• Evaluation of Agronomic Performance and Seed Multiplication of Traditional Upland Rice Varieties in Rainfed Lowland Ecosystem
• Evaluation of the Agronomic Performance of Traditional Upland Rice Under Lower Elevation Upland Areas of Batac, Ilocos Norte
• Germplasm Conservation of Traditional Upland Rice Varieties in Ilocos Norte

Selection of High-yielding Traditional Upland Rice for Cultivation in Rainfed Lowland Areas (Study 2)

The role of traditional upland rice in meeting household rice sufficiency in many upland communities is indispensable. These varieties likewise possess good eating qualities and high nutritional values. However, growing them using the traditional production system which is Swidden faming is restricted by the government due to its destructive effects on the environment. Hence evaluation of the growth and yield performance of traditional upland rice varieties was done in less risk-prone area such as the rainfed lowland. The study specifically aimed to identify high-yielding accessions/varieties for rainfed lowland cultivation. Two-year field trial using 49 accessions was done in 2013 and 2014 WS in Batac rainfed lowland area following farmers’ practice coupled with fertilizer application (90-60-60 NPK/ha). The accessions evaluated showed differences in the different agronomic parameters observed. Combined analysis across years on two yield parameters showed that varietal differences account for the differences observed on grain yield and spikelet fertility. No significant effect, however, was noted in neither year, and variety- year interaction. TUR 53, 72, 74 and 77 produced high yield ranging from 3.3 to 4.17 tha-1, a yield range comparable to the yield obtained from promising accessions identified earlier in Batch 1. High spikelet fertility, big seed size, many tillers and long panicles contribute in part to the observed high yield of these accessions. The four accessions are therefore recommended for cultivation in rainfed lowland areas.