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Seeding Date Effect on Rice Grain Yields in Arkansas and Louisiana
Author(s) -
Slaton Nathan A.,
Linscombe Steve D.,
Norman Richard J.,
Gbur Edward E.
Publication year - 2003
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/agronj2003.2180
Subject(s) - seeding , cultivar , sowing , agronomy , yield (engineering) , oryza sativa , grain yield , environmental science , biology , materials science , biochemistry , gene , metallurgy
Seeding date has a substantial influence on rice ( Oryza sativa L.) grain yield. Previous studies, across the Midsouth rice producing area in the USA, have shown that rice grain yields decrease as the date of seeding is delayed. However, information quantifying the rate of yield decline has not been developed. The primary objective of this research was to determine the influence of seeding date on rice grain yield for two geographical areas in the USA. Yield data from Stuttgart, AR, and Crowley, LA, were compared for studies conducted in the 1990s with modern cultivars and from the 1960s and 1970s with older cultivars. Modern rice cultivars produced maximum grain yields when seeded from 16 February through 28 March at Crowley, LA, and 29 March through 26 April at Stuttgart, AR. Older cultivars grown in the 1960s and early 1970s showed similar, but slightly later optimum seeding dates. Quadratic equations best described the relationship between seeding date and relative grain yield by location and era. The rate of yield decline was the same in both Arkansas and Louisiana and for each era evaluated. The average daily high and low air temperatures for the predicted optimum seeding dates are 20 and 8°C at Crowley, LA, and 24 and 11°C at Stuttgart, AR. Rice seeded during the optimum period has a longer vegetative growth phase than later seeded rice. The relationship between seeding date and rice grain yield will aid growers in making crop planting decisions based on expected grain yields and commodity prices.