Performance of Improved Rice Varieties in the Tropics with Special Reference to Tillering Capacity

SUMMARY The growth of improved short varieties of rice with low and high tillering capacities was compared under a wide range of nitrogen levels and spacings. A high tillering variety performed better than a low tillering one under the experimental conditions tested. Leaf area index values as high as 10 to 12 were not detrimental to grain production unless the crop lodged.