Abstract

Studies on the effects of seedling age and spacing schedule on the productivity and quality traits of rice adopted under system of rice intensification (SRI) was taken up at Seed Research and Technology Centre, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif, 2008 and 2009 using popular rice cultivar, Swarna (MTU 7029). 16 days seedlings planted at 20 × 20 cm, 12 days / 20 × 20 cm (56.2 q/ha) and 14 days / 20 × 20 cm (53.4 q/ha), 12 days / 25 × 25 cm (52.2 q/ha) and 12 days / 30 × 30 cm (51.2 q/ha) were found superior for grain yield and were significantly different from the rest of the treatments. Of all the five treatments, 12 days aged seedlings besides recording highest grain yield were also found superior for spikelet fertility and ear bearing tillers per hill. Further, 12 days old seedlings planted at 25 × 25 cm recorded 100% germination with longer seedlings and high seedling vigour Index I.