Evaluation of establishment methods and AMF application on growth and yield of rice

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during kharif season (June - September 2003) to evaluate the efficiency of different planting methods and AMF application en the establishment, growth and yield attributes of rice. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with five replications. The main treatments were seedling , throwing, machine planting and line transplanting methods. The subplot treatments consisted of AMF application and without AMF application. Maximum establishment as noticed in line planting. More root activity, plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production and tillers were observed in seedling throwing method. Days to 50 per cent flowering was minimum in machine planting. Higher number of filled grains per panicle was observed in line planting. Higher number of productive tillers, panicles m-2 and straw yield was observed in seedling throwing method. Higher grain yield was observed in seedling throwing and line planting methods. Maximum harvest index was noticed in line planting. Higher uptake was noticed in seedling throwing method. AMF inoculated plants show~d supenor trends in establishment plant height, leaf area index, drymatter production, number of productive tillers, panicles m ", filled grains panicle.", 1000 grain ,eUEbt. grain yield and straw yield. Higher gross return and net return was observed in seedling ing method. In machine planting and see~ling throwing there was high labour saving compared to line planting .. High B : C ratio, gross turn and net return were observed in AMF inoculated plants. Machine planting of seedlings raised in AMF inoculated mat nursery, at a spacing of 30 x 10 cm followed by seedling throwing of MF inoculated seedlings recorded higher B : C ratio.