), 1000-grain weight (8%), total dry biomass (14-17%) and grain yield (10-16%) was caused by 90 g seed per tray, as compared to 110 g seed per tray. Order of grain yield produced by different seeding rates was 90 > 80 > 100 > 110 g per tray. Economic analysis exhibited that maximum net returns and benefit cost ratio (BCR) was achieved by using 90 g seed per tray. In conclusion, 90 g seed per tray improved the grain yield by enhancing number of productive tillers and grain weight of fine basmati rice; hence, could be adopted for better productivity and economic benefits of mechanically transplanted fine basmati rice.

Puddled Soil Settling Period and Seedling Age Affect Growth, Productivity and Economic Benefits of Mechanically Transplanted Rice

“…The nursery sowing was carried out in trays (length 60 cm × width 30 cm × depth 2.5 cm) with five days interval to achieve the desired nursery age according to the treatments starting on 17 th and 7 th June during 2020 and 2021, respectively. The seed rate of 90 g per tray was used as optimized in our previous study (Zohaib et al, 2022) using seeding machine and 250 trays ha -1 were used for transplanting nursery. The field was divided in three main plots and puddling was performed in each main plot with 24 hours difference according to the treatments.…”

“…scarcity and cost has occurred demanding a shift of transplanting method from manual to mechanical (Wassmann et al, 2004;Shinde et al, 2018;Zohaib et al, 2022). Mechanical transplanting is the best alternate to overcome the problems of labor shortage, high cost, less yield and economic losses which are faced in manual transplanting method (Mann and Ashraf, 2001;Rani and Jayakiran, 2010;Malik et al, 2011;Liu et al, 2017).…”

“…Although the mechanical transplanting technology has been successfully induced in rice-wheat cropping system of Pakistan (Zohaib et al, 2022) but still there is a need for research to eliminate various problems associated with it e.g. missing hills, early transplanting shock, poor early stand establishment, inadequate root growth and plant competition etc.…”

“…Although previous research has presented the yield benefits of MTR but only a few studies are present which address the site specific problems such as adequate soil conditions, seeding rate, stand establishment and plant density, seedling age, seedling competition and nursery growing conditions, and their interactions etc. (He et al, 2018;Rashid et al, 2018;Mamun et al, 2020;Dou et al, 2021;Zohaib et al, 2022). Early and better stand establishment along with less transplanting shock is essential for avoiding missing hills and acquiring optimum plant density to improve plant and root growth, tillering capacity, early acquisition of TDM accumulation and better productivity (Liu et al, 2015;Zohaib et al, 2022).…”

“…(He et al, 2018;Rashid et al, 2018;Mamun et al, 2020;Dou et al, 2021;Zohaib et al, 2022). Early and better stand establishment along with less transplanting shock is essential for avoiding missing hills and acquiring optimum plant density to improve plant and root growth, tillering capacity, early acquisition of TDM accumulation and better productivity (Liu et al, 2015;Zohaib et al, 2022). Among various factors responsible for better stand establishment, extended vegetative growth period for dry matter production, and higher crop yield of MTR the proper puddled soil condition and seedling age at the time of nursery transplanting are crucial (Shen et al, 2006;Mamun et al, 2020).…”