Seeding density, seedling age and nutrient management for wet season rice production

In Eastern India delayed onset and weak start of monsoon often mismatch the accumulated rainfall for puddling and optimum seedling age of rice. A field experiment comprising of recommended practice (seeding density - 50 g m−2 i.e. 50 kg ha−1 seed rate) of rice cultivation alongwith twelve other treatments of improved seedlings (seeding density - 10 g m−2 i.e. 10 kg ha−1 seed rate, high organic matter, high phosphate along with Zn and B application in nursery) transplanted at 25, 35, 45 and 55 days after sowing alongwith 100%, 75% and 50% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF i.e. N:P2O5:K2O @ 80:40:40 kg ha−1) was conducted during season of 2009 and 2010. Higher plant height, tillers plant−1 and seedling dry weight were observed by the use of improved seedlings. Twenty five days old improved seedlings along with 100% RDF recorded maximum grain yield (6.00 t ha−1) and net return (Rs.38,925 ha−1). 25, 35 and 45 days old improved seedlings alongwith 100% RDF recorded 18%, 10% and 2% higher rice grain yield respectively than recommended practice (5.07 t ha−1). Whereas 55 days old improved seedlings alongwith 75% and 100% RDF did not show significant difference with recommended practice. Thus improved seedlings provide an additional one moth time for transplanting without significant yield reduction and this practice may be termed as system of assured rice production (SARP).