Effect of Plant Spacing on the Growth and Yield of Local Aman Rice Cultivar

Aims: Transplant (T) aman is occupying a major portion of rice based cropping system in Sylhet region, Bangladesh. Still majority of farmers are circled to cultivate local T. aman rice cultivars, but the overall yield is very low. Agronomic management can be a good option to boost up the yield potential of these local cultivars. This study was conducted to observe the influence of planting geometry on the yield of local aman cultivars.

Study Design: Randomized complete block design.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted to find out optimum plant density of local cultivars of T. aman rice during the period from August 2017 to December 2017 at farmer’s field located at Jointapur, Sylhet.

Methodology: The study were replicated thrice in randomized complete block design considering four rice cultivars viz. Beruin (V1), Moinasail (V2), Nagrasail (V3) and, BRRI dhan49 (Control, check variety) (V4) and four plant spacings viz. (15 × 15) cm (S1), (20 × 15) cm (S2), (20 × 20) cm (S3) and (20×25) cm (S4).

Results: The results indicated that the highest grain yield were recorded in (2.65 t ha-1) in the variety V4, which was statistically similar with V3 (2.60 t ha-1). The highest grain yield (2.87 t ha-1) was obtained (V4 × S4) while the lowest (1.58 t ha-1) from (V1 × S1). Among the local varieties highest grain yield (2.64 t ha-1) recorded in (V3 × S4) which was statistically similar (V4 × S4).

Conclusion: Outcomes of the study revealed that Nagrasail (V3) with (20 × 25) cm plant spacing is a promising option, and isthe best one for local T. aman cultivar cultivation in Sylhet region.