Effects of plant spacing and seedling age on yield performance of short-maturation rice varieties

A. R. Rafeah and B. H. Yap

Abstract

The data on yield and yield components for three rice varieties over four cropping seasons were analysed. Yield of the three short-maturation varieties (<124 days), Y 790, Y 821 and Sekencang, was found to be significantly affected by plant spacing and season. The overall yield difference due to seedling age was not significant. The closer plant spacing of 15 cm x 15 cm signihcantly increased the yield by 26% as compared with the conventional spacing of 25 cm x 25 cm. The increase in yield obtained at the closer spacing was mainly due to the larger number of panicles and spikelets produced per unit area as a result of higher population density. Significant differences among the varieties in terms of yield and some yield components were also observed.

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