Grain Yield and its Components of Rice Cultivar Sakha 106 as Affected by Sowing Date, Hill Spacing and Zinc Fertilizer Level

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted in the summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 at the Agricultural Research Station, Alexandria University, Egypt. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of sowing date (May10, May 20, June 10 and June 20), hill spacing ( 10 x 15, 15 x 15, 25 x 15 and 30 x 15 cm) and zinc sulphate fertilizer level ( 0, 12, 36 and 48 kg ZnSO4/ha) on grain yield and yield components of rice cultivar Sakha 106. The design applied in the two seasons was partially replicated central composite design in which factorial and star points were replicated three times. The results indicated that delaying sowing resulted in progressive decrease in 100-grain weight and grain yield (beyond May 10), number of effective tillers/m 2 and number of grains/panicle (beyond May 30). Hill spacing of 20 x 15cm was found to be optimal for number of grains/panicle, 100-grain weight and grain yield/ha, whereas number of tillers/ m 2 was highest at 30 x 15cm hill spacing. Zinc sulphate fertilization level of 48 kg/ha increased all yield and yield components. It could be concluded to sow cultivar Sakha 106 in the region early on May 10 at hill spacing of 20 x 15cm and application of 48 kg ZnSO4/ha to obtain high grain yield potential as a result of optimal production of yield components.