Question

How many seedlings per hill is generally recommended for realizing the yield potential of high-yielding varieties under conventional wet cultivation?

• A. 2-3 seedlings
• B. Single seedlings
• C. 4-5 seedlings
• D. 2-5 sprouted seeds

Hint:

Keep these transplanting standards in mind for rice:
- Conventional HYV: 2-3 seedlings/hill.
- Hybrid Rice: 1-2 seedlings/hill (due to superior tillering vigor).
- SRI (System of Rice Intensification): 1 seedling/hill.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Optimizing the seedling rate per hill during rice (Oryza sativa) transplanting is essential to maintain an ideal crop canopy, reduce vegetative competition, and maximize the number of productive tillers.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Under conventional wet-land rice cultivation, high-yielding dwarf varieties (HYVs) have a strong genetic potential to produce tillers.
To realize this potential, agricultural universities recommend transplanting 2 to 3 healthy seedlings per hill.
This practice offers several physiological benefits:
- Using 2-3 seedlings ensures that even if one seedling fails to establish, the remaining seedlings maintain the hill's viability.
- It prevents excessive intra-hill competition for nutrients, water, and sunlight, which occurs when 4-5 or more seedlings are planted together.
- Fewer seedlings per hill encourage the development of strong, thick culms and a higher percentage of productive tillers (panicle-bearing tillers).
- Conversely, planting single seedlings is generally reserved for the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), where wide spacing and organic management are practiced.
Sprouted seeds are used for direct seeding (drum seeding or broadcasting), not transplanting.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The general recommendation for high-yielding varieties under conventional wet cultivation is 2-3 seedlings per hill.