Border Effects in Rice Experimental Plots I. Unplanted Borders

SUMMARY In experiments with transplanted rice, the first row next to the unplanted alley consistently gave significantly higher grain yields than the centre rows. The increase was progressively higher as the width of the unplanted alley between plots was increased up to 100 cm., but where the increase was very large, yields of the second outermost row were significantly decreased. No evidence was found that border effects reach beyond the second outermost row. Varieties that differed in tillering capacity, plant height, or both responded differently to the unplanted borders.