Vol. 69(4)2024 Effect of seedling age and row spacing on growth, yield and economics of traditional aromatic rice (Oryza sativa) in New Alluvial region of West Bengal

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal on a black-husked aromatic rice (cv. ‘Kalonunia’) during wet (kharif season) of 2022 in a split-plot design replicated thrice comprising 3 seedlings ages (15 days, 30 days and 45 days old) in main plots and 4 spacing (20 cm × 20 cm, 15 cm × 20 cm, 10-10-30 cm × 20 cm, 10-10-10-30 cm × 20 cm) in sub-plots. Seedling age had significant effect on growth attributes (plant height, tillers/m2 and dry matter accumulation), yield attributes (panicles/m2, filled grains/panicle), grain yield and lodging. ‘Kalonunia’ rice raised with 30 days old seedlings yielded highest (2.37 t/ha) mainly due to maximum grains/panicle (102.2), and recorded highest net income (₹ 37978/ha) and B:C ratio (1.76) compared to young and over-aged seedlings. The lodging susceptibility at dough stage was gradually increased with seedling age from 15 days (score 4.3) to 45 days (score 5.6). The 3-row planted crop (10-10-30 cm × 20 cm) yielded highest (2.34 t/ha) which was 6.3%, 1.3% and 11.4% greater over 20 cm × 20 cm, 15 cm × 20 cm and 10-10-10-30 cm × 20 cm spacing, respectively and recorded maximum net income (₹ 36413/ha). 4-row planting (10-10-10-30 cm × 20 cm) reduced the lodging susceptibility followed by rectangular planting (15 cm × 20 cm).