Plant population effect on paddy yield

Yield of rice crop in Pakistan is much less than other countries of the region. One reason for the low yield is the plant population. In order to evaluate and compare the impact of plant population on the paddy yield, farmer fields were surveyed and field trials were conducted at the Mona Project Research Station. In the experimental field trials, plant population was maintained in the range of 175,000 to 225,000 plants per hectare. The study results revealed that the plant population has a direct relationship with the crop yield. The fields having 225,000 plants per hectare produced the highest paddy yield of 4.6 ton/ha that was about 41 percent higher than the field with 175,000 plants per hectare. The plant population in farmer fields were found in the range of 80,000 to 200,000 plants per hectare. The project farmers transplanted rice nursery through hired labour and did not care to maintain optimal level of plant population. The low plant population in the farmer fields caused 50 percent decline in the paddy yield. The economic analysis showed that plant population of 225,000 plants per hectare of rice was an optimal and economically viable level. The decrease from this optimum level affected profitability of the crop.