Seedbed Characteristics and Seeding Depth Effects on Emergence and Seedling Vigour of Upland Rice

Effects of seedbed condition and seeding depth on the emergence and seedling vigour of upland rice was studied. Regardless of aggregate size distribution, seeds sown at 2 cm depth gave the maximum emergence rate (80-90 %) which was reduced to 47 % for sowing at 5 cm depth. Seeding at 10 cm depth caused total failure in emergence. When planted at 2 cm depth, aggregate size produced considerable variation in the speed of emergence but caused no significant differences in final emergence count. For seeds sown at 5 cm depth, seedbed with aggregate size < 2 mm resulted in poor emergence (12 %) while with aggregates > 8 mm reduced emergence by 34 % compared with balanced proportion of larger, moderate and smaller aggregates. Neither the seedbed condition nor seeding depth caused significant variation in seedling height or seedling dry weight.