Effect of Different Crop Establishment Methods on Growth and Yield Response of Lowland Irrigated Rice in the Northern Region of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Inappropriate method of crop establishment is one of the reasons for low yields in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of crop establishment methods such as, manual transplanting at 30 cm row spacing, broadcasting (check), dry seeder method, mechanized transplanting, random transplanting by hand and parachute method on growth and yield of 3½ month age group rice. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with 3 replicates in each treatment. Data on number of plant/m2, plant height, number of tillers/m2, panicles/plant and paddy yield were recorded. Economics and costbenefit ratio of each planting method were also calculated. The results indicated that paddy yield and cost-benefit ratio were significantly high in mechanized transplanting (5.57 and 1.58 t ha-1, respectively) and parachute method with the values of 4.84 and 1.94 t ha-1, respectively for the same parameters. Broadcasting method revealed a lower yield and cost-benefit ratio (4.11 and 1.22 t ha-1, respectively) compared with mechanized transplanting and parachute method. However, broadcasting showed a higher yield due to presence of high number of plant per area than the transplanting by hand. It was further revealed that plant height, tiller density and panicles per plant were significantly high in mechanized transplanting method and par with parachute method. Therefore, both mechanized transplanting and parachute method can be considered as economical methods of crop establishment to increase the crop productivity in rice.