Performance of basmati rice varieties as influenced by date of planting

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.