Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A (2022)

The field experiment entitled “Optimization of age of seedling and spacing of basmati rice pusa basmati 1509 (Oryza sativa L.) on raised beds” was conducted at students’ research farm, Khalsa College, Amritsar during kharif season of 2020-21. The soil of the experimental field was categorized as sandy loam. The soil tested medium in organic carbon and in available Nitrogen (N), high in available phosphorus (P) and in potassium (K). The values of pH and electrical conductivity were within the normal range. The field experiment was conducted in split-plot design with three different age of seedling viz. 14,21,28 days in main plots while the three spacing viz. 30cm×10cm, 30cm×15cm, 30cm×20cm in sub plots with three replications on raised beds. The results showed that 14 days old seedling registered highest final plant height, dry matter accumulation, number of tillers m^-2, 1000 grain weight, maximum grain yield (44.7q ha^-1) and straw yield (94.9 q ha^-1) and it was higher than 28 days old seedling. In spacing 30cm×10cm spacing resulted in more number of plants, LAI, DMA, straw yield (94.9 q ha^-1) and this treatment registered more yield (43.8 q ha^-1) over 30cm×15cm and 30cm×20cm spacings.