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Performance of Rice Varieties in a Highly Saline Sodic Soil as Influenced by Plant Population
Author(s) -
Dargan K. S.,
Abrol I. P.,
Bhumbla D. R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1974.00021962006600020028x
Subject(s) - panicle , sodic soil , seedling , agronomy , population , oryza sativa , biology , germination , soil salinity , grain yield , seeding , salinity , horticulture , saline , medicine , ecology , biochemistry , environmental health , gene , endocrinology
It is generally recognized that increased initial plant population or increased seeding rate in saline sodic soils would compensate for decreased germination, and seedling mortality. However, there is little or no experimental evidence of the gains obtained from such a practice. In present investigation the performance of seven rice ( Oryza sativa L.) varieties at three plant populations in a highly saline sodic soil was studied in the field at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal, India. Varieties tested were the tall indica types ‘Jhona 349,’ ‘Jhona 351,’ ‘Basmati 217,’ and ‘Basmati 370’ and the semidwarf types ‘IR 8,’ ‘IR 8–68’ and ‘Jaya.’ Plant populations used were 2, 4, and 6 transplants/hill. Variety IR 8–68, a local selection from IR 8, with 6 transplants/hill gave the significantly highest grain yield at 57.33 quintals/ha. Variety IR 8 at 6 transplants/hill and Jhona 349 at 4 transplants/hill yielded next in order. Increase in plant population from 2 to 4 and 6 transplants/hill resulted in significantly higher grain yield in all varieties except Jhona 349 where there was a decrease at 6 transplants/hill. Increased yield resulted from increased survival of hills and greater number of panicle‐bearing tillers per hill.