Effect of dates of transplanting and levels of nitrogen on phenology and yield of rice (Oryza sativa) in Alfisols

A field experiment was carried out at Instructional cum Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur during kharif season of 2009. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatment consisted of three dates of rice (Oryza sativa L.) transplanting (14th July, 29th July and 15th August) as main plot treatment and four levels of nitrogen (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha−1) as sub-plot treatment. Results revealed that amongst different dates of transplanting, 14th July (D1) had significantly higher GDD (11918.2), PTU (14829), HTU (8206.7), light interception (61.5%) and canopy temperature differences (5.7°C) at all phenological stages which delays the phenophases i.e. maximum tillering, panicle initiation, 50% flowering and maturity. Similarly, more nitrogen application resulted in delays in phenophases. Use of 120 kg N ha−1 recorded more number of days to reach maximum tillering, panicle initiation, 50% flowering and maturity. Transplanting on 14th July produced the highest grain yield (4.72 t ha−1), while the lowest was observed under transplanting of 15th August (3.83 t ha−1). Similarly, application of 120 kg N ha−1 was superior in relation to grain yield as compared to other treatments.