Abstract
The eating quality of sparsely planted rice to that of rice planted at the standard density (21.1 hills m-2) is inferior because of the high protein content of brown rice. We investigated the effects of no topdressing on the yield and grain quality of sparsely planted rice. Akitakomachi was grown at densities of 15.1 and 11.2 hills m-2 with or without topdressing at the meiosis stage. In the field with no topdressing, 1000-grain weight was decreased, resulting in 2–7% lower yield than in that with topdressing, but the appearance quality of brown rice was not influenced by no topdressing under both sparse-planting methods. The protein content of brown rice was lowered by no topdressing. No topdressing had positive effects on the taste and stickiness of cooked rice grown in the 11.2 hills m-2 plot. In conclusion, no topdressing or reduced application rate of topdressing at the meiosis stage improved the eating quality of sparsely planted rice by reducing the protein content of brown rice.
