Leaf production, leaf and culm dry matter yield of transplant Aman rice as affected by row arrangement and tiller separation

Leaf production, leaf and culm dry matter yield of transplant Aman rice as affected by row arrangement and tiller separation was investigated in this study. The highest number of leaves hill-1 (44.53, 70 DAT) was produced in single row, when tiller separation was done (41.00, 55 DAT) at 25 days after transplanting (DAT) and intact hills (48.74, 55 DAT). The lowest leaf production hill-1 was recorded in triple row (26.10, 100 DAT), when tiller separation was done at 35 DAT (26.99, 40 DAT) and 2 tillers kept hill-1 (19.88, 40 DAT). The maximum leaf dry matter yield (2.78 t ha-1, 70 DAT) was obtained in triple row which was statistically identical to double row (2.59 t ha-1), while tiller separation was done at 35 DAT (2.47 t ha-1, 85 DAT) and 4 tillers kept hill-1 (2.56 t ha-1, 85 DAT) which was statistically identical to intact hills (2.50 t ha-1, 85 DAT). But the lowest one was recorded in single row (0.47 t ha-1, 25 DAT), where tiller separation was done at 35 DAT (0.53 t ha-1, 25 DAT) and 2 tillers kept hill-1 (0.56 t ha-1, 25 DAT). The maximum culm dry matter yield was recorded in triple row (4.14 t ha-1, 85 DAT), when tiller separation was done at 35 DAT (4.01 t ha- 1, 85 DAT) and intact hills (4.10 t ha-1, 85 DAT) which was statistically identical to 4 tillers kept hill-1 (3.97 t ha-1, 85 DAT). But the lowest dry matter of culm was recorded in single row (0.42 t ha-1 25 DAT), when tiller separation was done at 25 DAT (0.50 t ha-1, 25 DAT) and 2 tillers kept hill-1 (0.49 t ha-1, 25 DAT). Closer row spacing significantly reduced the leaf production ability hill-1 but increase leaf and culm production unit-1 area and hence, dry matter yield increased. To enhance leaf production hill-1, transplant aman rice cv. BR 23 (Dishari) can be grown in single row but to increase dry matter yield it can be grown in triple or double row arrangement. Tillers can be separated at 25 or 35 DAT keeping 4 tillers hill-1.