EFFECT OF DIFFERENT PLANTING DISTANCE IN THE GROWTH AND YIELD

PERFORMANCE OF RED RICE

KESTREL JAN P. BAGA

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most versatile crop grown in all ecosystems, either in the

upland or lowland rainfed areas. Aside from being a staple food for half of the world population,

its by-products such as rice straw and rice bran are used as feeds for animals. The grain can be

converted into the flour that is made into bred, cakes, and other delicacies. The rice straw is good

source of cellulose and it also used as a mulching materials for seedbeds, growing garlic and

onions, potatoes, squash, and watermelon among others. This crop species is a native of

southeastern Asia and it is now cultivated both in upland and lowland areas in the Philippines.

Red rice is a variety of rice that is colored red by its anthocyanin content. It is usually

eaten unhulled or partially hulled, and has a red husk, rather than the more common brown. Red

rice has a nutty flavor. Compared to polished rice, it has the highest nutritional value of rice

eaten with the germ intact.

 Plant spacing is an important factor in transplanting rice. Proper spacing can increase the

yield by 25-40% over improper spacing. You will also have save money on inputs, labor, and

materials. Proper spacing can increase grain yield. It minimizes shading and regulates the

utilization of solar radiation for photosynthesis.

Variety is the First factor that determines plant spacing. Regardless of the season, tall,

leafy, heavy tillering, and susceptible to lodging rice varieties should be photoperiod-sensitive

varieties. Season is the Second factor. Plant the seedlings farther apart in the dry months, when

solar radiation is higher, than during the rainy or wet seasons. Plants become more vegetative

during the wet season. This increases mutual shading. Soil fertility is the Third factor. Plant

seedlings farther apart in fertile soil and closer in poor soil. Distance prevents mutual shading in

fertile soil, while plants grown in poor soil tend to have tillers, thus, they can be planted closer

together.

Problem of the Study

In Red rice, there have been a lot of studies on weed control. However, such results are

achieved on the percent condition of the locality, which in influenced great by environmental

factors. Hence, newest technologies on weed control are location specific and therefore they are

adapted and recommended to farmers.

The major problem for Red rice is weed infestation. They incur yield reduction to about

40-60 percent. Weeds emerge at about the same time with the rice seeds and compete

immediately, with various growth resources. The yield losses become more intense if they are
not controlled at the right time. Therefore, there is a need to employ effective weed control

method to minimize weed completion and ensure the success of the crop.

Objectives of the Study

1. Identify the weed species associated with Red rice in different planting

distance.

2. To compare the growth and yield of Red rice as affected by different weed

control method and planting distance.

3. Identify the most effective and economical weed control that can minimize the

growth of weed in Red rice.

Significance of the Study

Weed management through efficient and effective weed control method is an

important management practice to increase and maintain the production and quality of

rice. Weed control is done to minimize weed growth and to have better growing

condition of the crop. Therefore, right control method could be applied to improve the

yield, quality and ultimately the income of the farmers.

Scope and limitation of the Study

This study was conducted at the Mariano Marcos State University Research Farm,

Batac City, Ilocos Norte under rainfed condition.