Transplanting of seedlings:

• Transplanting is the process of planting seedlings already prepared in the nursery bed in the puddle field.
• Done after preparation of the field.
• When seedling attains optimum age, they are pulled out with great care so that the least injury is done to the root system.

Advantages of  transplanting :

• Proper spacing can be maintained between rows and between hills which makes uniform and proper growth of seedling in the field.
• Transplanting makes weeding easier and faster.
• It helps to make easier for other intercultural operations and harvesting.

The disadvantage of transplanting :

• Manual transplanting of seedlings is a slow process where a large no. of labor is needed for transplanting which is costlier.
• The possibility of injury of seedlings during handling is more.
• Harvesting and transplanting rice is 7-10 days delayed than direct seeding.

a) Age and size of seedling :

• Early variety (improved variety) ; 20-25 DAS.
• Late variety (indigenous variety ); 30-35 DAS.
• Height of seedling; 15-20 cm.
• Number of leaves ;3-4.

b) Spacing :

• depends upon time of transplanting, variety, soil fertility, fertilizer, and other physical environment.
• High-yielding varieties in late transplanted conditional and optimal dose of fertilizer 20 cm x 15 cm.
• Spring(chaite) rice 20 cm x 10 cm spacing should be maintained.

c) Time of transplanting :

• Depends upon climate factors, location, varieties, and type of rice.
• Main season : 15^th of Ashad -15^th of Shrawan.
• Spring or chaite rice : chaitra.
• Upland rice : 15^th Chaitra – 15^th

d) Depth of transplanting :

• 2-3 cm depth, deep transplanting reduces no. of tillers.
• Deep transplanting delay tillering by about 10 days.

e) Number of seedlings per hill :

• 2-3 seedlings per hill: Normal condition.
• 4-5 seedlings/hill: Late transplant and over aged seedlings.