Quantifying the Interactive Effect of Leaf Nitrogen and Leaf Area on Tillering of Rice

Abstract

Relative tillering rate (RTR) increases linearly as leaf nitrogen concentration (NLV) increases in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants. Leaf area index (LAI) has a negative effect on the emergence and survival of tillers. The objectives of this paper were to quantify the interactive effect of NLV and LAI on tillering in irrigated rice. Field experiments were conducted at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PRRI) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines during the dry seasons of 1995 and 1998. Two indica cultivars, IR72 and IR68284H, were subjected to various nitrogen (N) treatments. Number of tillers (including main stems), leaf area, and tissue N concentration were measured. The NLV explained a large part of variation in number of tillers m⁻² among treatments. However, the residual, defined as the difference between observed and estimated number of tillers m⁻², was negatively correlated with LAI (P < 0.01). When LAI was considered in addition to NLV, the model explained the variation in number of tillers m⁻² much better, and the correlation between the residual and LAI declined and became insignificant (P > 0.05). The critical NLV and critical LAI for tillering to stop were interrelated; higher NLV was needed to prevent tillers from dying when LAI was high, and vice versa. Use of stem or shoot N concentration instead of NLV gave similar results. Results suggest that LAI, in addition to NLV, should be considered in predicting tillers in rice crop.

Keywords:

• Critical leaf area index
• Leaf nitrogen concentration
• Rice
• Simulation model
• Tillering