EFFECT OF MEPIQUAT CHLORIDE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON GROWTH, YIELD, QUALITY AND LODGING IN BASMATI RICE (Oryza sativa L.) CULTIVARS IN PUNJAB.

The effect of growth regulation and nitrogen on yield, quality and lodging in two basmati rice cultivars was studied at Ludhiana and Rupnagar during summer 2018. The field experiment was laid out in a split-split plot design having basmati cultivars (Basmati 370 and CSR 30) in main plots, nitrogen levels (20 and 30 kg N ha^-1) in sub plots and growth regulation treatments (untreated control, lopping, mepiquat chloride at 300, 400 and 500 ppm) in sub-sub plots. Basmati rice cv. CSR 30 recorded 6.9% higher tiller density, 11.4% higher leaf area and 10.9% higher panicles while lodging was 37.4% lower as compared to Basmati 370. Basmati 370 had 43.0, 21.5 and 31.0% higher grains per panicle, panicle length and panicle weight than CSR 30. Both cultivars gave similar grain yield, milling quality and net returns. Nitrogen application at 30 kg N ha^-1 increased growth attributes, however, it had no effect on yield attributes and grain yield other than 20 kg N ha^-1 level. Growth regulation treatments of lopping, or mepiquat chloride at 300 ppm significantly reduced lodging and increased grain yield by 7-10% and net returns by 14-16% over untreated control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]