Effect of planting geometry and fertilizer dose on grain yield and disease incidence in some mid duration rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted from 2000 – 2002 at Regional Rainfed Lowland Rice Research Station, Gerua, Assam, India, to find out the effects of planting geometry and fertilizer doses on grain yield and disease incidence of some rice varieties. The results revealed that planting geometry of skipping one row after every three rows with 15 × 15 cm spacing resulted in highest grain yield. Grain yields were similar with the next best planting geometry of 20 × 15 cm. Incidence of sheath rot disease (34.4%) and also its severity in terms of chaff number per panicle (41.4) were less under the skip row arrangement. Also, the skip row planting had the advantage of easy cultural operations in field. Yield response of Tapaswini rice to fertilizer dose was less (80, 17.4, and 33.4 kg N, P, and K per ha) in the wet season while more (120, 26, and 50 kg N, P, and K per ha) in the dry season. The study shows advantages of the optimum planting geometry of skipping one row after every three rows at 15 × 15 cm spacing.

Keywords:

• Row spacing
• intra-row spacing
• fertilizer dose
• rice
• grain yield
• sheath rot disease
• false smut disease