Evaluation of Improved Upland Rice Varieties for Potential Rice Producing Area Kemashi Zone of Benishangul Gumze of Ethiopia

Abstract

Upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) is typically grown by small scale farmers for subsistence in Benishangul Gumze region. Benishangul Gumuse is one of the most important potential regions among other rice producing areas in Ethiopia. 13 improved upland rice varieties were evaluated with the objective of selecting adaptable and best performing upland varieties for rice production areas of kemashi zone. The trial was conducted at Jello-Leka Kebele of Kemashi woreda during 2013/2014 cropping seasons using randomized complete block design under rain fed condition. Days to 50% heading, days to maturity, panicle length, plant height, number of fertile tiller per plant, number of filled grain per panicle and grain yield (kg ha-1) ranged from 41.33 to 53.33, 81.00 to 88.33, 20.2 to 23.93, 74.87 to 105.07, 4.60 to 6.73, 84.00 to136.67, 4723.0 to 6492.0, respectively. Grain yield showed positive and significant correlation with number of fertile tillers per plant (r = 0.23*) at phenotypic level and with number of filled grains per panicle (r = 0.61** and 0.84*) both at phenotypic and genotypic level. Days to maturity showed negative and significant correlation (r = -0.34* and-0.46*) with the grain yield at both phenotypic and genotypic level. Number of fertile tillers per plant (0.0492) and number of filled grains per panicle (0.547) had positive high direct effect on grain yield at phenotypic level. Days to maturity (-0.971) and number of fertile tillers per plant (-0.0006) were showed negative direct effect on the grain yield at genotypic level. Generally, this experiment suggests that the varieties NERICA-15 and NERICA-4 were recommended to increase production and productivity of rice in Kemashi district of Kemashi zone. The result from correlation and path coefficient analysis suggest that number of filled grain per panicle was important yield contributing trait and could be considered most important trait for upland rice grain yield improvement.