Bangladesh j. crop sci. 2007, 18 (1): 1-6

EFFECT OF SPACING AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SRIMETHOD ON THE YIELD COMPONENTS AND YIELD OF

TRANSPLANT AMAN RICE

A.K.M.M. lslam, M.A.R. Sarkar and N. lslam

8",f,::0"x{f;|,i!,f,f;",:;#1",,0,Mymensingh

(Received on 5 April,2007)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultur:alUniversity, Mymensingh dur:ing the period from July to December 2006 in order to study the effect of spacingand poultry manure based integrated plant nutrient rnanagement in SRI method on the yield and yieldcomponents of transplant aman rice cv. BRRI dhan41. The experiment included three spacings viz. 25 cm x 1bcrn (conventional spacing), 30 cm x 30cm (SRl close spacing) and 40 cm x 40 cm (SRl wide spacing), andseven poultry manure based integrated fertilizer (NPKSZn) managemenl viz. conhol r.e. without fertilizer (F1),1OO/o NPKSZn i.e. recommended dose of fertilizer (80, 26, 33, 11 and 2 kg ha'l of N, P, K, S and'Zn,respectively) (Fr), 5 t ha'r of poultry manure (Fs), 50% NPKSZn +5 t ha'1 of pout*try manure (F4), 50% NPKSZn+2.5 t ha'l of poultry manure (F5),75o/o NPKSZn + 5 t ha-l of poultry manure (F6) and75% NPKSZn + 2.5 t ha'lof poultry manure (Fr). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with threereplications. Conventional spacing (25 cm x 15 cm)was found to be the best in terms of grain and-straw yields.Regarding nutrient management,TSo/o NPKSZn + 5 t ha-1 of poultry manure was found to be tfre highesi grainyielder due to more number of tillers unit-r .area. ln case of interaction, yield and yield components

-ot tf'eiropsuch as totaltillers m'2, effective tillers m'2, grain yield and straw yield were highest in conventional spacing x100% NPKSZn among which total tillers m-', effective tillers m-', and grain yield were similar to conventionalspacing x 50% NPKSZn with 5 t ha-1 of poultry manure and effective tillers rn2 and grain yield were at par withconventional spacing x 75o/o NPKSZn with 5 t ha'' of poultry manure. Therefore, conventional spacing of 25 cmx 15 cm in combination with 50% NPKSZn and 5 t ha'l of poultry manure appeared as the best piactice fortransplant Aman rice cultivation in SRI method because it not only reduced the production cost but also had along term impact on the improvement of soil properties.

Key words: SRl, Spacing, Poultry manure, Fertilizer, Yield, Transplant aman rice.

lntroduction

The system of rice intensification (SRl) is an integrated approach of allmanagement practices to increase the yield of rice. SRI can raise irrigated rice yields toapproximately double the present world average without relying of external inputs atsooffering environmental and equity benefits (Uphoff, 2003). Recently, SRI is claiming to bea superior technology (Barrett et a\.,2004) which can increase the yield to a "fantastic"level (Sheehy et a1.,2004).

Optimum plant spacing ensures plants to grow properly utilizing more solarradiation and nutrients. For best yields, the largest number of tillers m'z is more importantthan that of tillers plant-1. The recommendation of spacing (25 cm x 25 cm) and the singleplants in a square pattern, is h starting point in SRI different from the more usual closespacing of 10-15cm, and in rows, rather than a square. Some of the highest yieldsobserved with SRI have come with very wide spacing, 50 cm x 50 cm (Uphoff, l ggg).However, this is not the spacing to begin with before the soil has been improved by SRIpractices. Actually no particular spacing is recommended as the ideal one for all fields.

SPACING AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SRI METHOD

The best spacing for particular environment has to be established experimentally.Moreover, the best spacing can change over time. The principle is 'wide spacing' but thepractice needs to be verified to suit local conditions, particularly soil quality in terms ofmicrobiological, physical and chemical properties. Again, in wider spacing low yield wouldresult due to low plant population (Uddin, 19Bg). Therefore, spacing should be optimumto obtain higher yield of rice.

ln context of Bangladesh, fertilizer management is very important because thefertility of most of the soils has deteriorated over the years (Karim et al., 1gg4 and Ali etal., 1997), which is responsible for stagnating and, in some cases, even declining cropyields (BARC, 1997 and Cassman ef a/., 1995). Use of organic amendments is generallyseen as a key issue for soil health and sustainability in intensive rice-based systems,both in terms of maintaining the amount and quality of soil organic matter (SOM) and interms of supplying important micronutrients (Reichardl et a\.,2000; Yadav et a\.,2000and Timsina and Connor, 2001). Recently in Bangladesh several poultry farms havebeen developed so rapidly but the disposal of fouftry litter is a great problem inmaintaining poultry farm. Disposal of this manure here and there will certainly createenvironmental pollution. On the other hand, long time intensive use of chemical fertilizersin crop fields create some fertility problems thr:ough soil exhaustion as well as throughinterabtions with other elements (Rahman and Mian, 1997) and causing micronutrientsdeficiency. Furthermore, chemical fertilizers pollute soil and water making environmenteven more harmful for both the terrestrial as well as the.aquatic life. But if decomposedpoultry manure is used in crop production these types of pollution can be reduced.Moreover, suitable combination of organic and inorganic sources of nutrients arenecessary for ensuring higher crop yields without degrading soil fertility.

The plant, soil, water and nutrient management practices combined in SRIprobably enrich the soil microbiologically, but this remains to be investigated anddemonstrated. On the other hand, some research on SRI has been started in Bingladeshonly in boro season. But in Kharif season vast area of land is occupied by tra"nsplantaman rice. Therefore, research work with SRI in Kharif season, warrants due attention.The present study was thus undertaken to find out a suitable combination of poultryrnanure based integrated fertilizer management with spacings for better yield oftransplant aman rice through rnodification of SRI technique.

Materials and Methods

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, BangladeshAgricultural University, Mymensingh from July to December 2006. The experimental sitebelongs to Old Brahmaputra floodplain (AEZ 9) with medium high topography and loamytexture. The pH of the soil was 6.81. The organic Carbon, total N content, available P,available S, Exchangeable K and cation exchange capacity was 0.463%, 0.085"/", 19.20ppm, 5.13 ppm,0.21 me/100 g soil 'and 11.12 me/100 g soil, respectively. Theexperimental treatments comprised three spacings viz. 25 cm x 15 qm (conventionalspacing), 30 cm x 30 cm (SRl close spacing) and 40 cm x 40 cm (SRl wide spacing); andseven poultry manure based integrated fertilizer (NPKSZn) managernent viz. conirol i.e.withoutfertilizer (Ft), 100% NPKSZn i.e. recommended dose of fertilizer (80,26,33, 11and 2 kg ha-l of N, P, K, S and Zn, respectively) (Fz), 5 t ha-1 of poultry manure (F3), 50%

ISLAM et al

NPKSZn +5 t l3-t of poultry manure (F4), s}y" NPKSZn +2.5 I ha'1 of poultry manure(F),75% NPKSZn + 5 t ha-'of poultry manure (Fu) and 75% NpKSZn + Z.S t frai-oipoultt'y manure (F?). BRRI dhan41, a high yielding transplant aman rice variety, was usedas plant material. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete biock designwith three replications. The bize of unit plot was 4.0 m x 2.5 m. The bunds aroundindividual plots were made high enough to control water movement inside the plots. Ten-day old seedlings were transplanted on 10 August 2006 in the well-puddled experimentalplots maintaining three different spacings as per experimental treatments. Urea was topdressed in three equal splits at 15,30 and 45 days after transplanting (DAT). fne tuttdoses of triple supper phosphate (TSp), muriate of potash (Mbp), glrpsum,'zinc andpoultry manure were applied at final land preparation as per treatmlnt requirements.lntercultural operations were done as and when necessary. The first weeding was Ooneat 15 DAT (days after transplanting) and subsequent weedings were Oonj at 1S-dayintervals up to 70 DAT.

Plants from the central 5m2 areas of each plot were harvested separately at fullmaturity when 90% of the grains turned golden yellow for recording data on griin

"nOstraw yields. Five-plants plot-' were selected randomly for recoiding data"on yieldcomponents such as total tillers hill-1, effective tillers hill-1 and number of-grains pani;i;iThe harvested crop was then threshed, cleaned, sun dried and weigne-O to record theyields of grain and straw al 14/" moisture content. The yields of gra-in and straw werethen converted into t ha-1. The recorded data were analys'ed using ;Analysis of variance,,and mean differences were adjudged with Duncan's New Multiple Range Test.

Results and Discussion

Effect of spacing

Spacing of transplanting had significant influence on all the crop characters atharvest except 1000-9rain weight (Table 1). SRI wide spacing (40 cm x ab cm) producedthe higheglSTb"r of total tillers hill-] (25.00), effective titteri hilfl e2'3S) anO grainspanicle-'(209.9). But conventional spacing (25 cln x 15 cm) produced'the highestnumber of total tllgt: ry,' {zaz.o), effective titters m-' 1zs0.s;, grain'yi;id (a;9 i r,"'ii

"nJstraw yield (4-79 t ha-'). ln wider spacing tillers hill-1 increised but tiilers unit-1 areadecreased. The situation was completely reversed in conventional method. fheretore,the grain y,eld and straw yield were highest in conventional spacing due to more numberof effective tillers m-'and total tillers ffi-=, respectively. These resuftJare in conformity withthe findings 9f Latif ef al. (2005) and tslam et at. |ZOOSI wfro tornO that ptant sflcingsubjected to SRl, the grain yield was the highest at ifre closest spacing and the lowest atwider spacing.

Effect of pouttry manure based integrated fertilizer management

. Poultry manure based integrated fertilizer management significanily influencedthe yield components and yield of transplant aman rce eicept 1ggd-grain w'eight (iable2). The combination of 75% NPKSZn + 5 t ha-1 of poultry manure pr6duced tlie hlghestnumber of total tiJlelllilf 1.{30:?2), effective tillers rriit'1 1t i.ao1,

"ir"riiu. tit1"'. rl iii r.gl

and grain yield(3.52tha-').This isdue tomore numberof effective tillersm-2.bnthe

other hand, 1OO% NPKSZn (recommended dose) produced the highest straw yield (4.91 tha-t). This is due to more number of total tillers m-' 1Z+3.5). Combination of poultrymanure and inorganic fertilizer increase the'crop yield by increasing the total tillers hill-l,effective tillers hill" and grains panicle-' than their sole application. These results are in

agreement with the findings of Mythili et al. (2003), Usman et al. (2003), Harne et al.(2004) Mahavishnan ef al. (200$ and Hasan et al. (2004) who observed higher rice yieldin combination with poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer application.

Table 1. Effect of spacing on crop characters, yield components and yield oft'ansplanl aman rice cv. BRRI dhan4l

SPACING AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SRI METHOD

SpacingNo. of

totaltillershill-t

No. oftotal

tillers m'2

Effectivetillershitt'1

No. ofeffectivetillers m'2

No. ofgrains

panicle-1

1 000-grain

weight(o)

Grainyield

(t ha-l)

Strawyield

(t ha-1)

25cmx15cm 10.86 c 282.9 a 9.57 c 250.5 a 163.8 c 24.15 3.49 a 4.79 a

30cmx30cm 17.19 b 193.6 b 15.29 b 172.5 b 180.3 b 24.16 3.12 b 3.90 b

40cmx40cm 25.OO a 156.3 c 22.33 a 139.6 c 209.9 a 24.03 2.43 c 3.13 c

Level ofSignificance

0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 NS 0.01 0.01

sr 0.521 6.309 0.523 1.384 3.892 0.166 0.062 0.134

Mean values in a column having the same lette(s) do not differ significantly as per DMRT.NS = Not significant

r

Table 2. Effect of poultry manure and inorganic fertilizer combination on cropcharacters, yield components and yield of transplanl aman rice cv. BRRIdhan41

FertilizerNo. of

totaltillershiil-1

No. of totaltillers

m-2

No. of'effective

tillershill-1

No. ofeffective

tillers_tm-

No. ofgrains

panicle'1

1000-9rainweight

(g)

Grainyield

(t ha'')

Strawyield

(t ha'')

Fr 13.78 d 163.5 d 11.67 c 139.1 e 175.9 b 24.O4 1.93 e 2.31 e

Fz 19.00 ab 243.5 a 17.00 ab 205.8 ab 177.9 b 23.60 3.33 ab 4.91 a

Fs 16.22 c 189.9 cd 14.78b 180.8 d 173.9 b 24.18 2.91 d 3.15 d

Fa 18.67 a-c 228.1 ab 16.56 ab 195.4 c 206.9 a 24.24 3.22bc 4.44 a-c

Fs 17.22bc 203.6 bc 15.1 1 b 175.6 d- 190.4 ab 24.21 3.01 cd 3.89 c

Fo 20.22 a 230.3 ab 17.89 a 211.9 a 182.6 b 24.61 3.52 a 4.73 ab

Fz 18.67 a-c 217.8 a-c 17.11 ab 204.2b 185.1 b 23.98 3.14 b-d 4.17 bc

Level ofSiqnificance

0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 NS 0.01 0.01

sx 0.795 9.637 0.799 2.114 5.946 o.254 0.094 0;205

Mean values in a column having the same lette(s) do not differ significantly as per DMRT.NS.= Not significant

Fr=Control, Fz=1007o NPKSZn (recommended- dose), Fs=S t ha'l of poultry manure,of poultry manure, Fs=507o NPKSZn +2.5"1 ha'l of poultry manure, Fa=75"/o NPKSZnand Fr=i5"1o rrlpxbZn +2.5 t ha'l of poultry manure.

Fa=50"/o NPKSZn +5 t ha-l+5 t ha-l of poultry manure

ISLAM et al

Effect of interaction of spacing and poultry manure based integrated fertilizermanagemont

Effect of interaction of spacing and poultry manure based integrated fertilizerI.?lagement had significant influenced on all the yield components excepieffective tillershill-', grains panicle-'and 1000-grain weight (Table 3). The yield and yield components ofBRRI dhan41 such as total tillers,m-= 1355.6), effective tillers m2 1216-.2), grain yield (a.15

iB-]3td straw yield (7.15 t ha-1) were hig'hest in case ot.onuentionaijpacing x 100%NPKSZn whereas total tillers ffi-z, effective tillers m-2, and grain yield were siatisticallyidentical with con"ventional spacing x 50"/" NPKSZn with 5 t-ha-' of poultry manure andeffective tillers m-'and grain yield were at par with conventional spacing x 75h NpKSZnwith 5 t ha'1 of poultry-manure. But only, grain yields of conventiona] spacing x 50%NPKSZn with 2.5 t ha-1 of poultry manure were statistically identical with conventionalspacing x 100% NPKSZn.

Table 3. hteraction effect of spacing and combination of poultry manure andfertilizer on crop characters and yield components and yield of transplantrurrdn rice cv. BRRI dhan41

Mean values in a column having the same letter(s) do not differ significantly as per DMRT.NS = Not significantFr=Control, Fz=1OO/o NPKSZn (recommended. dose), Fs=S t ha-l of poultry manure, F+=507o NpKSZn +5 t ha-rof po_ultry rnanure, Fs=507o NPKSZn +2.5 t ha'1 of pdrftw runur", f u=lSV" NpKSZ; .ffi;;;;;-t&;anureand F7=lgo/o NPKSZn +2.5 t ha-l of poultry manure.

lnteraction(Spacing xFertilizer)

No. of totaltillershill-1

No. oftotal

tillers m'2

No. ofeffective

tillershill-1

No. ofeffectivetillers m'2

Grainspanicle'1

1000-grain

weight(o)

Grainyield

(t ha'')

Strawyield

(t ha'l)

Eoro

X

EoroN

Fr 9.000 f 226.7 c-i 7.33 195.6 d 152.3 24.26 2.09 o 2.790 ohF, 13.33 ef 355.6 a 1 1.00 276.7 a 162.3 23.00 4.15 a 7.15O aF3 9.667 ef 257.8 cd 9.00 240.0 b 146.0 24.21 3.38 cd 4.000 d-tF4 12.00 et 324.2 ab 10.67 267.8 a 185.3 24.44 3.67 a-c 4.310 c-fF" 10.67 ef 267.8 c 8.667 231.1 b 175.3 24.39 3.77 a-c 5.160 b-dF^ 1 1.00 ef 276.8bc 10.33 275.6 a 156.7 24.90 4.10 ab 5.680 bFt 10.33 ef 275.6 bc 10.00 266.7 a 168.7 23.82 3.26 cd 4.450 c-e

Eoocr)X

Eoo(r)

Fr 12.67 et 140.7 h 10.00 111 1 k 175.7 23.93 2.12 a 2.340 ohF2 21.00 cd 233.3 c-e 18.67 207.4 c 179.0 24.O3 3.61 bc 5.130 b-dF3 14.00 e 155.5 oh 13.00 162.9 ef 167.3 24.23 2.74 ef 2.750 ohF4 18.33 d 203.7 e-o 15.33 170.4 e 192.0 24.58 3.53 c 3.980 d-f| 5t 14.00 e 174.0 t-h 13.67 151 .B oh 180.3 23.93 2.77 el 3.320 e-qF^ 21.33 cd 237.0 c-e 18.33 203.7 cd 187.7 24.12 3.51 c 4.490 cdF7 19.00 d 211.1 d-o 18.00 200.0 cd 180.0 24.30 3.53 c 5.300 bc

Eoo!+X

Eoo*

Fr 19.67 d 123.0 h 17.67 '110.5 k 199.7 23.94 1.57 h 1.790 hFz 22.67 b-d 141.7 h 21.33 133.3 i 192.3 23.77 2.24 fo 2.440 ohFs 25.00 a-c 156.3 oh 22.33 139.6 i 208.3 24.12 2.59 e-o 2.700 ohFa 25.67 ab 160.4 qh 23.67 147.9 q-i 243.3 23.71 2.46 e-q 5.040 b-dF" 27.O0 ab 168.8 qh 23.00 143.8 h-i 215.7 24.30 2.49 e-q 3.180 foFs 28.33 a 177.1 f-h 25.00 156.3 fo 203.3 24.8O 2.93 de 4.020 d-fF7 26.67 ab 166.7 oh 23.33 145.9 o-i 206.7 23.80 2.68 ef 2.350 oh

Level ofSiqnificance 0.05 0.05 NS 0.01 NS NS 0.01 0.01

sx 1.377 16.69 1.383 3.662 10.30 0.440 0,163 0.355

SPACING AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN SRI METHOD

The best combination for the cultivation of BRRI dhan41 under SRI methodduring aman season was to use the conventional spacing x 50%.NPKSZn (i.e. 40, 13,17,6'and 1 kg ha-1 of N, P, K, S and Zn, respectively) with 5 t ha-r of poultry manure toobtain the highest grain yield though it was comparable to conventional spacing andrecommended plant nutrient management. Because it not only reduced the productioncost but al,;o had a long term impact on improvement of soil properties. lt is evident thatspacing and nutrient management in terms of combination of inorganic fertilizers andpbuftry-manure are very imp-ortant to maximize yield of rice and to maintain fertility statusof soil. l

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