Producing vigorous seedlings and transplanting them at the appropriate age are the most important factors for obtaining
high yield in rice (
Oryza sativa
L.) paddy production. The impact of seeding densities, N, and seedling age was evaluated in
this experiment after transplanting 10, 20, 30 and 40-d old seedlings raised by using different seeding rates (high and low)
and N conditions (with and without) in the 2008 and 2009 rice growing seasons. The study revealed that 10-d-old nursery
seedlings, irrespective of seeding densities and fertilizer application, showed higher yields and yield attributes (productive
tillers, plant height, 1000-grain weight, and straw yield), while at later stages significant interaction was observed with
nursery management. Transplanting of 20-d older fertile seedlings grown with low seeding density at nursery-bed, resulted
in a higher number of productive tillers m
-2 (233.3, 227.3), straw yield (11.1, 10.7 t ha
-1), and final yield (3.6, 3.4 t ha
-1)
in both years, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Yield and yield attributes were significantly reduced by transplanting older
seedlings grown at high seeding density and without N application at nursery-bed. Minimum productive tillers (165.7, 133),
straw yield (8.7, 8.1 t ha
-1) and paddy yield (2.0, 1.8 t ha
-1) were recorded with transplanting 40-d older seedlings grown
at high seeding density and without N application. These findings support the use of young seedling in a system of rice
intensification and illustrate that by making a minor additional investment to raise healthy and vigorous seedlings in nursery
seed-bed, farmers can improve yields.
