Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Leaf angle of five varieties, Basmati 370 and Jhona 349, the local improved varieties; Jaya, a new variety from the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project and IR 480-5, and from the International Rice Research Institute, Taichung (Native) 1 was studied under two spacings, i.e., 15 cm. × l5 cm. and 45 cm. × 45 cm. and under two nutrient levels, i.e., no manuring and optimum manuring. Leaf angle was significantly influenced by changes in spacing or in soil fertility level. The wider spacing and manurial application increased leaf angle. The varieties differed among themselves in leaf angle, as also in the effect of the spacing and manurial applications on the angle of their leaves. Basmati 370 had a very narrow leaf angle comparable with new high yielding indica varieties with efficient plant type, i.e., Jaya; Jhona 349 had wide leaf angle. The leaf angle of Basmati 370 was more stable under different spacings and manurial applications which characteristics made it very suitable for crossing work with dwarf indicas.
