Assessment of productivity, profitability and quality of rice (Oryza sativa) under System of Rice Intensification in eastern Uttar Pradesh

A field experiment was conducted to find out optimum age of seedlings and plant density of rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes under system of rice intensification (SRI) on sandy-clay-loam (Ustochrepts) soil at Agriculture Research Farm of Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University during kharif (rainy) seasons of 2008 and 2009. The experiment was laid out in split-plot design with two genotypes and two spacing consign to main plots and four ages of seedlings were allocated as sub-plot treatments have replicated thrice. Transplanted of rice hybrid PHB 71 with 25 cm x 25 cm showed significantly higher growth, yield attributes, yield (12.6%), harvest index (8%), production efficiency (60.32 kg/ha/day), net monetary returns ((sic) 47 239) and benefit: cost ratio (1.56) than NDR 359. Quality parameters, viz, hulling, milling, head rice recovery and protein content were significantly higher in PHB 71. The age of seedlings significantly affected in growth, yield, quality parameters, net monetary returns and benefit: cost ratio. Transplanted of 10 days old seedlings increased 12.7, 4.4 and 17.5% more grain yield as compared to 8, 12 and 14 days old seedlings, respectively. Maximum mean monetary net returns of (sic) 49 227, benefit: cost ratio (1.67) and per day returns (414 (sic)/ha/day) were obtained with 10 days old seedlings. Quality parameters, viz, hulling, milling and head rice recovery were improved significantly with young seedlings of 10 days.