Effects of Organic Farming on Yield and Quality of Hybrid Japonica Rice

Abstract

Two types of japonica rice, including three varieties of hybrid japonica rice(Changyou 2, Changyou 5, Yongyou 8) and three varieties of conventional japonica rice(Huaidao 5, Nanjing 46, Nanjing 5055), were grown under organic farming and conventional farming. The possibility achieving stable production and high quality under organic farming was explored. The results showed that average yield of hybrid japonica rice and conventional japonica rice was 8.11 and 6.29 t ha–1 respectively, under organic farming. While, total stem and tiller number in the population of conventional rice varieties was more than that of hybrid rice under both farming treatments, the decline of tillers of hybrid japonica rice was more stable and as a result, the percentage of earbearing tillers of hybrid japonica rice under organic farming increased by 6.50% compared with conventional rice. In each growth period, rice leaf area index and photosynthesis potential showed the trend of conventional farming organic farming, and also, compared with the conventional cultivation, smaller drops in those indexes were found under organic farming for hybrid japonica rice than for conventional japonica rice. Furthermore, the average population growth rate of hybrid japonica rice was 1.29% higher and the accumulation of dry matter ratio was 8.81% higher than those of conventional japonica rice. Compared with conventional cultivation, organic farming slightly declined the processing quality of all rice varieties, but improved the appearance quality and eating quality through reducing the chalk white degree, increasing gel consistency and lowering amylose content. Whereas, the impact of farming methods was not significant on protein content. In sum, with significantly increasing yield and excellent quality traits, hybrid japonica rice displays obvious advantages under organic farming, therefore has a unique application value in the development of organic rice industry.