Influence of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Practices on Growth Characters, Days to Flowering, Growth Analysis and Labour Productivity of Rice

Field experiment was conducted during dry season of 2003 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Farm, Coimbatore to study the effect system of rice intensification (SRI) practices on growth characters and growth analysis of rice. The experiment replicated thrice was laid out in randomized block design. The treatment combination of 14 days old seedlings planted at 25x25 cm spacing+water saving irrigation and SRI weeding significantly recorded taller plants (109 cm), total dry matter production (12012 kg ha-1) and LAI (7.69). However, the tiller density per m2 was significantly recorded higher (624) in the treatment combination of 14 days old seedlings+15x10 cm spacing+water saving irrigation+conventional weeding. During wet season the number of days to first flowering (85 DAS) was significantly recorded in the treatment combination of 14 days old seedlings planted at 20x20 cm spacing+conventional irrigation, weeding and nitrogen while during dry season (2003) the combination of seedlings from dapog nursery (14 days old) planted at a spacing of 15x10 cm under limited irrigation of 2 cm on hair-line crack development+conventional weeding significantly recorded days to first flowering (80 DAS). Between panicle initiation (PI) to flowering (FL) and between FL to maturity stage the CGR, RGR and NAR were significantly increased by the treatment combination of 14 days old seedlings, wider spacing of 25x25 cm, limited irrigation of 2 cm with incorporation of weeds and disturbing the soil through SRI weeding using rotary weeder.