Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
are favourable to raising strong seedlings. There is a controversy
about the effect on tillering in relation to temperature within
the range. A number of researchers reported that the number
of tillers increased with decreasing temperature. Among
them Matsushima et al. (1966) noted that low temperature
is not favourable to the elongation of tillers. Yoshida (1973)
suggested that tillering of rice plant should be considered in
terms of interaction between light intensity, temperature, and
carbohydrate metabolism. Relatively low temperature (19°C) in
the early stage of development had an important effect on the
sprouting of tillers, and this effect remained as an after effect
of temperature during the subsequent stage of development
determining tillering pattern.
The above fi ndings highlight the importance of atmospheric
temperature as an environmental factor predictor variable in
determining tillering and yield.
Atmospheric temperature gave the highest direct
contribution among the environmental factors to tiller
production and yield (Garba et al. 2007).
In a recent study it has been noted that low temperature
leads to a low tiller occurring. The effect of low temperature
was different among the different varieties of rice. The number
of tillers of the rice treated in low temperature for 3 to 6 days
was signifi cantly lower (Li-Zhil et al. 2009).
According to Pathak (1991) rice plants are most sensitive
at vegetative stage to low water temperature during active
tillering stage which is common at higher altitudes where
the water for irrigation comes from the melting snow and
glaciers. Under low temperature the leaf area is reduced due
to production of fewer and smaller leaves with impaired
photosynthetic activity (Figs. 13 & 14).
