EFFECT OF SEEDLING AGE ON TILLERING, PHENOLOGY AND YIELD OF RICE IN AMAN SEASON

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the central research field of Agricultural Botany, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University (SAU), during June to November 2018 to study the effect of seedling age on tillering dynamics, phenology and yield contributing characters of modern T. Aman rice varieties. The varieties were, V 1 =BRRI dhan 79, V 2 =BRRI dhan 80, V 3 =BRRI dhan 87 and V 4 =BRRI dhan 90 and seedling age, S 1 = 25 Days, S 2 = 35 Days and S 3 = 45 Days. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The tillering pattern, phenological and yield contributing characters of modern T. Aman rice were significantly influenced by different varieties, seedling age and their interactions. At 25 DAT the highest (97.64 cm) plant height was found in BRRI dhan 87 and the lowest for BRRI dhan 79. Similar result was observed for 35 and 45 DAT as well where the plant height was 105.3, 112.1 cm for BRRI dhan 87. Treatment combination V 1 S 1 (V 1 = BRRI dhan 79 and S 1 = 25 old seedling) gives the highest number of tillers hill -1 (16.33) at 35 DAT and 45 DAT follows the similar trend. For the number of non-productive tiller hill -1 , treatment interaction V 3 S 1 (V 3 = BRRI dhan 87 and S 1 = 25 old seedling) provided the highest number (2). Seedling age had significant effect on days to 100% maturity. BRRI dhan 80 took the longest time for 100% maturity 140.33 DAS, and BRRI dhan 90 acquired lowest days (115.33 DAS). 25 old seedlings of BRRI dhan 90 gave the highest filled grain hill -1 (2042g). 25 45 old seedlings of BRRI dhan 90 provided the highest number of unfilled grain hill

(705g). 25 old seedlings of BRRI dhan 80 gave the highest (4236 kg) and BRRI dhan 79 gave the lowest (3003.1 kg) grain yield ha -1 respectively. 45 old seedlings of BRRI dhan 87 showed the highest straw yield ha -1 (9222.7 kg). BRRI dhan 80 showed the highest harvest index (36.80%) and BRRI dhan 87 exhibited the lowest (31.54%). BRRI dhan 80 performed better with 25 days old seedlings in relation to tillering, phenology and yield contributing characters in Aman season. -1