Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at the Instructional Farm of the College
of Agriculture, Vellayani during the second crop season of 2001 to study the
performance of basmati rice varieties under different dates of planting.
The experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications. The
treatments included four varieties (Pusa basmati-l, Haryana basmati, Kasturi and
Basmati-370) and four dates of planting (October 10, October 23, November 5
and November 18).
The results of the experiment revealed that varieties and different planting
dates had significant influence on most of ~e qjometric and yield attributing
characters of basmati rice. Among the varieties Pusa basmati -1 recorded the
lowest height and possess good cooking qualities but it was highly susceptible to
sheath blight disease. Among the varieties Kasturi matured early and was
resistant to sheath blight disease, Grain yield was also higher for Kasturi as it has
more panicle weight and thousand grain weight and also possess excellent
cooking qualities as that of Pusa basmati-l. Eventhough basmati-370 recorded
maximum height, LAI and DMP, this variety was susceptible to lodging which
decreased the grain yield while Haryana basmati was inferior in all quality
aspects. Earlier planting (lOth October) increased the grain yield and yield
attributing characters and quality aspects.
Agrometeorological studies revealed that early planted crop took more
number of growing degree days, HTU and PTU Eventhough the growth duration
was more for early planted crop, it produced the highest grain yield. Correlation
2
studies indicated that earlier planted crop received sufficient rams which
positively influenced all the yield attributing characters resulting in higher yield
while late planted crop experienced a high maximum temperature and wind which
was negatively correlated with yield. There was a positive correlation between
duration, minimum temperature, relative humidity, sunshine hours and heat units
and a negative correlation with maximum temperature and wind. Correlation
between weather parameters and sheath blight intensity also revealed a positive
correlation between disease incidence and maximum temperature, relative
humidity and rainfall.
,. Economic analysis showed that planting of Kasturi on to" October gave
maximum net returns and BCR.
