Impact of different crop geometries and depths of planting on growth and yield of rice in system of rice intensification

Field experiments were conducted during the kharif seasons of 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Krishi Nagar farm, Department of Agronomy, JNKVV Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) to study the different crop geometries and depths of planting on growth and yield of rice in system of rice intensification. The results revealed that the 30 cm x 30 cm planting geometry had superiority in various parameters viz; growth parameter, yield and yield attributes, which were significantly influenced by plant geometry and depth of planting. Rice variety MR-219 with shallow depth of planting (2.5 cm) had markedly superior growth parameters viz., number of tillers/m2 at harvest. Almost all the yield and yield attributing characters viz; test weight, harvest index, grain and straw yields were superior with the MR-219 variety and shallow depth of planting. The results revealed that growth parameters, viz. number of tillers/m2at harvest was superior at 20 cm x 20 cm planting geometry as compared to other planting geometries. All growth parameters were significantly superior in MR-219 which resulted in production of more 1000-test weight and sterility percentage and higher yield as comparison to WGL-32100 and PS-3. MR-219 (6.94 t/ha) proved significantly superior to WGL-32100 (6.32 t/ha) and PS-3 (6.02 t/ha) with regard to grain yield, when planted at shallow depth with 25 cm x 25 cm plant geometry. Interaction between varieties and planting geometry on the grain yields was found significant. The variety MR-219 had significantly more grain yield at 25 cm x 25 cm, straw yield at 20 cm x 20 cm and 1000-test weight at 30 cm x 30 cm compared to other planting geometries.