Influence of age of seedlings and planting geometry on growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment titled “Influence of Seedling Age and Planting Geometry on Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)” was carried out during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.). The experimental soil was sandy loam in texture, with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH of 7.8. It contained 0.72% organic carbon and had nutrient levels of 178.48 kg/ha nitrogen, 27 kg/ha phosphorus, and 233 kg/ha potassium. The experiment followed a Randomized Block Design with ten treatments, each replicated three times. Treatments combined different seedling ages (14, 21, and 28 days) with varied planting geometries (20×10 cm, 20×20 cm, and 30×10 cm), along with a control. The treatment combinations were as follows: T1: 14-day seedlings + 20×10 cm spacing, T2: 14-day seedlings + 20×20 cm, T3: 14-day seedlings + 30×10 cm, T4: 21-day seedlings + 20×10 cm, T5: 21-day seedlings + 20×20 cm, T6: 21-day seedlings + 30×10 cm, T7: 28-day seedlings + 20×10 cm, T8: 28-day seedlings + 20×20 cm, T9: 28-day seedlings + 30×10 cm, T10: Control. The findings showed that the combination of 28-day-old seedlings planted at 30×10 cm spacing (T9) delivered the best performance across key growth and yield parameters. This treatment recorded the tallest plants (122.25 cm), highest dry matter production (37.65 g/plant), the most tillers (21.38), effective tillers per square meter (12.91), panicles per hill (10.61), and grains per panicle (101.72). These results highlight the potential of optimized seedling age and spacing to significantly enhance rice productivity.