Response of rice genotypes under direct seeded SRI in rainfed condit= ion of Karnataka

Response of rice genotypes und= er direct seeded SRI in rainfed condition of Karna= taka

N.G. Hana= maratti, P.M. Salimath, S.K. Prashanthi, S.D. Raikar and V.V. Angadi

Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Mugad, Dharwad-580005, K= arnataka

An experiment was conducted for evaluating genotypic responses under direct se= eded SRI method under midland situation where water management is fairly easy. Eight rice genotypes representing = early, medium and late maturity group and with different plant type including a hy= brid (KRH-2) were evaluated under two different methods viz., direct seeded SRI and drill-sowing in split plot design w= ith three replications during kharif 2005. All genotypes were directly dibbled (20x20 = cm spacing) under unpuddled condition in 4m x 4m p= lots in SRI method. Thinning and g= ap filling was done to maintain one seedling per hill at 12 days after sowing. In drill sown method, direct line sowing of genotypes was done in 20 cm rows. In SRI method chemical fertilizer = was applied only at basal (20:50:20 kg NPK/ha) and supplemented with vermicompost (0.7 tons/ha) and poultry manure (0.4 t/= ha) at 30 and 60 days after sowing respectively.&= nbsp; While in normal drill sown method only chemical fertilizers were top dressed resulting in total fertilizer dose of 70:50:50 kg. NPK per hectare. Normal dr= ill sown method, received practices like inter-cultivation with hoes (twice) and maintenance of continuous water in the field, whereas in SRI method rotary = weeder was passed (thrice) to remove weeds and loosen= the soil and excess water was removed to maintain field capacity. The observations on yield and yield attributes were recorded.

The direct seeded SRI method was found to be significantly superior for productivity across genotypes compared to drill sown method. In SRI method crop growth was luxu= riant as evidenced by taller plants, more proportion of productive tillers with significantly larger panicles comprising more number of grains compared to drill sown method. The wider spacing, maintenance of moisture at field capa= city and rotary weeder passing provided a congenial condition for all the genotypes to express their potentiality and produced higher y= ield besides saving 80 per cent seeds compared to drill sown method. Genotypic differences due to inter= action effects with SRI method were significant for grain yield and important yield components such as panicle weight and number of grains per panicle. This emphasized the importance of selecting suitable genotypes which can respond well for SRI. The genotypes with good vigour and tillering abil= ity such as KRH-2 (hybrid), Abhilash and Intan could give higher response. T= hese genotypes produce heavy panicles with more grains leading to superior grain yield under SRI compared to their respective yield under drill sown condition. SRI method could b= e very well suited to hybrid KRH-2 which has given good response and can save in s= eed cost.

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