Evaluation of Morphological Traits Related to Lodging of Rice Varieties under

Different Applied Nitrogen rates in Bago (West) Region

Nu Nu Lwin1, Kyaw Kyaw Win1, Hla Than2, Aye Aye Than3 and Mar Mar Kyu1

Abstract

The experiments were conducted to find out the suitable rate of applied nitrogen

without lodging and to evaluate the morphological traits related to lodging of tested

rice varieties. Five levels of nitrogen fertilizer rate (0, 29, 57, 86 and 114 kg N ha-1) in

main plot and two varieties (Sinthwelatt, Kyawzeya) in sub plot were laid out in split

plot design with four replications. During the study period, high fertile soil was

observed in Pyay Township and low fertile soil was observed in Paukaung Township.

The maximum grain yield and yield components of tested varieties were resulted at

86 kg N ha-1 under high fertile soil and at 114 kg N ha-1 under low fertile soil. The

maximum lodging score and morphological traits of lodging except 3rd and 4th

internode diameter were resulted at 114 kg N ha-1 in both low and high fertile soil

conditions. Kyawzeya produced higher grain yield, yield components, morphological

traits of lodging and lodging score than those of Sinthwelatt in both low and high

fertile soil conditions. Morphological traits related to lodging of tested varieties

increased with increasing N rate under low soil fertility. However, lodging was not

observed among the different N rates under low fertile soil. Therefore, the results of

this study indicated that applied nitrogen at the rate of 86 kg N ha-1 produced good

yield and prevention of lodging for Sinthwelatt and Kyawzeya rice varieties under

tested areas, Pyay and Paukaung Townships.

Key words: rice, nitrogen, lodging, internode length, bending moment.

1
Department of Agronomy, Yezin Agricultural University
2
Hmawbi Campus, Yezin Agricultural University
3
Department of Soil and Water Science, Yezin Agricultural University
*Corresponding author: drkkwinagro@gmail.com
1
Introduction
Rice is a major crop in Myanmar. It is widely grown in Ayeyarwady and Bago

Regions. In 2014, total sown area has reached to 7.28 million hectares and average yield was

3.90 t ha-1 (MOAI 2014). In Bago Region, total sown area has 1.15 million hectares and

average yield was 4.09 t ha-1 (DoA 2014). Sinthwelatt and Kyawzeya varieties were widely

grown more than other varieties in these regions. Although these varieties have good eating

quality and high grain yield, their plant stature is very tall. Therefore, lodging of these two

varieties frequently occurred in these growing areas. Lodging negatively impacts both grain

yield and quality (Day 1957; Weibel and Pendleton 1964). Furthermore, high rates of

nitrogen increases lodging by making plants taller. The increase is ranged from 2.3% to 10%

(Rajkumara 2008). Jennings and Sornchai (1964) reported that yield losses of up to 50% was

found in the dry season and up to 80% in the wet season as a result of lodging in weak-

culmed varieties grown under high nitrogen levels.

In Myanmar, farmers have been growing high yielding varieties by using high rate of

nitrogen. However, some varieties such as Sinthwelatt and Kyawzeya have been found with

lodging problem. Especially, farmers who sow Sinthwelatt and Kyawzeya varieties in Bago

(West) Region are facing lodging problem. However, appropriate amount of applied nitrogen

has not been definitely determined for Sinthwelatt and Kyawzeya varieties in Bago (West)

Region. Farmers may need appropriate rate of nitrogen to reduce the lodging problem for this

region. Moreover, there are limited information on relationship between applied nitrogen and

lodging in rice growing in Myanmar. The present study is, therefore, carried out with the

following objectives:

- to find out the suitable rate of applied nitrogen without lodging in tested rice varieties,

and

- to evaluate the morphological traits related to lodging of tested rice varieties in study

area
2
Materials and Methods

The experiments were conducted in the field of Lal Taw Gyi Farm in Pyay Township

and Kan Su Farm in Paukaung Township, Bago (west) Region during raining season from

June to October 2014. These experiments were laid out in split-plot design with four

replications. Five levels of nitrogen fertilizer rate (0, 29, 57, 86,114 kg N ha-1) were applied

in main plot and two varieties (Sinthwelatt, Kyawzeya) were applied in sub plot. In

experiments, phosphorus fertilizer (60 kg P2O5 ha-1) and half dose of potassium fertilizer

(30 kg K2O ha-1) were applied as basal, respectively. Remaining half dose of potassium

fertilizer (30 kg K2O ha-1) was applied together with urea fertilizer at panicle initiation stage.

Nitrogen as urea was applied three times. One-third dose of nitrogen fertilizer was applied at

planting time, one-third at panicle initiation and remaining one-third was applied at full

heading stage.

Lodging characteristic was observed at the time of start flowering. Culm characters

related to lodging were determined at 30 days after flowering. Three representative hills were

sampled from each plot and the 12 largest tillers, 4 tillers from each hill, were used to

measure characters related to lodging. Culm height (length between plant base and panicle

neck node) and the lengths of the third (N3) and fourth (N4) internodes from the top were

measured. Fresh weight of the upper portion of the plant, including panicle and first (N1) and

second (N2) internodes with leaf and leaf sheath (W1), was recorded. The fresh weights of the

third (W2) and fourth (W3) internodes with leaf sheath were also weighed. Number of

internodes was counted. The diameter of fourth internode was measured near the lowest node

of fourth internode after removing the leaf sheath. Bending moment (BM) at third or fourth

internodes was calculated using the following formula.

3
BMN3 = Length from the lowest node of third internode to the top of panicle × weight of this

portion

BMN4 = Length from the lowest node of fourth internode to the top of panicle × weight of

this portion (Islam et al. 2007)

Lodging severity was scored visually as a percentage of plants that lodged at maturity.

This assessment was followed by TTSM (2003) on a 1-9 point scale where 1 was totally

upright and 9 was totally lodged (lodging score; 1= no lodging, 3=0%-10% lodging,

5= 11% - 25% lodging, 7 = 26% - 50% lodging, 9 = >50% lodging). The yield components
-1 -1
such as number of panicles hill , number of spikelets panicle , filled grain percent and 1000-

grain weight were separately analyzed from 12 sample plants of each sample area per plot.

Grain yield was also measured from harvest area (5m2). The data were subjected to analysis

of variance by using GenStat (9th Edition) and Statistix (Version 8.0) and means comparison

were done by least Significant Different (LSD) at 5% level.

Results and Discussion

Yield and yield components

According to the soil analysis results, high fertile soil was observed in Pyay Township

and low fertile soil was observed in Paukaung Township (Table 1). At Pyay Township

(high fertile soil), the differences of mean effect of applied N were observed in grain yield

and yield components of tested varieties (Sinthwelatt, Kyawzeya) (Table 2). The results

showed that mean yields of N applied were significantly higher than that of N-Omission

plots. The rate of applied N 86 kg N ha-1 obtained the maximum grain yield which was

associated with higher yield components and higher harvest index. Hach et al. (2006)

reported that there was an increasing trend in grain yield with each increase in nitrogen

application from 0 to 80 kg N ha-1 and further increase in the rate of nitrogen fertilizer from

120 to 160 kg N ha-1 reduced grain yield.

4
 At Paukaung Township (low fertile soil), the differences of means effect of applied N

were observed in grain yield and yield components of tested varieties (Sinthwelatt,

Kyawzeya) (Table 3). The maximum grain yield and yield components were observed from

the rate of applied N 114 kg N ha-1. However, it was not much different yield and yield

components from those of 86 kg N ha-1. The mean values of grain yield and yield

components were differently observed between the tested varieties (Table 3). Kyawzeya

variety gave the higher grain yield, yield components and harvest index than those of

Sinthwelatt variety in both soil conditions. Nutrient absorption characteristics differ with rice

cultivar, fertilizer type, fertilization technology, soil type and environmental factors

(Wopereis-Pura et al. 2002 and Li et al. 2005). There was no significant difference interaction

between applied N rate and variety on grain yield and yield components in both experiments.

In general, the grain yield and yield components that resulted from high fertile soil

were relatively higher than that of low fertile soil because of different soil conditions. In fact,

the requirement of rice for N fertilizer can vary greatly from location to location, season to

season, and year to year because of high variability among fields, seasons, and years in

N-supplying capacity of soil.

Morphological traits related to lodging

Under high fertile soil, the differences of mean effect of applied N were observed in

morphological traits of lodging of tested varieties (Sinthwelatt, Kyawzeya) (Table 4 and 5).

The rate of applied N 114 kg N ha-1 gave the highest plant height, stem length, panicle length

and flag leaf length which was associated with lodging. Dastan et al. (2012) also stated that

plant height, stem length, panicle length were increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer.

The maximum number of internode, 3rd and 4th internode length, 3rd and 4th internode bending

moment except 3rd and 4th internode diameter were observed at 114 kg N ha-1 under high

fertile soil. Dastan et al. (2012) stated that the 3rd and 4th internode length had increased with

5
increase of nitrogen and it caused more lodging. The maximum lodging score was observed

at 86 and 114 kg N ha-1. These N rates are not high but they found highly lodging score. This

may be due to relatively high available soil N in this experiment. Mousavi et al. (2012)

reported that N fertilizer had significant influence on lodging percentage.

Under low fertile soil, the differences of means effect of applied N were observed in

morphological traits of lodging of tested varieties (Sinthwelatt, Kyawzeya) (Table 6 and 7).

The maximum morphological traits related to lodging were observed at 114 kg N ha-1. The

morphological traits related to lodging increased with increasing N rate under low fertile soil.

However, no lodging was found among the different N rates due to the relatively low

available N in soil.

Under both soil conditions, Kyawzeya variety gave the maximum morphological

traits related to lodging except 3rd and 4th internode diameter than that of Sinthwelatt variety.

Under high fertile soil, 3rd and 4th internode diameter of two tested varieties decreased with

increasing nitrogen rate. This tends to be more lodging. Ghanbari-Malidarreh et al. (2012)

reported that 3rd and 4th internode diameter was decreased with increasing the nitrogen.

Conclusion

Based on the findings of this study, it can be highlighted that for Sinthwelatt variety

applied N at the rate of 86 kg N ha-1 should be used under high fertile soil. The rate of 114 kg

N ha-1 caused lodging in Sinthwelatt. Regarding Kyawzeya rice variety, both 86 and 114 kg

N ha-1 showed no significant yield and less lodging score value of 86 kg N ha-1 than that of

114 kg N ha-1. Under low fertile soil condition, both tested varieties produced similar yields

when nitrogen application at the rate of 86 and 114 kg N ha-1 and showed no lodging.

Therefore, it can be suggested that the applied nitrogen rate of 86 kg N ha-1 should be used

for rice varieties to obtain good yield and prevention of lodging under tested areas, Pyay and

Paukaung Townships.

6
References

Dastan, S., M. Siavoshi, D. Zakavi, A. Ghanbaria-malidarreh, R. Yadi, E. Ghorbannia

Delavar and A. R. Nasiri. 2012. Application of nitrogen and silicon rates on

morphological and chemical lodging related characteristics in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

North of Iran. Journal of Agricultural Science, 4 (6): ISSN: 1916-9752.

Day, A. D. 1957. Effect on lodging on yield, test weight and other seed characteristics of

spring barley grown under flood irrigation as a winter annual. Agron. J.,

49: 536-549.

DoA (Department of Agriculture). 2014. Annual report of Department of Agriculture.

Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, Nay Pyi Taw. Myanmar.

Ghanbari-Malidarreh, A., E. Habibi and H. Mobasser. 2012. Response Morphological Traits

Related-lodgingof Rice (Oryza sativa L.) to Chlormequat Chloride Application

Time and Nitrogen Rates in the North of Iran. International Conference on

Agriculture, Chemical and Environmental Sciences, Oct. 6-7, Dubai (UAE).

Hach, C. V. and N. T. H. Nam. 2006. Responses of some promising high-yielding rice

varieties to nitrogen fertilizer. Omonrice, 14:78-91.

Islam, M. S., S. Peng, R. M. Visperas, N. Ereful, M. S. U. Bhuiya and A. W. Julfiquar. 2007.

Lodging-related morphological traits of hybrid rice in a tropical irrigated ecosystem.

Field Crops Res., 101:240-248.

Jennings, P. R. and S. Sornchai. 1964. The influence of lodging on rice yields. Int. Rice Com.

Newsl., 13: 10-21.

Li, F. M., X. L. Fan and W. D. Chen. 2005. Effects of controlled release fertilizer on rice

yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Plant Nutr. Fert. Sci., 11(4): 494-500.

7
MOAI (Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation). 2014. Myanmar Agriculture at a Glance,

Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Mousavi, M., A. Soleyman and M. Shams. 2012. Effect of Cultivars and Nitrogen on Growth

and Morphological Traits of Barley in Isfahan Region. International Journal of

Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 4(22): 1641-1643.

Rajkumara, S. 2008. Lodging in Cereals. Water Management Research Centre, Belvatgi- 582

208, Kamataka, India. Agric. Rev., 29(1): 55-60.

TTSM (Foundation of Seed Registration and Certification). 2003. Technical Instructions of

Experiment Measuring Agricultural Values for Rice.

Weibel, R. O. and J. W. Pendleton. 1964. Effect of artificial lodging on winter wheat grain

yield and quality. Agron. J., 56: 487-488.

Wopereis-Pura, M. M., H. Watanabe, J. Moreira and M. C. S. Wopereis. 2002. Effect of late

nitrogen application on rice yield, grain quality and profitability in the Senegal

River valley. Eur. J. Agron., 17: 191-198.

8
Table 1 Result of soil analysis from experimental sites in Bago (West) Region

during monsoon season, 2014

Pyay Township Paukaung Township

Characteristics Unit
Result Rating Result Rating

pH 6.8 Neutral 6.4 Slightly acid

Available N mg/kg 114 High 30 low

Available P2O5 mg/kg 22 High 1.2 very low

Available K2O mg/kg 318 High 28 very low

Organic matter % 3.6 High 0.28 very low

Textural type Silty clay loam Sandy loam

Sand % 9.6 77.32

Silt % 54.6 12.63

Clay % 35.8 10.05

Source: Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory, Soil Science Section, Soil Science, Water
Utilization and Agricultural Engineering Division, Department of Agricultural Research
(DAR)

9
Table 2. Mean effect of nitrogen and variety on yield and yield components of rice in

Pyay Township, Bago (West) Region during monsoon season, 2014

No. of No. of Filled

Yield 1000-grain Harvest
Treatment panicles spikelets grain
(t ha-1) weight (g) Index
hill-1 panicle-1 (%)

Nitrogen

N-Omission 4.10 c 8.05 b 119.57 b 68.57 b 25.05 b 0.48 d

29 kg N ha-1 4.61 b 8.23 b 124.06 ab 70.53 ab 25.73 ab 0.50 c

57 kg N ha-1 4.80 ab 8.68 ab 126.31 ab 73.85 ab 26.04 ab 0.52 b

86 kg N ha-1 5.10 a 9.40 a 135.41 ab 75.82 a 26.75 a 0.55 a

114 kg N ha-1 4.62 b 8.90 ab 136.59 a 73.91 ab 26.84 a 0.53 b

LSD 0.05 0.33 1.06 13.37 6.17 1.59 0.01

Variety

Sinthwelatt 4.30 b 8.71 a 112.16 b 70.13 b 26.67 0.49 b

Kyawzeya 4.92 a 8.59 a 144.62 a 74.94 a 25.49 0.54 a

LSD 0.05 0.29 0.53 8.74 2.31 1.50 0.01

Pr > F

Nitrogen <0.001 0.103 0.69 0.14 0.148 <0.001

Variety <0.001 0.634 <0.001 <0.001 0.116 <0.001

NxV 0.067 0.694 0.30 0.22 0.931 0.103

CVa (%) 4.6 8.0 6.8 5.5 4 1.7

CVb (%) 9.1 9.0 10.1 4.7 8.6 2.7

In each column, means having a common letter are not significantly different at 5 % LSD.

10
Table 3. Mean effect of nitrogen and variety on yield and yield components of rice in

Paukaung Township, Bago (West) Region during monsoon season, 2014

No. of No. of Filled

Yield 1000-grain Harvest
Treatment panicles spikelets grain
(t ha-1) weight (g) Index
hill-1 panicle-1 (%)

Nitrogen

N –Omission 2.46 d 6.17 c 69.58 b 61.38 d 24.70 b 0.37 d

29 kg N ha-1 2.70 c 7.15 b 80.40 ab 64.95 c 25.36 ab 0.39 c

57 kg N ha-1 2.94 b 7.70 a 84.91 a 66.61 bc 25.88 a 0.40 bc

86 kg N ha-1 3.27 a 7.90 a 86.57 a 68.45 ab 26.49 a 0.41 ab

114 kg N ha-1 3.47 a 8.20 a 91.41 a 70.50 a 26.47 a 0.42 a

LSD 0.05 0.23 0.52 12.85 2.91 1.14 0.01

Variety

Sinthwelatt 2.68 b 7.45 a 74.56 b 63.81 b 26.38 a 0.39 b

Kyawzeya 3.26 a 7.41 a 90.55 a 68.94 a 25.17 b 0.40 a

LSD 0.05 0.12 0.35 6.98 1.43 0.76 0.005

Pr > F

Nitrogen <0.001 <0.001 0.027 <0.001 0.024 <0.001

Variety <0.001 0.81 <0.001 <0.001 0.004 <0.001

NXV 0.005 0.48 0.97 0.53 0.82 0.68

CVa (%) 5.0 4.6 10.1 2.8 2.9 1.9

CVb (%) 5.9 7.0 12.6 3.2 4.4 2.1

In each column, means having a common letter are not significantly different at 5 % LSD.

11
Table 4. Mean effect of nitrogen and variety on morphological traits of rice in Pyay

Township, Bago (West) Region during monsoon season, 2014

Plant Stem Panicle Flag leaf

Lodging
Treatment height length Length length
score
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)

Nitrogen

N-Omission 118.78 e 91.04 e 27.55 b 26.92 b 1.00 c

29 kg N ha-1 124.06 d 95.53 d 28.32 ab 28.39 b 1. 00 c

57 kg N ha-1 127.85 c 99.29 c 28.56 a 27.95 b 1.00 c

86 kg N ha-1 131.59 b 102.99 b 28.98 a 30.09 a 2.00 b

114 kg N ha-1 134.22 a 105.26 a 28.96 a 31.15 a 5.25 a

LSD 0.05 2.52 2.25 0.81 1.53 0.34

Variety

Sinthwelatt 121.00 b 92.38 b 28.62 a 28.6 1.80 b

Kyawzeya 133.60 a 105.26 a 28.34 a 29.2 2.30 a

LSD 0.05 2.47 2.25 0.49 1.14 0.21

Pr > F

Nitrogen <0.001 <0.001 0.014 <0.001 <0.001

Variety <0.001 <0.001 0.249 0.278 <0.001

NXV <0.001 <0.001 0.387 0.805 <0.001

CVa (%) 1.3 1.5 1.9 3.4 10.9

CVb (%) 2.9 3.4 2.6 5.8 15.4

In each column, means having a common letter are not significantly different at 5 % LSD.

12
Table 5. Mean effect of nitrogen and variety on morphological traits related lodging

of rice in Pyay Township, Bago (West) Region during monsoon season, 2014

3rd 4th
3rd 4th 3rd 4th
Inter- Inter-
No. of Inter- Inter- Inter- Inter-
node node
Treatment Inter- node node node node
Bending Bending
nodes Length Length Diameter Diameter
Moment Moment
(cm) (cm) (mm) (mm)
(g cm) (g cm)

Nitrogen

N-Omission 5.3 d 16.70 d 8.78 c 6.22 6.35 1363 d 1691 d

29 kg N ha-1 5.4 cd 17.64 c 10.89 b 6.31 6.38 1535 c 1927 c

57 kg N ha-1 5.58 bc 18.61 b 11.41ab 6.33 6.23 1659 bc 2083 ab

86 kg N ha-1 5.69 b 19.28 b 12.04ab 6.19 6.09 1698 ab 2143 ab

114 kg N ha-1 6.19 a 20.10 a 12.74 a 6.09 6.18 1810 a 2315 a

LSD 0.05 0.23 0.81 1.65 0.29 0.25 136.90 178

Variety

Sinthwelatt 5.52 b 16.84 b 11.25 6.21 6.15 b 1411 b 1785b

Kyawzeya 5.74 a 20.09 a 11.1 6.25 6.35 a 1815 a 2278 a

LSD 0.05 0.17 0.69 0.96 0.17 0.17 144.20 186.40

Pr > F

Nitrogen <0.001 <0.001 0.002 0.413 0.143 <0.001 <0.001

Variety 0.014 <0.001 0.751 0.663 0.028 <0.001 <0.001

NXV 0.127 0.013 0.013 0.007 0.808 0.501 0.457

CVa (%) 2.7 2.8 9.6 3.0 2.6 5.5 5.7

CVb (%) 4.5 5.5 12.7 4.2 4.2 13.3 13.6

In each column, means having a common letter are not significantly different at 5 % LSD.

13
Table 6. Mean effect of nitrogen and variety on morphological traits of rice in

Paukaung Township, Bago (West) Region during monsoon season, 2014

Plant Stem Panicle Flag leaf

Lodging
Treatment height length Length length
score
(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)

Nitrogen

N-Omission 80.23 d 58.87 d 21.37 d 20.23 b 1

29 kg N ha-1 84.82 c 62.99 c 21.83 c 21.02 b 1

57 kg N ha-1 89.38 b 66.33 b 23.06 b 23.04 a 1

86 kg N ha-1 93.01 ab 68.44 b 24.57 a 23.54 a 1

114 kg N ha-1 96.64 a 71.77 a 24.87 a 23.87 a 1

LSD 0.05 3.75 2.73 1.18 1.83

Variety

Sinthwelatt 85.16 b 61.74 b 23.42 21.58 b 1

Kyawzeya 92.47 a 69.62 a 22.86 23.09 a 1

LSD 0.05 3.40 2.76 0.76 1.01

Pr> F

Nitrogen <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 0.003

Variety <0.001 <0.001 0.134 0.006

NXV 0.582 0.469 0.227 0.044

CVa (%) 2.7 2.7 3.3 5.3

CVb (%) 5.7 6.2 4.9 6.7

In each column, means having a common letter are not significantly different at 5 % LSD.

14
Table 7. Mean effect of nitrogen and variety on morphological traits related lodging of

rice in Paukaung Township, Bago (West) Region during monsoon season, 2014

3rd 4th
rd th rd th
3 4 3 4
Inter- Inter-
No. of Inter- Inter- Inter- Inter-
node node
Treatment Inter- node node node node
Bending Bending
nodes Length Length Diameter Diameter
Moment Moment
(cm) (cm) (mm) (mm)
(g cm) (g cm)

Nitrogen

N-Omission 4.40 b 8.60 d 4.40 b 3.41 c 3.20 c 437.00 c 502.00 d

29 kg N ha-1 4.61 ab 9.46 c 5.14 a 3.53 c 3.53 bc 512.00 c 592.00 c

57 kg N ha-1 4.60 ab 10.38 b 5.27 a 4.02 b 3.85 b 639.00 b 739.00 b

86 kg N ha-1 4.58 ab 10.24 b 5.47 a 4.41 ab 4.31 a 728.00 a 841.00 a

114 kg N ha-1 4.77 a 11.12 a 5.62 a 4.65 a 4.44 a 762.00 a 900.00 a

LSD 0.05 0.27 0.70 0.73 0.42 0.37 83.40 83.20

Variety

Sinthwelatt 4.6 8.89 b 4.88 b 3.79 b 3.47 b 497.00 b 575.00 b

Kyawzeya 4.5 11.03 a 5.47 a 4.22 a 4.26 a 734.00 a 855.00 a

LSD 0.05 0.21 0.86 0.40 0.38 0.39 81.40 89.80

Pr > F

Nitrogen 0.128 <0.001 0.029 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001

Variety 0.278 <0.001 0.007 0.03 <0.001 <0.001 <0.001

NxV 0.145 0.061 0.112 0.37 0.62 0.86 0.85

CVa (%) 3.8 4.6 9.2 6.8 6.2 8.8 7.6

CVb (%) 6.7 12.8 11.5 14.2 15.0 19.6 18.6

In each column, means having a common letter are not significantly different at 5 % LSD.

15