Rice transplanting with a transplanter is a cost-effective process. Due to labor shortages during the peak time of rice transplanting, it is a promising technology in Bangladesh. However, the high-quality mat-type seedling is a prerequisite factor for mechanical transplanting. The experiments were conducted at three different locations (Gazipur, Tangail, and Rangpur) during the dry season (Boro)/2019-20 to determine the best seeding density for high-quality mat-type seedlings to be prepared for mechanical rice transplanters. The effects of seeding rate on seedling quality such as survival rate, seedling strength, stem thickness of newly released boro rice varieties BRRI dhan86, BRRI dhan89, and BRRI dhan92 were studied using four seeding rates (130, 140, 150, 160 g/tray). Results revealed that BRRI dhan92 showed quick seedling emergence compared to BRRI dhan89 and BRRI dhan86. Seedling mortality was found the lowest BRRI dhan92 while the highest in BRRI dhan86. 25 - 30 days old seedling was found suitable for mechanical transplanting in terms of seedling mortality. Seedling height increased with the increase in seed density. BRRI dhan92 showed the highest stem thickness followed by BRRI dhan89 and BRRI dhan86 with seed rate 150 - 160 g per tray. The suitable seeding rate (150 - 160 g/tray) for the studied varieties was found better for raising mat-type seedlings suitable for mechanical transplanting, which could coordinate the production of larger population growth and higher harvest index to achieve high grain yield.
Kumar, V., Singh, S., Kumar, R.M., Sharma, S., Tripathi, R., Nayak, A.K. and Ladha, J.K. (2017) Growing Rice in Eastern India: New Paradigms of Risk Reduction and Improving Productivity. Academic Press, Cambridge, 221-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805374-4.00008-7
Hossain, M.F., Salam, M.A., Uddin, M.R., Pervez, Z. and Sarkar, M.A.R. (2002) A Comparative Study of Direct Seeding versus Transplanting Method on the Yield of Aus Rice. Journal of Agronomy, 1, 86-88. https://doi.org/10.3923/ja.2002.86.88
Manjunatha, M.V., Masthana, R.B.G., Shashidhar, S.D. and Joshi, V.R. (2009) Studies on the Performance of Self-Propelled Rice Transplanter and Its Effect on Crop Yield. Karnataka Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 22, 385-387.
Dixit, A., Khurana, R., Jaskarn, S. and Gurusahib, S. (2007) Comparative Performance of Different Paddy Transplanters Developed in India—A Review. Agricultural Review, 28, 262-269. https://doi.org/10.4103/0970-2113.44201
Islam, A.K.M.S. (2018) Rice Mechanization in Bangladesh. Publication Number 260. Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur, 150 p.
Islam, A.K.M.S., Rahman, M.A., Rahman, A.K.M.L., Islam, M.T. and Rahman, M.I. (2016) Techno-Economic Performance of 4-Row Self-Propelled Mechanical Rice Transplanter at Farmer’s Field in Bangladesh. Progressive Agriculture, 27, 369-382. https://doi.org/10.3329/pa.v27i3.30834
Zhang, W.X., Zhu, D.F., Lin, X.Q., Xu, Y.-C., Lin, X.J., Chen, H.Z. and Zhang, Y.P. (2007) The Effects of Different Sowing Densities and Raising Materials on Seedling Quality of Mechanical Transplanting Rice. Journal of Yangzhou University, 28, 45-48.
Kobayashi, K., Takahashi, Y. and Fukuyama, T. (2009) Studies on the Seedling Raising Method in Giant-Embryo Rice Cultivar “Koshi Guruma” and Its Adaptability to Machine Transplanting. Japanese Journal of Crop Science, 78, 17-26. https://doi.org/10.1626/jcs.78.17
Yao, X., Yang, W. and Ren, W. (2009) Effects Seedling Raising Methods and Sowing Rates on Machine-Transplanted Long-Age Rice Seedling. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 25, 152-157.
Jia, X., Zhu, Q., Yang, Z., Sun, Y., Guo, X., Shi, Y. and Ma, J. (2014) Effect of Seedling Age on Yield and Population Quality of Mechanized Transplanted Hybrid Rice. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 30, 18-25.
Liu, Q., Wu, X., Ma, J., Chen, B. and Xin, C. (2015) Effects of Delaying Transplanting on Agronomic Traits and Grain Yield of Rice under Mechanical Transplantation Pattern. PLoS ONE, 10, e0123330. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123330
Liu, Q., Zhou, X., Li, J. and Xin, C. (2017) Effects of Seedling Age and Cultivation Density on Agronomic Characteristics and Grain Yield of Mechanically Transplanted Rice. Scientific Reports, 7, Article No. 14072. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-14672-7
Zhang, Z.H., Qu, X.S., Wan, S., Chen, L.H. and Zhu, Y.G. (2005) Comparison of QTL Controlling Seedling Vigour under Different Temperature Conditions Using Recombinant Inbred Lines in Rice (Oryza sativa). Annals of Botany, 95, 423-429. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mci039
Wang, D., Chen, S., Wang, Z., Ji, C., Xu, C., Zhang, X., et al. (2014) Optimizing Hill Seeding Density for High-Yielding Hybrid Rice in a Single Rice Cropping System in South China. PLoS ONE, 9, e109417. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0109417
Hu, Y., Wu, P., Zhang, H., Dai, Q., Huo, Z., Xu, K., Gao, H., Wei, H., Guo, B. and Cui, P. (2018) Comparison of Agronomic Performance between Inter-Sub-Specific Hybrid and Inbred Japonica Rice under Different Mechanical Transplanting Methods. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17, 806-816. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61819-7
Hossen, M.A., Hossain, M.M., Haque, M.E. and Bell, R.W. (2018) Effect of Seed Rate on Seedling Quality for Mechanical Rice Transplanting. Bangladesh Rice Journal, 22, 9-23. https://doi.org/10.3329/brj.v22i1.41834
Gomez and Gomez (1984) Statistical Procedures for Agricultural Research. 2nd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 680 p.
IRRI (2007) CropStat Stat for Windows. Version 7.2.2007.3, 3, IRRI, Metro Manila.
Adhikari, B., Mehera, B. and Haefele, S. (2013) Impact of Rice Nursery Nutrient Management, Seeding Density and Seedling Age on Yield and Yield Attributes. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 4, 146-155. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.412A3017
Hamid, A., Ullah, M., Haque, M., Mollah, H.M. and Rahman, M. (2015) Improving Grain Yield of Indigenous Rice in Tidal Floodplain of Southern Bangladesh: Effect of Seedling Age and Transplanting Method. Agricultural Sciences, 6, 1538-1546. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2015.612147
Runsick, S. and Wilson, C.E. (2009) Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. FSA2157-PD-5-09Na.
Hisashi, K., Shiratsuchi, H. and Ogura, A. (2004) Effect of Seeding Density on the Growth and Quality of Rice Seedlings in the Long-Mat Seedling Culture System. Poster Presentation in the 4th International Crop Science Congress, Brisbane, 26 September-1 October 2004. http://www.cropscience.org.au/icsc2004/
Pathania, R., Shekhar, J., Rana, S.S. and Sharma, S. (2016) Evaluation of Seeding Rates of Rice Nursery on Seedling Vigour and Its Effect on Crop Productivity under System of Rice Intensification. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 8, 2224-2230. https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v8i4.1116
Shankar, P.R., Bharti, P., Dhar, A. and Mathys, C. (2011) Operation Manual for Mechanical Transplanting of Rice. The Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia. https://csisa.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/06/Operational-Manual-for-Mechanical-Transplanting-of-Rice.pdf
Shahed, A.B.M., Hossen, M.A., Al Mamun, M.R., Tamanna, T.A. and Mizanur, M. (2020). Impact of Organic Substance on Growth Attributes of Mat Type Rice Seedlings in the Trays for Machine Transplanting. Journal of Science, Technology and Environment Informatics, 10, 694-708. https://doi.org/10.18801/jstei.100120.70