<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">AS</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Agricultural Sciences</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2156-8553</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/as.2022.1310063</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">AS-120372</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Biomedical&amp;Life Sciences</subject><subject> Earth&amp;Environmental Sciences</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Determination of Optimum Seed Rate of Hybrid Rice (&lt;i&gt;Oryza sativa&lt;/i&gt; L.) Varieties in Mat-Type Seedling Raising for Mechanical Transplanting
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Md.</surname><given-names>Anwar Hossen</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Md.</surname><given-names>Kamruzzaman</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Sharmin</surname><given-names>Islam</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Haimonti</surname><given-names>Paul</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Md.</surname><given-names>Mahir Shahriyar</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Arafat</surname><given-names>Ullah Khan</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Farm Machinery and Post-harvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur, Bangladesh</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>11</day><month>10</month><year>2022</year></pub-date><volume>13</volume><issue>10</issue><fpage>1031</fpage><lpage>1047</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>11,</day>	<month>August</month>	<year>2022</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>10,</day>	<month>October</month>	<year>2022</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>13,</day>	<month>October</month>	<year>2022</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Rice is the most important and crucial to ensuring food and dietary energy security in most developing countries and is the staple food of more than half of the world’s population. This study was conducted to identify the seed rate of hybrid rice varieties for mechanical transplanting during Boro (irrigated dry season), 2021-22 season at BRRI research field, Gazipur. Slender grain type BRRI hybrid dhan3, BRRI hybrid dhan5, Ishpahani hybrid dhan6, and BRRI dhan89 were used in the study. The same growth medium was used to establish mat-type seedlings on plastic trays (280 &#215; 80 &#215; 25 mm) at seed rates of 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup>. Walk-behind type 04 rows rice transplanter (Daedong, model-DP 488) was used during transplanting in the field at the set of the plant to plant spacing of 140 mm while line-to-line spacing was fixed to 300 mm. The result depicted that regardless of the variety, seedling density increased linearly as seed rate increased, except for the 21 days following sowing. However, the seedling density of BRRI dhan89 decreased after the seed rate of 100 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup> due to mortality. The seedling height of the BRRI hybrids dhan5 and Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 was significantly higher than that of the BRRI hybrid dhan3 and BRRI dhan89. After 21 days, the seedling height decreased significantly with the increase in seed rate. For the seed rates of 100, 110, and 120 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup>, identical numbers of hills per unit area and plants per hill were observed. On the other hand, regardless of the variety, the percentage of missing hills considerably decreased with the increased seed rate. The yield of the BRRI hybrid dhan5 variety was significantly higher at the seed rates of 100 and 110 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup>, although the yield of the Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 variety was comparable. In terms of yield among the four varieties, BRRI hybrid dhan5 gave a higher yield followed by Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 while BRRI dhan89 gave a lower yield compared to the hybrid varieties irrespective of the seed rate. However, a seed rate of 110 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup> gave a significantly higher yield followed by 120 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup> while 80 and 90 g
  &amp;#8729;tray
  <sup>&amp;#8722;1</sup> gave lower grain yield. Generally, mat type seedling of inbred rice varieties is used in Bangladesh. The determination of seed rate of hybrid rice varieties may be increased by the use of rice transplanter in mechanical transplanting of hybrid rice varieties reducing the seed loss and increasing the grain yield.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>Slender Type Grain</kwd><kwd> Seedling Density</kwd><kwd> Seedling Height</kwd><kwd> Missing Hill</kwd><kwd> Plants Per Hill</kwd><kwd> Yield</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>The plant species most frequently referred to in English as rice is Oryza sativa L., also referred to as Asian rice. Given that it is both an essential food source and the first crop genome to be fully sequenced, it has a special place among domesticated crop species. The grass genus Oryza of the Poaceae family contains Oryza sativa. It is a model organism for the botany of grains and has a genome that is easy to genetically manipulate with 430 Mbp spread across 12 chromosomes [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref1">1</xref>].</p><p>The total world production of rice, wheat and maize is estimated at 519, 776.7 and 1192 million tonnes in 2021-2022 which is 0.6, 7.2 and 35.76 million tonnes more than that for 2020-21, respectively. An analysis of these figures suggests that rice, wheat and maize account for 18.5, 27.7 and 42.5 per cent of global cereal production—around 89 per cent of the total. China (24 per cent), India (19 per cent), Bangladesh (7 per cent), Indonesia (6 per cent) and Vietnam (5 per cent) top the world in production of Rice [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref2">2</xref>]. However, Rice, wheat, and maize together directly supply more than 50% of all calories consumed by the entire human population. Moreover, the average person consumes 150 to 200 kg annually, which makes up at least two-thirds of calorie intake and around 60% of daily protein consumption in nations like Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Myanmar [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref3">3</xref>]. Additionally, rice is the most significant crop for the millions of small farmers that cultivate it across the region on millions of hectares, as well as the numerous landless labourers who earn a living by laboring on these fields. Future rice output must increase at a rate that is at least as fast as population growth, if not faster. To address this requirement and contribute to global initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, rice research and the introduction of new technology for all farmers are crucial.</p><p>Rice farming has traditionally been a difficult, labor-intensive endeavor. The greatest input cost for the production of rice is labor [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref4">4</xref>]. Due to an increase in high-paying non-farm employment opportunities, labor force migration to cities, and the low social status of agricultural laborers in Bangladesh, the country’s agriculture has been confronted with serious labor shortage problems both during peak agricultural season and during other times [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref5">5</xref>]. The only way to reduce the labor shortage during the peak and regular periods of rice production is through mechanization. Agricultural mechanization using small-scale machinery for agricultural production has been one of the outstanding developments in developed countries [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref6">6</xref>].</p><p>In Bangladesh, rice cultivation is becoming more mechanized, including the seedling raising and transplanting of seedlings [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref7">7</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref8">8</xref>]. Root-washed seedlings that are 30 to 40 days old are used for manual transplanting, whereas mechanical transplantation uses mat-type seedlings that are 15 to 18 days old during the wet season and 25 to 30 days old during the dry season [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref9">9</xref>]. Mat-type seedlings are raised either on a plastic tray (280 &#215; 580 &#215; 25 mm) or a polythene sheet with the help of frames. The mat-type seedlings are raised with a 20 - 25 mm thick sieved soil layer mixed with farm yard manure or organic manure placed in trays or over polythene sheets. The mat thickness for best results of seedling raising is about 20 mm [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref10">10</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref11">11</xref>]. Normally, 120 to 140 gm seeds are used in a tray for high-yielding rice variety in Bangladesh conditions [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref9">9</xref>]. But there have no enough studies on the hybrid rice variety. Recently, different organizations are trying to use hybrid rice varieties for mechanical transplanting in Bangladesh [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref12">12</xref>].</p><p>Seed rate per tray or if a mat is used, the seed rate is very important as the growth of seedling and also agronomic parameters of transplanting depend on it [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref13">13</xref>]. If the seed rate is higher than the optimum, the growth of the seedling is obstructed due to nutrient deficiency. Seed rate less than the optimum rate leads to a high missing rate in transplanting as well as weak bonding of the mat [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref14">14</xref>]. The optimum seed tare per tray is also beneficial for hybrid rice cultivation as the cost of hybrid variety seed is more costly than inbred and local high-yielding varieties. As the technique of hybrid rice variety cultivation varies from inbred varieties, the development of a seedling raising technology with an appropriate seed rate and performance of the existing rice transplanter for hybrid rice is the prerequisite for establishing mechanical transplanting of hybrid rice varieties. Based on discussion, it is hypothesized that seedling quality would be improved with the desired seed rate of different hybrid rice varieties that could relate to the suitable seedling adjustment options of the rice transplanter for maintaining the desired number of seedlings per stroke by the rotary picker of the transplanter. The main objective of this study was to determine the optimum seed rate of hybrid rice (Oryzasativa L.) varieties in mat-type seedling raising for mechanical transplanting in Bangladesh</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Materials and Methods</title><p>The experiment was conducted in the Farm Machinery and Postharvest Technology Division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Gazipur during the irrigated dry (Boro) season, 2022. All treatments used the same seedling growth medium. The following inbred and hybrid dhans were employed in the study BRRI dhan89 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref15">15</xref>], Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref16">16</xref>], BRRI hybrid dhan5 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref15">15</xref>] and BRRI hybrid dhan3 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref15">15</xref>]. To conduct the study, a two-way Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with two factors and three replications was used. Rice varieties as the main factor (4 variety) whereas seed rate (g∙tray<sup>−1</sup>) as sub-factors were 80 (S<sub>1</sub>), 90 (S<sub>2</sub>), 100 (S<sub>3</sub>), 110 (S<sub>4</sub>) and 120 (S<sub>5</sub>) g per seedling tray (280 &#215; 580 &#215; 25 mm).</p><sec id="s2_1"><title>2.1. Seedlings Preparation</title><p>A plastic tray (280 &#215; 580 &#215; 25 mm) was used for raising seedlings. Same clod-free growing media was used to fill up the trays to a depth of 20 mm. As per the design, pre-germinated seeds were spread uniformly on each tray. After sowing, fine and loose soil was spread over the seeds to 3 - 5 mm depth. Mat type seedling of the studies varieties were transplanted at 22 days after sowing. Field duration of the Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 was more compare to the BRRI hybrid rice varieties (<xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref>).</p></sec><sec id="s2_2"><title>2.2. Data Collected</title><p>Germination percentage, number of seeds per unit area, number of germinated seedlings per unit area, number of seedlings per unit area, and percentage of seeds raised as effective seedlings were calculated. Seedling density and seedling height were measured to measure the seedling quality. A 20 cm<sup>2</sup> metal sheet boxes used to determine the seedling density. Digital slide calipers and a scale were used to measure the thickness and height. Hills per unit area, plants per hill, missing hills including buried, damaged, and floating hills at a fixed setting of the rice transplanter (line to line: 30 cm and plant to plant: 14 cm) were measured by setting a box of 1.0 m<sup>2</sup> to observe the transplanting performance under different seed rate of mat preparation. Tiller number and plant height were assessed from 12 hills per plot on different days after transplanting. Rice grain yield per plot was recorded from a pre-selected 10 m<sup>2</sup> harvest area and was determined with the adjustment to 14% moisture content. Other agronomic and yield parameters were recorded from these quadrats. A number of hills∙m<sup>−2</sup> was counted from a total number of hills in a 10 m<sup>2</sup> pre-selected area.</p></sec><sec id="s2_3"><title>2.3. Transplanter Setting during Operation</title><p>There are three options in the rice transplanter (DP 480) to adjust the hill spacing (plant-to-plant spacing). The transplanter was set to maintain a 150 mm distance between each hill’s spacing in the row. Spacing between rows (line to line spacing) is fixed to 300 mm for the rice transplanter. It was adjusted to the medium depth mode during transplanting to maintain a 20 - 30 mm depth of seedling placement. There have nine options to select several plants∙hill<sup>−1</sup>. The rotary picker of the rice transplanter was set at position 4 to maintain similar numbers of seedlings∙hill<sup>−1</sup> irrespective of seed rate and variety.</p></sec><sec id="s2_4"><title>2.4. General Information of the Experiment</title><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> General information of the study</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Sl. no.</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Seeding</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Transplanting</th><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="4"  >Harvesting date and duration (days)</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >BRRI hybrid dhan3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >BRRI hybrid dhan5</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Ishpahani hybrid dhan6</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >BRRI dhan89</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >29/12/2021</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >20/01/2022</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12/05/2022 (134)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >12/05/2022 (134)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >14/05/2022 (136)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >23/05/2022 (145)</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap></sec><sec id="s2_5"><title>2.5. Physical Parameters of the Varieties</title><p>Physical parameters of the four selected varieties as well as germination percentage were measured and presented in <xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref>. Germination percentages of the selected varieties were similar while seed thickness of all hybrid varieties was more compared to the BRRI dhan89.</p><table-wrap id="table2" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Physical parameters and germination percentage of the varieties</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle" >Treatment</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Germination Rate (%)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Seed Length (mm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Seed thickness (mm)</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >L/B ratio</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Type</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >V<sub>1</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >93%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >8.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.82</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >slender</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >V<sub>2</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >95%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.4</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3.83</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >slender</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >V<sub>3</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >95%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.3</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.2</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.22</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >slender</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >V<sub>4</sub></td><td align="center" valign="middle" >92%</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >9.7</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2.1</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4.62</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >slender</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>Note: Variety: V<sub>1</sub>: BRRI hybrid dhan3, V<sub>2</sub>: BRRI hybrid dhan5, V<sub>3</sub>: Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 and V<sub>4</sub>: BRRI dhan89.</p></sec><sec id="s2_6"><title>2.6. Statistical Analysis</title><p>Data will be analyzed as a two way factorial design (variety &#215; seed rate) according to Gomez and Gomez [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref17">17</xref>] using Crop Stat 7.2 software [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref18">18</xref>]. Means will be compared with the least significant difference (LSD) at which level of significant percentage test using Statistix 10 program [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref19">19</xref>].</p></sec></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Results and Discussions</title><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. Seedling Density</title><p>Seeds density was measured immediately after sowing while seedling density was measured at 7, 14, and 21 days after sowing (Figures 1-4). Seedling density increased linearly with the increase in seed rate irrespective of the varieties except 21 days after sowing. At 21 days after sowing, the seedling density of all hybrid varieties increased with the seed rate while the seedling density of BRRI dhan89 decreased after the seed rate of 100 g/tray because of mortality. Seedling density on the tray is influenced by the seed rate, germination percentage, and seedling survival rate [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref9">9</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref20">20</xref>]. For indicia rice, densities of 1.5 to 3 seedlings per 100 mm<sup>2</sup></p><p>are required for minimizing the missing hills and maintaining optimal number of seedlings∙hill<sup>−1</sup> [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref21">21</xref>]. For rice inbred variety, 140 g of seeds∙tray<sup>−1</sup> for short and bold grain, 130 g of seeds tray-1 for medium and slender grain and 120 g of seeds∙tray<sup>−1</sup> for extra-long and slender grain under the seedling adjustment options of 4 to 7 may be used for desired seedlings per hill and minimum missing hills [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref9">9</xref>].</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Seedling Height</title><p>Seedling height was measured at 7, 14, and 21 days after sowing (Figures 5-7). At 7 days after sowing, seedling height only varied significantly with the varieties while at 7, 14 and 21 days after sowing, it was varied with both variety and seed rate. The seedling height of the BRRI hybrid dhan5 and Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 were significantly more compared to the BRRI hybrid dhan3 and BRRI dhan89 (Figures 5-7). At 21 days after sowing, seedling height gradually decreased with the increase of seed rate. The seedling height for mat-type seedling raising is one of the major criteria in mechanical transplanting and the lowest seedling height increased the buried hill [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref20">20</xref>]. Different organic soil media influenced the seedling height upto 17.06 mm whereas the optimum seedling height is 120 mm which is coincided with the study [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref21">21</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref22">22</xref>].</p></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. Number of Hills per Unit Area</title><p>The two-way interaction of varieties and seed rate did not show a significant effect on a number of hills/m<sup>2</sup> while variety and seed rate individually showed a significant effect on the number of hills/m<sup>2</sup>. The higher number of hills per unit area was observed for Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 and BRRI dhan89. It might be varied with the percentage of missing hills, seedling mat strength affecting seedling release by the rotary picker of the transplanter, soil condition of the field etc. Contrary, 120 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> gave a significantly higher number of hills per unit area which is similar to 110 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> while a lower number was observed for 80 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> followed by 90 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig8">Figure 8</xref>).</p></sec><sec id="s3_4"><title>3.4. Number of Plants per Hill</title><p>Two-way interaction of varieties and seed rate did not show a significant effect on the number of plants per hill while only seed rate showed a significant effect on the number of plants per hill (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig9">Figure 9</xref>). There has no significant variation of plants per hill among the seed rate of 100, 110 and 120 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> while lower number of plants per hill was observed for the seed rate of 80 and 90 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup>. Most of countries, farmers plant 2 - 3 seedlings per hill [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref23">23</xref>]. For indicia rice, densities of 1.5 to 3 seedlings per 100 mm<sup>2</sup> were required for minimizing the missing hills and maintaining the optimal number of seedlings per hill [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref24">24</xref>]. For mechanical transplanting, seedlings per hill should be maintained 2 - 4 to obtain optimum plant population [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref25">25</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref26">26</xref>] because grain yield decreased with the increase of the number of seedlings hill<sup>−1</sup> more than 4 seedlings [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref27">27</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref28">28</xref>]. A seed rate of 120 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> while plants per hill 4 - 5 in Boro season and 2 - 3 in Aman season was more satisfactory for mechanical transplanting of hybrid paddy [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref13">13</xref>].</p></sec><sec id="s3_5"><title>3.5. Percent of Missing Hills</title><p>Interaction of variety and seed rate did not affect significantly the percentage of missing hills while seed rate individually influenced the percentage of missing hills (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig10">Figure 10</xref>). Percentage of missing hills decreased significantly with the increase in seed rate irrespective of the varieties. Percentage of missing hills under the seed rate of 110 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> was 1.3, 2.7, 2.6 and 1.2 for the BRRI hybrid dhan3, BRRI hybrid dhan5, Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 and BRRI dhan89 which it was 0.01, 1.4, 1.2 and 1.3 percent under the seed rate of 120 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup>. But Basir et al., 2020 observed 6.3 percent of missing hills with a 5.46 of floating hills was observed in puddled soil whereas in unpuddled soil the parameters were 6.1 and 7.36 percent, respectively for the hybrid rice variety Moyna (HTM303) of Laal Teer Seed Company Ltd. under the seed rate of 120 g per tray [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref12">12</xref>]. On the other hand, Surajit et al., 2022 found missing hills 7.14%, 10.71%, and 3.57% in Boro and 13.4%, 7.693%, and 7.724%, in Aman season for the hybrid rice variety under the seed rate of 100, 110, and 120 while plants per hills 2 - 3, 2 - 4 and 4 - 5 in Boro season and 2 - 3, 3 - 4 and 4 - 5 for the Aman season under the same seed rate, respectively [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref13">13</xref>]. It might be varied with the seedling quality, seedlings per hill adjustment option in the rice transplanter, depth of planting etc.</p></sec><sec id="s3_6"><title>3.6. Grain Yield (t∙ha<sup>−1</sup>)</title><p>Two-way interaction of variety and seed rate per tray was found significant effect on yield. A significantly higher yield was observed for the variety of BRRI hybrid dhan5 under the seed rate of 110 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> while it was statistically similar for the Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 under the same seed rate and BRRI hybrid dhan5 under the seed rate of 100 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> (Figures 11-13).</p></sec><sec id="s3_7"><title>3.7. Thousand Grain Weight (g)</title><p>Two-way interaction of variety and seed did not show a significant effect on 1000 grain weight while variety and seed rate individually showed a significant effect on 1000 grain weight (Figures 14-16). A significantly higher 1000 grain weight was observed for the variety of BRRI hybrid dhan5 under the seed rate of 110 g/tray while it was similar under the seed rate of 120, 100, and 90 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup>. Among the four varieties, 1000 grain weight was more for BRRI hybrid dhan5 followed by BRRI hybrid dhan3 and Ishpahani hybrid dhan6 while lower 1000</p><p>grain weight was observed for BRRI dhan89 (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig16">Figure 16</xref>). Significant effect was also observed for seed rate on 1000 grain weight. Higher 1000 grain weight was counted for the seed rate of 110 g/tray while it was similar for 120 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup>. Lower 1000 grain weight was observed for 80, 90, and 100 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig15">Figure 15</xref>). It could the causes of minimum missing hills and uniform plant population under the seed rate of 110 and 120 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> while 80 - 100 g/tray gave higher missing hills which affected uniform plant population and plant parameters. Seed density varied considerably with the same seed rate for different types of varieties. The seed rate and the 1000 grain weight vary from one variety to another [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref29">29</xref>]. 27.75 g 1000 grain weight of BR3 and 19.64 g 1000 grain weight of BRRI dhan50 was found the same seed rate [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref9">9</xref>].</p></sec><sec id="s3_8"><title>3.8. Hills per m<sup>2</sup></title><p>The two-way interaction of variety and seed rate showed a significant effect on hills per meter square as were the single effect of variety and seed rate (Figures 17-19). A significantly higher number of hills per unit area were observed at 100 to 110 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> seed rate irrespective of the varieties while seed rate of 120 was identical. Among the four varieties, hills per unit area were observed for BRRI hybrid dhan5 and Ishpahani hybrid dhan6. Higher hills per unit area were also counted for the seed rate of 110 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> while it was similar for 100 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup>. The</p><p>hills per square meter depends on seed rate. The seedlings per hill increased with increasing seed rates. Seedling per unit area was observed considerably similar to the seed rate of 130 - 160 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> of BR3 grain (2.0 to 2.2 numbers per square cm) and BRRI dhan28 (2.3 to 2.6 numbers per square cm) [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref9">9</xref>]. However, the seedling per hill influences both tillers and panicles and also the number of panicles is positively related with yield. The panicles/m<sup>2</sup> and seeding per hill ought to be emphasized in hybrid rice production [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.120372-ref30">30</xref>].</p></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Conclusion</title><p>Currently, hybrid rice is being mechanically transplanted in Bangladesh. The identification of optimum seed rate is essential for mat type seedling raising in order to increase crop yield while maintaining the seed rate of high value hybrid seed. Slender type grains of hybrid rice varieties, 100 to 110 g∙tray<sup>−1</sup> seeds may be recommended for mat type seedling raising of hybrid rice, taking into account the hill density, seedling height, mat-quality, number of hills per unit area, number of plants per hill, missing hills, as well as grain production.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>Acknowledgements</title><p>The authors acknowledge all scientists and staff of Farm Machinery and Post-harvest Technology Division, BRRI for providing support to conduct the experiment.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>Funding Statement</title><p>This study was conducted under the funding support of KGF-BKGET project entitle “Validation and up-scaling of rice transplanting and harvesting technology in the selected sites of Bangladesh (VRTHB project-ID No. TF 89-AM/21)”, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Authors’ Contribution</title><p>MA Hossen generated the idea, design the experiment and developed the methodology; M Kamruzzaman coordinated the activities, MM Shahriyar and AU Khan laid out the experiment and data collection from time to time according to the design; S Islam and H Paul helped in data analysis and draft report preparation; all authors read and approved the final manuscript.</p></sec><sec id="s8"><title>Availability of Data and Material</title><p>Data used in this study are available from the first author upon request (dranwarhossenbrri@gmail.com).</p></sec><sec id="s9"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s10"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Hossen, M.A., Kamruzzaman, M., Islam, S., Paul, H., Shahriyar, M.M. and Khan, A.U. (2022) Determination of Optimum Seed Rate of Hybrid Rice (Oryzasativa L.) Varieties in Mat-Type Seedling Raising for Mechanical Transplanting. Agricultural Sciences, 13, 1031-1047. https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2022.1310063</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.120372-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Wikipedia (2022) Oryza sativa. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oryza_sativa</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref2"><label>2</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Down to Earth (2022) Three Crops Rule the World: What It Means for the Planet’s Wildlife. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/food/three-crops-rule-the-world-what-it-means-for-the-planet-s-wildlife-81781</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref3"><label>3</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">BRRI (2020) The Importance of Rice. http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/ericeproduction/bodydefault.htm#Importance_of_Rice.htm</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref4"><label>4</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Clayton, S. (2010) 50 Years of Rice Science for a Better World—And It’s Just the Start! Rice. Today, IRRI. http://books.irri.org/RT9_1_content.pdf</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref5"><label>5</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Zhang, X., Rashid, S., Ahmad, K. and Ahmed, A. (2014) Escalation of Real Wages in Bangladesh: Is It the Beginning of Structural Transformation? World Development, 64, 273-285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.06.015</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref6"><label>6</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Emami, M., Almassi, M., Bakhoda, H. and kalantari, I. (2018) Agricultural Mechanization, a Key to Food Security in Developing Countries: Strategy Formulating for Iran. Agriculture &amp; Food Security, 7, Article No. 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0176-2</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref7"><label>7</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Hossen, M.A. (2019) Mechanization in Bangladesh: Way of Modernization in Agriculture. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, 67, 69-77. https://ijettjournal.org/Volume-67/Issue-9/IJETT-V67I9P212.pdf https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V67I9P212</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref8"><label>8</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Hossen, M.A., Talukder, M.R.A., Mamun, M.R.A., Rahaman, H., Paul, S., Rahman, M.M., Miaruddin, M., Ali, M.A. and Islam, M.N. (2020) Mechanization Status, Promotional Activities and Government Strategies of Thailand and Vietnam in Comparison to Bangladesh. AgriEngineering, 2, 489-510. https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/2/4/33 https://doi.org/10.3390/agriengineering2040033</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref9"><label>9</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Hossen, M.A., Hossain, M.M., Haque, M.E. and Bell, R.W. (2018) Effect of Seed Rate on Seedling Quality for Mechanical Rice Transplanting. Bangladesh Rice Journal 22, 9-23. https://doi.org/10.3329/brj.v22i1.41834</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref10"><label>10</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Anoop, D., Khurana, R., Jaskarn, S. and Gurusahib, S. (2007) Comparative Performance of Different Paddy Transplanters Developed in India—A Review. Agricultural Reviews, 28, 262-269. https://arccjournals.com/journal/agricultural-reviews/ARCC4154</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref11"><label>11</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Hossen, M.A., Hossain, M.M., Hawue, M.E. and Bell, R.W. (2018) Effect of Growing Media on Mat Type Seedling Raised for Mechanical Rice Transplanting. Research in Agricultural Engineering, 64, 157-167. https://doi.org/10.17221/79/2016-RAE</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref12"><label>12</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Basir, M.S., Ashik-E-Rabbani, M., Surajit, S., Saha, C.K., Hossain, M.M. and Alam, M.M. (2020) Mechanical Transplanting of Hybrid Rice for Sustainable Food Security. Journal of the Bangladesh Agricultural University, 18, 887-893. https://doi.org/10.5455/JBAU.12571</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref13"><label>13</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Surajit, S., Ashik-E-Rabbani, M., Basir, M.S., Hossain, M.M., Saha, C.K., Alam, M.M., Kalita, P.K. and Hansen, A.C. (2022) Determination of Seed Rate for Mechanical Transplanting of Hybrid Paddy Variety in Bangladesh. ASABE 2019 Annual International Meeting, Boston, 7-10 July 2019, Paper No. 1901177.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335186231_Determination_of_seed_rate_for_mechanical_transplanting_of_hybrid_paddy_variety_in_Bangladesh</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref14"><label>14</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Hossen, M.A., Shahed, A.B.M., Al-Mamun, M.R., Tamanna, T.A. and Rahman, M.M. (2020) Effect of Mat Type Rice Seedling Growing Media on Block Formation and Fungal Infection. Journal of Bangladesh Agricultural University, 18, 1073-1082. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347982479_Effect_of_Mat_Type_Rice_Seedling_Growing_Media_on_Block_Formation_and_Fungal_Infection https://doi.org/10.5455/JBAU.127431</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref15"><label>15</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">BRRI (2022) Released Rice Variety of BRR. http://www.brri.gov.bd/site/page/6952c1d9-af2c-404c-a2e7-f7eb5c1cae92</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref16"><label>16</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ishpahani (2020) Ishpahani Hybrid dhan6. https://ispahaniagrolimited.blogspot.com/2020/06/ispahani-6ispahaniagro.html</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref17"><label>17</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Gomez, K.A. and Gomez, A.A. (1984) Statistical Procedures in Agricultural Research. 2nd Edition, Wiley, New York, 680.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref18"><label>18</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">IRRI (2007) CropStat for Windows. Version 7.2.2007.3, IRRI, Metro Manila.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref19"><label>19</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Statistix 10 Software (2013) An Analytical Software of Statistix 10. Analytical Software, Tallahassee.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref20"><label>20</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Shaikh, N.Y., Alam, M.A., Kamruzzaman, M., Al Mamun, M.A. and Islam, A.K.M.S. (2021) Effect of Seeding Density on Mat-Type Seedling Quality for Mechanical Transplanting in Dry Season Rice. Agricultural Sciences, 12, 1231-1243. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=113057 https://doi.org/10.4236/as.2021.1211078</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref21"><label>21</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">CAME (Center of Agriculture Machinery Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, China) (2007) The Training Programme on Rice Field Plowing and Rice Transplanting Mechanization Technology, Organized by Ministry of Agriculture, PR China, 8-17 August 2007, 62-63.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref22"><label>22</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Dhananchezhiyan, P., Durairaj, C.D. and Arveen, S.P. (2013) Development of Nursery Raising Technique for “System of Rice Intensification” Machine Transplanting. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 8, 3873-3882.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref23"><label>23</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">IRRI (2007) Planting the Rice. Rice Knowledge Bank. http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/ericeproduction/II.6_Seedling_and_plant_rate.htm</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref24"><label>24</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">CAME (2007) Raising Rice Seedlings for Mechanical Transplanting. The Training Program on Rice Field Plowing and Rice Transplanting Mechanization Technology Textbook, 32.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref25"><label>25</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Kumar, S., Singh, S.S., Sundaram, P.K. and Bhatt, B.P. (2012) Agronomic Management and Production Technology of Unpuddled Mechanical Transplanted Rice. ICAR, New Patel Nagar, New Delhi.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref26"><label>26</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Kamboj, B.R., Dharam, B.Y., Ashok, Y., Narender, K.G., Gurjeet, G., Ram, K.M. and Bhagirath, S.C. (2013) Mechanized Transplanting of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Nonpuddled and No-Till Conditions in the Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Haryana, India. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 4, 2409-2413. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2013.412298</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref27"><label>27</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ramasamy, S., Chandrasekuran, B. and Sunkaram, S. (1987) Effect of Spacing and Seedling per Hill. International Rice Research News Letter, 12, 9.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref28"><label>28</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Paingoo, S. (2012) Effect of Raising Methods and Number of Seedlings Hill-1 on Grain Yield and Yield Components of Rice (Oryza sativa L.). Master’s Thesis, The Department of Agronomy, Yezin Agricultural University, Nay Pyi Taw.</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref29"><label>29</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Agri-Facts (2007) Practical Information for Albert’s Agricultural Industry. Using 1,000 K Weight for Calculating Seeding Rates and Harvest Losses. https://open.alberta.ca/publications/3989714</mixed-citation></ref><ref id="scirp.120372-ref30"><label>30</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Ansari, A. and Hossain, Md.S. (2018) Yield Potential and Land-Use Efficiency of Hybrid Rice (Oryza sativa L) in Bangladesh through Suitable Spacing and Number of Plants per Hill. International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research, 4, 60-65. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329364274</mixed-citation></ref></ref-list></back></article>