EFFECT OF DATE OF TRANSPLANTING AND WATER-MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON YIELD OF BASMATI RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA)

Lambda field experiment was carried out during rainy seasons of 1989 a nd 1991 to study yield of basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) as influenced by different water-management practices under 2 dares of transplantin g, viz. 10 and 30 July. Water-management practices included 4 initial submergence durations of 5 days (S-5), 10 days (S-10), 15 days (S-15) and 20 days (S-20) and 2 subsequent irrigation levels of irrigation at 2 days (I-2) and 4 days (I-4) after infiltration of the previously po nded water. Transplanting the crop on 10 July increased root density, N, P and K uptake and head-rice recovery along with significant increa se in grain yield by 9.4 and 7.9% over 30 July 1989 and 30 July 1991 r espectively. Initial submergence duration (S-15) significantly increas ed the grain yield, rooting density and N, P and K uptake over S-5 and S treatments. Subsequent irrigation level of I-2 gave significantly h igher grain yield of 6.3 and 8.6% than I-4 during 1989 and 1991 respec tively. The treatment I-2 also increased the root density, N, P and K uptake and head-rice recovery.