Effect of plant establishment method on the growth and yield performance of hilly black rice cultivars in Charland ecosystem of Bangladesh

Abstract

Black rice, rich in anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and essential micronutrients, offers a promising pathway for enhancing both productivity and nutritional security in the char land ecosystems of Bangladesh. This study aimed to identify suitable plant establishment methods and high-performing hilly black rice cultivars for these vulnerable production environments. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of establishment methods and genotypes on growth, physiological attributes, yield components, and productivity. Establishment method significantly (p < 0.01) affected tillering, panicle characteristics, grain weight, and grain yield. Puddled transplanting consistently enhanced crop performance, producing the tallest plants (115.09 cm at 60 DAT), highest tiller number (19.43 hill⁻¹), greater leaf production (75.96 hill⁻¹) and more grains panicle⁻¹ (120.60), while reducing spikelet sterility to 11.24%. Genotypic responses were highly significant, with the Indonesian cultivar Ketan hitam achieving the highest grain yield (4.47 t ha⁻¹), straw yield (7.29 t ha⁻¹), biological yield (11.76 t ha⁻¹), and harvest index (40.47%), indicating superior biomass production and assimilate partitioning. Gelong Ni also demonstrated strong performance for tillering and panicle development, whereas Kongnam ene exhibited the lowest productivity. Overall, the combination of puddled transplanting and Ketan hitam emerged as the most productive establishment–genotype strategy. Beyond improving yield, this approach provides a practical entry point for integrating nutritionally riched black rice into charland farming systems, potentially converting marginal production environments into viable sources of both food and nutritional security.