Effects of agronomic manipulations on growth, yield and yield attributes of short duration rice cultivars in Majha region of Punjab, India

This study investigates the effects of seedling age and transplanting date on the phenological development, meteorological parameters, and productivity of rice at the Punjab Agricultural University’s Dyal Bharang Research Station in Amritsar during the kharif seasons of 2018 and 2019. Our findings demonstrate that transplanting 3- and 4-week-old seedlings significantly enhances rice growth and yield compared to older seedlings (5- and 6-weeks old). Optimal transplanting dates of June 25 and July 10, combined with a crop geometry of 20 cm × 15 cm, resulted in superior growth and yield attributes compared to a denser 15 cm × 15 cm arrangement. A strong linear correlation was observed between grain yield and key growth parameters, including leaf area index (R²; = 87.23 and 86.40) and plant height (R²; = 96.35 and 96.4). For improved water conservation, sowing of PR 126 nursery can be conducted by June 20, with 25-30 day-old seedlings successfully transplanted up to July 10 at 20 cm × 15 cm spacing. These insights provide valuable guidance for optimizing rice cultivation practices in the region.