Grain Yield and Agro-Climatic Indices of Rice Cultivars Transplanted in Different Dates in Mid-Western Tarai, Nepal

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to assess the productivity and agro-climatic indices of different rice cultivars under staggered transplanting dates in farmers’ field at Lamahi, Dang during May to November 2018. The experiment was laid in a two factorial randomized complete block design with 9 treatments and 3 replications. Two factors included were: three rice cultivars; Arise-6444, Sarju-52, and Sukkha-3, and three transplanting dates; 19^th June, 29^th June, and 9^th July. Phenological observation and yield attributing characters were recorded and statistical analysis was done. Cultivars under different transplanting dates showed significant variation in yield, yield attributes, and agro-climatic indices, individually and in interaction. Variety Arise-6444 attained early booting, panicle initiation, heading and flowering followed by Sukkha-3 and Sarju-52, respectively. Cultivar Arise-6444 showed the highest panicle weight (4.84g), effective tillers m^-2 (242), grains panicle^-1 (201) and grain yield (9213 kg ha^-1). Early transplanting brought the phenological stages late as compared to mid and late transplanting. Cumulative GDD and PTI were significantly higher in Sarju-52 being 2066 and 15.90, respectively, whereas Arise-6444 showed the highest HUE (4.702). Irrespective of transplanting dates, early transplanting exhibited the highest GDD (2150.76) and PTI (16.36). Early transplanting of Sarju-52 showed the highest GDD (2211) while the highest PTI (16.59) was recorded in early transplanting of Arise-6444. Thus, varieties having high HUE should be planted early for better yield and to cope with the adverse effect of climate change.