Influence of Age of Seedlings and Planting Geometry on Yield and Economics of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Rahul Singh Rathore *
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Umesha C.
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Vipin
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Deepesh Bhakar
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Deepak Maurya
Department of Agronomy, Naini Agricultural Institute, SHUATS, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field study was carried out during the Kharif season of 2024 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, SHUATS, Prayagraj (U.P.). The experimental site had sandy loam soil with a pH of 7.8. The soil contained 0.72% organic carbon and available nutrients of 178.48 kg nitrogen, 27 kg phosphorus, and 233 kg potassium per hectare. The experiment was arranged in a Randomized Block Design consisting of ten treatments, each replicated three times. Among the treatments, the combination of 28-day-old seedlings planted at a spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm produced the highest results, including grain yield of 6.66 t/ha, straw yield of 14.89 t/ha, and a harvest index of 30.57%. This treatment also achieved the best economic returns with a gross income of INR 181,341.85 per hectare, net income of INR 134,295.85 per hectare, and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.85.
Keywords: Economics, spacing, seedlings, rice, yield