Effects of Seedling Age on Growth and Yield of Machine Transplanted Rice in Southern Plain Region

Three rice cultivars, Namweonbyeo (early maturing), Hwaseongbyeo (medium maturing) and Dongjinbyeo (medium-late maturing) were trans-planted with 3 different seedling ages to investigate their growth habits and to improve the cultural method in paddy fields in the southern plain area of the Honam region in 1993. The 10-day old seedlings had more vigorous elongation of plant height and higher tillering ability but lower effective tiller rate, when compared with 35-day or 40-day old seedlings. Leaf area index and top dry weight were lower in 10-day old seedlings up to 40 days after transplanting but thereafter, were not different among seedlings ages. CGR was later in 10-day old seedlings, up to 30 days after transplanting, but in 30 to 40 days after transplanting, it was reversed. RGR was the highest in infant seedlings to 40 days after trans-planting, while in 50 days after transplanting, it was reversed. Panicle number and spikelet number per square meter were the highest in 40-day old seedlings, next highest in 35-day old seedlings and the lowest and in adult seedlings up to 40 days after transplanting, while spikelet number per panicle was vice versa. Milled rice yield did not vary significantly by seedling ages, but among the varieties, it was less in Hwaseongbyeo compared with Naweonbyeo and Dongjnbyeo.