Research Details

Germplasm Conservation and Selection of Promising Traditional Upland Rice Varieties in Ilocos Norte

Menisa Antonio, Araceli Badar, Illuminada Dumaoal

Component Studies

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

Brief Description

The project is centered on the improvement of traditional upland rice productivity to ensure genetic sustainability, increased yield and income, environmental sustainability and cultural preservation.

A great diversity of traditional upland rice is still grown in the province of Ilocos Norte. However, these are at risk of genetic erosion due to the introduction of and displacement by HYV rice varieties and government restrictions on kaingin farming which is the main production system followed. There is a need to conserve these TUR varieties due to their good eating qualities, high nutritional value of the pigmented ones, and indispensable role on local and household rice sufficiency in the upland communities. Initial agronomic evaluation done on them showed high yield potential of some varieties. Using appropriate varieties, coupled with improved cultural management practices ensure higher yield and income of upland farmers.

Due to the prohibitions set by the government on kaingin system, adaptability trial in lower elevation upland and rainfed lowland ecosystems are imperative. This will be initiated with the goal of ensuring environmental sustainability in upland/forest ecosystem, and utilizing less risk-prone areas and converting less productive marginal lowlands to become productive rice areas.

The project consists of three component studies:

Study 1. Germplasm Conservation of Traditional Upland Rice Varieties of Ilocos Norte

Study 2. Evaluation of the Agronomic Performance of Traditional Upland Rice Varieties Under Lower Elevation Upland Areas of Batac, Ilocos Norte

Study 3. Evaluation of Agronomic Performance and Seed Multiplication of Traditional Upland Rice Varieties in Rainfed Lowland Ecosystem

Expected Output

Seed genebank
Promising TUR varieties
Planting materials for distribution to farmers

Abstract

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.