New rice cultivation method boosts plant growth and harvest efficiency.
A new method of growing rice seedlings with many tillers and sparse planting in the field was studied. This method led to better growth and nutrient accumulation in the plants compared to traditional methods. More nutrients and dry matter were stored in the plants at a later stage, giving them an advantage in growth. The new method also increased the distribution of nutrients in the rice grains, improving harvest efficiency. The best plant density for this method was found to be between 112,500 and 150,000 plants per hectare. Both rice hybrids tested showed similar results, regardless of their tillering ability.