Effect of Transplanting Dates on Yield and Yield Components of Nerica Rice Mutants at Drought Prone Areas of Bangladesh

To investigate the effect of various transplanting dates on yield and yield attributing characteristics of Nerica rice mutants at drought prone areas, Ishurdi and Chapai Nawabgonj during aman season. Two advanced Nerica mutant lines (N4/350/P-4(5), N10/350/P-5-4) were evaluated compared with one check variety (Binadhan-17) with three dates of transplanting (D1=July 20, D2=July 30 and D3=August 10). The experiments were laid out on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Twenty five days old seedlings were transplanted with optimum 20 x 20 cm row to row and plant to plant distance. The unit plot size was 3 m×4 m. The recommended doses of fertilizer were applied. The effect of dates of transplanting on grain yield of D3 was the highest (5.10 t ha-1) whereas D2 produced the lowest grain yield (4.24 t ha-1). Among the mutant lines/varieties, Binadhan-17 produced the highest grain yield (4.94 t ha-1) followed by N4/350/P-4(5) (4.57 t ha-1). The interaction effect of date and variety showed that Binadhan-17 produced the maximum yield (5.56 t ha-1) at D3 followed by N4/350/P-4(5) mutant (4.92 t ha-1). The interaction effect of date and location, D3 transplanting date produced the maximum yield (5.23 t ha-1) at Ishurdi which was followed by transplanting (4.96 t ha-1) at Chapai Nawabgonj. The interaction effect of variety and location Binadhan-17 produced maximum yield (5.06 t ha-1) in Ishurdi followed by Binadhan-17 in Chapai Nawabgonj (4.82 t ha-1). The interaction effect of date, variety and location transplanting date D3, Binadhan-17 produced maximum yield (5.70 t ha-1) in Ishurdi followed by transplanting date D3, Binadhan-17 in Chapai Nawabgonj (5.43 t ha-1). The data recorded on crop duration from transplanting to maturity revealed that the advanced mutant line N4/350/P-4(5) required the least average 108 days and the Binadhan-17 required maximum average 119 days. Therefore, 10th August was found to be the best date of transplanting and Binadhan 17 showed the best performance at Ishwardi in Bangladesh.