Correlation and Regression of Growth and Yield Attributes of Transplanted Rice as Affected by Weed Management Practices

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity is strongly influenced by the interaction of growth attributes, nutrient dynamics, and weed competition. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2025–26 at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore, to evaluate the relationship between grain yield, growth parameters, nutrient uptake, and weed interference. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with ten treatments and three replications. Correlation and regression analyses were performed to identify key yield-determining factors. The results revealed that grain yield exhibited highly significant positive correlations with dry matter production (r = 0.995**), phosphorus uptake (r = 0.990**), nitrogen uptake (r = 0.977**), stover yield (r = 0.979**), plant height (r = 0.968**), and productive tillers (r = 0.961**). In contrast, weed density (r = -0.846**) and weed dry weight (r = -0.860**) showed strong negative associations with grain yield. Regression analysis indicated that grain yield was strongly influenced by dry matter production (R² = 0.990), phosphorus uptake (R² = 0.980), and stover yield (R² = 0.959), while weed density (R² = 0.716) and weed dry weight (R² = 0.739) significantly reduced yield. Among the evaluated parameters, dry matter production and phosphorus uptake emerged as the most critical factors governing yield variation. The study highlights that effective weed management and balanced nutrient application are essential to reduce crop–weed competition, enhance resource use efficiency, and achieve higher rice productivity.