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RESEARCH: SUPER DWARF
CULTIVAR STUDIES: RICE |
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INTRODUCTION
Water stress can cause early heading in some plant species.
'Super Dwarf' Rice was grown in hydroponic culture and soilless media
to determine if a slight water stress, caused by the soilless media,
would cause earlier heading.
MATERIALS AND METHODS 'Super Dwarf' rice was grown in two plant
densities, 50 and 200 plants per m2, in two growth chambers.
Each chamber had four 30 L tubs, two of the tubs were recirculating
hydroponic culture, the other two tubs were soilless media made of a
1:1 peat-perlite mix. The soilless media treatments were watered
daily by drip irrigation system.
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
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Temperature:
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32/26 d/n pre-heading;
28/22 d/n post heading
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PPF:
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900 µmol m-2
s-1
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Photoperiod:
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12-h
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CO2
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1200 ppm
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Root-zone:
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recirculating hydroponics;
or soilless media
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Days to heading:
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hydroponic: day 51
soilless media: day 54
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Days to harvest:
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day 88
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CONCLUSIONS
1. Yield and harvest Index (HI) were good in all plots.
2. As with previous studies with other crops, HI decreased with
increasing density.
3. Earlier heading in hydroponics did not improve HI.
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