Determining the optimal seeding rate when growing inbred varieties in furrow‐irrigated rice

Furrow‐irrigated rice ( Oryza sativa L.) (FIR) is a relatively new practice for most growers but now makes up close to 20% of Arkansas and 30% of Missouri rice production. Due to the practice being relatively new, management recommendations still rely on conventional flooded rice (CFR) practices. A seeding rate of 323 seeds m −2 is recommended for most inbred varieties in CFR but is undefined in FIR. Therefore, a seeding rate study was conducted from 2022 to 2024 using three varieties to determine the optimum seeding rate of inbred varieties in FIR. Field moisture content is not consistent from top to bottom in the FIR environment, so the study was replicated in the top‐, middle‐, and bottom‐thirds of the field. Upon 3 years of trial data, results suggested that seeding rates should vary based on variety and location within the field. An effective stand of 0.36–0.65 plants seed −1 was measured across seeding rates, which decreased as the seeding rate increased. Ozark/Diamond required the highest seeding rate to maximize yield potential, 323 seeds m −2 , followed by CLL18/CLL16 at 215 seeds m −2 , while DG263L was not significantly affected by seeding rate. The top of the field required 323 seeds m −2 to maximize yield potential when averaged across all varieties, while seeding rates as low as 108 seeds m −2 maximized yield potential in the middle‐ and bottom‐thirds of the field. These data advocate for variable rate seeding where growing varieties in FIR and for the potential of decreasing the seeding rate where optimum conditions exist.