Abstract
Three field experiments were conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during Boro seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 to find
out the effect of age of seedling at staggered transplanting, spacing and integrated fertilizer management on the performance of Boro rice cv.BRRIdhan28. Experiment 01"effect of age of seedling at staggered transplanting and plant spacing on growth and yield of Boro rice" was laid out in split-plot design with three replications. Five ages of seedling at staggered transplanting viz. 35, 45, 55, 65 and 75-day old were assigned to main plot and four spacings viz. 25×15 cm,
20×20 cm, 20×15 cm, 20×10 cm were assigned in sub-plot. The results revealed that the effect of
age of seedling at staggered transplanting and spacing and their interactions were significant. The highest grain yield was recorded in 55-day old seedling with closer spacing (20×15 cm and 20×10 cm). Experiment- 02 "effect of age of seedling at staggered transplanting and integrated fertilizer management on growth and yield of Boro rice" was laid out in a split-plot design with
three replications. Five ages of seedling as mentioned in the Expt. 01 were assigned in main plot
and seven levels of fertilizer management viz.F1=No fertilizer (control), F2=Recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer, F3= Cow dung@ 10t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer,
F4= Poultry manure 5 t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer, F5 =Vermicompost @5 tha-1+ the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer, F6= Urban compost @10t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer, F7= Farmyard manure @10 t ha-1+ the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer were assigned in sub-plot. The highest grain yield was recorded in the
treatment combination of 55-day old seedling treated with poultry manure@ 5 t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer followed by recommended inorganic fertilizer. Experiment- 03 "effect of age of seedling at staggered transplanting, plant spacing and integrated fertilizer management on growth and yield of Boro rice" was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications where three ages of seedling viz. 45, 55 and 65 days old were assigned in main plot; and four levels of fertilizer management viz. F₁=No fertilizer (control), F2= Recommended dose
of inorganic fertilizer, F3= Cowdung@ 10t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer, F4= Poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer were assigned in sub-plot and three spacings viz. 25×15 cm, 20×15 cm, 20×10 cm were assigned in sub-sub plot.
The results revealed that the highest grain yield was recorded in 45-day old seedling fertilized with Poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer spaced at 20×10
cm. From the conducted experiments the results revealed that grain yield of rice was significantly affected by age of seedling at staggered transplanting, plant spacing and integrated fertilizer management and their interactions on growth and yield of Boro rice. Both 45 and 55– day old seedlings at staggered transplanting were suitable to attain better yield. Plant spacing had also significant effect on grain yield. The spacing of 20×10 cm showed the best result in respect of grain yield. Integrated fertilizer management showed significant effect on yield contributing characters and grain yield. The highest grain yield was obtained from poultry
manure amended integrated fertilizer. Considering age of seedling and spacing, the highest grain yield was obtained in both 45 and 55-day old seedlings with closer spacing (20x15 cm, 20×10 cm).Poultry manure amended fertilizer with 45-day old seedling produced higher yield. Considering all three factors both 45 and 55 -day old seedling fertilized with Poultry manure@ 5 t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK from inorganic fertilizer spaced at 20×10 cm was found the best option to obtain the highest grain yield in Boro rice cv.BRRI dhan28. Moreover, staggered transplanting using 65-day old seedlings fertilized with poultry manure 5 t ha-1 + the rest of the NPK as inorganic fertilizer spaced at 20 ×10 cm appears to be as good as normal practice of using 45- day old seedlings fertilized with recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer spaced at 25×15cm.