Impact of Delayed Transplanting on Agronomic Traits and Yield Stability in Late-Maturing Transplanted Irrigated Rice in India (2025)

This study analyzes the impact of delayed transplanting on agronomic traits, photosynthetic productivity, and grain yield in mechanically transplanted rice. The findings reveal that delayed transplanting postpones key growth stages, reduces tiller numbers, lowers photosynthetic productivity, and decreases dry matter accumulation and remobilization efficiency. These factors collectively lead to lower grain yield and smaller grain size. For the TLaSF-I market segment (Late Maturity, Small Grain, Firm Texture), this study highlights the importance of timely transplanting and selecting varieties with enhanced tillering ability, efficient photosynthetic utilization, and robust nutrient remobilization traits. The findings indicate that late-maturing rice varieties transplanted beyond the optimal period experience significant yield loss and grain quality deterioration. These insights are critical for breeders, farmers, and policymakers to optimize transplanting schedules and develop resilient rice varieties suited for mechanical transplantation in irrigated environments. Future Target Product Profiles (TPPs) should incorporate traits for delayed transplanting tolerance, strong tiller emergence, and stable grain yield to ensure adaptability in rice-intensive regions.

Key trait: Transplanting tolerance , tillering & dry matter accumulation, nutrient use efficiency, grain-filling efficiency
Reference document: Effects of Delaying Transplanting on Agronomic Traits and Grain Yield of Rice under Mechanical Transplantation Pattern
Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0123330
Publication year: 2015 | Data year: 2012-2013 | Sample size: 4

Enhancing Nutrient Management for Sustainable Productivity in Late-Maturing Irrigated Transplanted Rice Systems in India (2025)

The study highlights that nutrient management plays a crucial role in maintaining productivity and soil health in intensive rice–rice cropping systems in West Bengal, India. The findings indicate that applying the recommended doses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sulfur (S), and zinc (Zn) leads to significant improvements in grain yield, tiller production, and plant height. This is particularly relevant for late-maturing transplanted irrigated rice varieties such as MTU 7029 and Arize 6444 GOLD, which require sustained nutrient availability over a longer growth period. For the TLaSF-I market segment, ensuring a balanced nutrient supply is critical to maintaining grain quality (small length, firm texture), high yields, and environmental sustainability. The study suggests that deficiencies in Zn and S, if not managed, can reduce yield and affect grain development, emphasizing the importance of precise fertilizer application strategies. Moreover, continuous rice cropping without replenishing key nutrients leads to long-term soil nutrient depletion, necessitating better soil fertility management practices.

Key trait: Nutrient Use Efficiency (N, P, K, Zn, S), Late Maturity Adaptation, Tiller Number & Panicle Density, Small Grain Size, Firm Texture
Reference document: Productivity and Nutrient Balance of an Intensive Rice–Rice Cropping System Are Influenced by Different Nutrient Management in the Red and Lateritic Belt of West Bengal, India
Link: http://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081622
Publication year: 2021 | Data year: 2012-2013 | Sample size:

Enhancing Yield and Grain Quality in Late-Maturing Transplanted Irrigated Rice through Silicon–Calcium Fertilization (2025)

The study investigates the effects of silicon–calcium fertilizer (SC) on soil health, grain yield, and quality in transplanted, irrigated, late-maturing rice. The results reveal that SC significantly improves soil pH, organic matter, and nutrient availability (N, P, K), leading to enhanced grain hardness, reduced chalkiness, and improved processing quality. Additionally, SC treatment increases protein content and reduces cadmium (Cd) accumulation, making the rice safer for consumption. For the TLaSF-I market segment (small length, firm texture), these findings underscore the need to integrate nutrient-use efficiency traits in breeding programs. The enhanced grain firmness due to silicon incorporation aligns with consumer preference for firm-textured rice. Improved tolerance to heavy metal accumulation also suggests environmental sustainability benefits. These findings are relevant for farmers, breeders, and policymakers, promoting low-cost, high-benefit fertilization strategies for maintaining soil fertility, productivity, and grain quality in intensive transplanted irrigated rice systems. Future TPPs should prioritize enhanced grain hardness, nutrient-use efficiency, and resistance to heavy metal uptake.

Key trait: Nutrient Use Efficiency (Silicon, Calcium, N, P, K), Firm Texture, Small Grain Size, Heavy Metal Tolerance (Cd Reduction), Lodging Resistance
Reference document: Silicon–Calcium Fertilizer Increased Rice Yield and Quality by Improving Soil Health
Link: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63737-x
Publication year: 2024 | Data year: 2021-2022 | Sample size: 24

Optimizing Medium-Maturity, Transplanted Rice Through Strategic Cultivar Deployment for Increased Productivity and Economic Gains (2025)

The study highlights the potential benefits of spatial and temporal deployment of fine and coarse grain rice cultivars to enhance productivity and profitability. Findings suggest that medium-maturity, transplanted rice (TMeSF-I) can achieve higher yields and economic returns when mixed with other cultivars in optimized ratios and transplanting schedules. Key insights relevant to TPP design: (1) Cultivar mixture (2:4 or 4:2 ratio of fine to coarse grain rice) increased yield and economic returns, (2) Temporal deployment (transplanting coarse-grained hybrid seven days before fine-grained variety) maximized productivity, (3) Increased plant height and tiller production were observed in mixed cultivation systems, (4) Economic benefits were highest when Binadhan-13 (fine grain) was grown in mixture with Dhani Gold (coarse grain), (5) Yield stability and weed suppression improved with mixed and staggered planting approaches. These insights emphasize breeding priorities for medium-maturity varieties with complementary agronomic traits, high tillering capacity, and stable yields under mixed cropping systems.

Key trait: Yield Stability; Maturity; Milling Recovery; Cooked Grain Texture; Grain Shape (L:B)
Reference document: Deployment of Fine and Coarse Grain Rice Cultivars in Time and Space for Increased Productivity
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22387
Publication year: 2023 | Data year: Not Applicable | Sample size:

Optimizing Agronomic Practices for Medium-Maturity, Transplanted, Irrigated Rice in Eastern India: Insights from Climate Risk Assessment and Yield Stability Analysis (2025)

The study highlights that rice productivity in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains (EIGP) suffers from yield instability due to late transplanting, aged seedlings, and water stress. The research demonstrates that medium-maturity, transplanted rice (TMeSF-I) in irrigated conditions can achieve high and stable yields if transplanted with appropriately aged seedlings and supported with supplemental irrigation. Key findings relevant to TPP design include: (1) Transplanting medium-duration hybrid varieties by early August ensures stable yields, (2) Supplemental irrigation significantly reduces drought risk, doubling median yields (from 1.6 t/ha to 3.2 t/ha), (3) Timely transplanting with 30-day-old seedlings increases productivity by 1.8 t/ha, (4) Medium-maturity hybrids are better adapted to variable climate conditions, maintaining high yields across transplanting windows, (5) Improved nitrogen and water management strategies enhance yield stability and efficiency. These insights provide clear trait priorities for TPP refinement by emphasizing early vigor, efficient water and nutrient use, and resilience to delayed transplanting.

Key trait: Yield Stability; Early Vigor; Maturity; Milling Recovery
Reference document: Taking the Climate Risk out of Transplanted and Direct Seeded Rice: Insights from Dynamic Simulation in Eastern India
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2019.05.014
Publication year: 2019 | Data year: 1970-2013 | Sample size: