Effect of nursery seeding density, age of seedling and number of seedlings hill−1 on the performance of short duration transplanted Aus rice (cv. Parija)

The cultivar Parija is a short duration transplanted Aus rice, which can be cultivated in between Boro and transplanted Aman rice without hampering their yield. Hence, research work on proper agronomic practices warrant due attention to augment the grain yield of this cultivar. An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during April to July 2012 to examine the effect of nursery seeding density, age of seedling and number of seedlings hill −1 and their effects on the yield components and yield of short duration transplant Aus rice (cv. Parija). The experiment consisted of two nursery seeding densities viz. 40, 80 g seeds m −2 , three ages of seedlings viz. 20-, 30- and 40-day old and three levels of seedlings hill −1 viz. 2, 4 and 6 seedlings hill −1 . The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The results showed that the treatments 40 g seed m −2 × 30-day old seedlings × 4 seedlings hill −1 individually had significant effect on the total tillers hill −1 , effective tillers hill −1 , grains panicle −1 and sterility percentage. In consequence, the highest grain yields of 3.28, 3.35 and 3.5 t ha −1 were found at 40 g seed m −2 , 30-day old seedlings and 4 seedlings hill −1 , respectively. In case of interaction the highest grain yield (4.22 t ha −1 ) was found in 40 g seed m −2 × 30-day old seedlings × 4 seedlings hill −1 which was at par with the interaction of 40 g seed m −2 × 30-day old seedlings × 6 seedlings hill −1 (3.84 t ha −1 ) and 80 g seed m −2 × 30-day old seedlings × 4 seedlings hill −1 . Considering both the individual and cumulative significant effects of the treatments on the yield components and grain yield, the use of 40 g seed m −2 , 30-day-old seedlings and 4 seedlings hill −1 could improve the yield components and grain yield of short duration transplanted Aus rice (cv. Parija). Therefore, short duration transplanted Aus rice (cv. Parija) can be cultivated maintaining a nursery seeding density of 40 g seed m −2 and 30-day old seedlings with 4 seedlings hill −1 for obtaining maximum grain yield. J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(2): 215-220, August 2018