Two field experiments were conducted at Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC), Sakha Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, in 2010 and 2011 rice seasons to study the performance of SK2034H (H1) and SK2046H (H2) hybrid rice varieties under seeding rates i.e. 34, 46, 58 and 70 g/m2 and N-levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha).
The obtained results revealed that, in nursery studies SK2034H surpassed SK2046H in both seedling length and shoot length. On contrast the opposite results was observed with both number of leaves/seedling and root : shoot ratio. Seed rate of 34 and 46 g/m2 gave the greatest seedling characters in nursery (greatest seedling vigor) compared with the other seed rates. SK2034H gave the highest number of leaves/seedling under 34 g/m2, while SK2046H produced the greatest value in this aspect under both 34 and 46 g/m2. The first three seed rates (34, 46 and 58 g/m2) improved root/shoot ratio of SK2034H, while the second hybrid responded to only 34 g/m2.
In the permanent field, SK2046H (H2) hybrid had higher dry matter content (DM), leaf area index (LAI), flag leaf area (FLA) and root dry weight than SK2034H (H1). Seed rate of 34 g/m2 gave the highest previous growth characters than the other rates under study. The application of 200 kg N/ha gave the greatest values in the same growth parameters. Seed rate of 34 g/m2 combined with 200 kg N/ha produced the greatest dry matter content and flag leaf area of SK2046H.
In both seasons, H2 surpassed H1 in no. of panicles/m2, 1000-grain weight, harvest index (HI) and grain yield. While, H1 surpassed H2 in both panicle weight and no. of filled grains/panicle. Seed rates of 34 g/m2 was the best for number of panicles/m2, yield components, while grain yield and HI was the highest under both seed rate of 34 and 46 g/m2. Adding 200 kg N/ha produced the greatest grain yield and its components. Number of panicles/m2 and 1000-grain weight of SK2046H (H2) reached to maximum value under seed rate of 34 g/m2 with 200 kg N/ha. Filled grains/panicle reached to the highest value when SK2034H (H1) variety under the seed rate of 34 g/m2 and fertilized by 200 kg N/ha. Grain yield of both hybrids (H1 and H2) was the best under the seed rates of 34 and 46 g/m2 combined with 200 kg N/ha. The same trend was obtained with harvest index (HI).