Effect of Transplanting Dates on the Paddy (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivar CR Dhan 307 (Maudamani) in Terai Zone of West Bengal, India

Aims: Paddy cultivar, CR Dhan 307 (Maudamani) can enhance paddy productivity due to its heavy panicles and high-density planting adaptability. Date of transplanting is one of the important non-monetary inputs which greatly influence the growth and yield of paddy. The appropriate date of transplanting ensures optimum vegetative growth during the period of satisfactory temperature and solar radiation level. In India, maximum rice farmers are unable to transplant their crop timely, which reduces rice yield significantly and increases total cost of cultivation. This research aimed to study the effect of different dates of paddy transplanting on the performance of CR Dhan 307 (Maudamani) and to find out the optimum date of transplanting in terai zone of West Bengal.

Study Design: Randomized block design with 4 replications.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in rabi season, 2017-18 at the instructional farm of Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Coochbehar, West Bengal.

Methodology: Five treatments namely transplanting on 2nd January, on 14th January, on 26th January, on 8th February and on 20th February allocated randomly in each replication.

Results: Paddy transplanted on 26th January provided the maximum increment in almost all the growth attributes on all the dates such as no. of tillers m-2 at 90 DAT (252.77), dry matter accumulation at 90 DAT (1595.20 g m-2) etc. and yield attributes such as no. of panicles m-2 (210.64), no. of grains panicle-1 (280.46), no. of filled grains panicle-1 (233.34) etc. vis-à-vis grain productivity (7.59 t ha-1) and harvest index (44.20%). Highest gross return (Rs. 132825.00 ha-1), net return (Rs. 83336.00 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (2.68:1) as well as the incremental benefit-cost ratio (1.68:1) were obtained from the same treatment.

Conclusion: Paddy transplanting on 26th January can be recommended for the cultivar, CR Dhan 307 (Maudamani) for achieving highest productivity and profitability.