Low-external Input Rice Production (IIRR, 292 p.): Seeds/seedlings/transplanting: Straight-row planting using the square and triple-row spacing

Low-external Input Rice Production (IIRR, 292 p.)

Seeds/seedlings/transplanting

		(introduction...)
		Managing traditional cultivars for optimum outputs
		Producing rice seeds in a farmer's field
		Determination of rice seed quality
		Rice seed dormancy
		Rice seed collection and handling
		Common botanicals and other materials in rice seed protection during storage
		On-farm grain storage
		Clonal propagation: a method of seed multiplication
		Raising seedlings by the wetbed method
		The dapog method of raising rice seedlings
		Line markers for rice transplanting
		Straight-row planting using the square and triple-row spacing
		A manually operated rice transplanter
		A drum seeder for direct seeding
		Inoculating rice seedlings with Azospirillum

Straight-row planting using the square and triple-row spacing

ADVANTAGES OF STRAIGHT-ROW PLANTING:

1. Easier to apply production inputs and implement management practices
2. Possible to use rotary weeder
3. Promotes optimum plant population and uniform nutrient uptake

The most common straight-row planting method used by farmers is the square method ranging from 20 cm to 30 cm, planting 2-3 wet bed grown seedlings or 4-6 dapog seedlings.

Square

Triple rows

Another planting system which has increased yields above those using the square method i the triple-row system.

Trials conducted in Navarro, General Trias, Cavite, using IR70 rice variety, gave the following figures (average of 2 cropping seasons):

Spacing Method	Amount of Seeds(kg/ha)	Transplanting(manhours/ha)	Grain Yield(T/ha)
Square Method (20 x 20 cm)	60	120	4.1
Triple-row Spacing	180	300	5.0

Advantages of the triple-row spacing system

Note: Rows are oriented in an East-West direction so that leaves can receive the maximum amount of sunlight.