Studies on the Effect of Sowing Techniques and Seed rate on the Growth, Yield Components and Yield of Direct Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Rainfed Medium Land Situation

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif season of 2016 at Research Farm, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomised Block Design (FRBD) with two factors: sowing techniques with two levels (broadcasting and line sowing) and seed rate with five levels (80, 90, 100, 110 and 120 kg ha-1). Sowing of pregerminated seeds of rice cultivar CAU-R1 (Tamphaphou) was done by broadcasting and line sowing (20 cm spacing). Plant height (113.07 cm), plant population m-2 (54.33), no. of tillers m-2 (94.67) and no. of effective tillers m-2 (90.67), panicle length (28.33 cm), no. of filled grains panicle-1 (150.33) all were highest in line sowing than broadcasting. Although plant population m-2 (54.33), plant height (113.07 cm) and no. of tillers m-2 (94.67) at harvesting were more at the seed rate of 120 kg ha-1, but no. of effective tillers m-2 (90.67), panicle length (28.33 cm), no. of filled grains panicle-1 (150.33), all were highest at the seed rate of 100 kg ha-1. Line sowing of CAU-R1 at the seed rate of 100 kg ha-1 has recorded the highest grain yield (6030.11 kg ha-1) and with the decrease or increase in seed rate, the grain yield was also reduced.