Growth, Yield and Organoleptic Characteristic of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties in Wet Rice Cultivation Region of Mizoram

Abstract

The lower rice productivity has been a major concern for Mizoram rice sustainability under the rainfed wet rice cultivation (WRC). Bridging this yield gap, field experiment has been undertaken with 22 rice varieties (Gomati, NLR-1, NLR-2, NLR-3, NLR-4, NLR-5, NLR-9, PB1121, PB-1718, RCM-9, RCM-10, Shahsarang, PNR 546, Tripura Nirogi, Tripura Sarat, Tripura Chikan, Tripura Hakuchuk, PS-5, PD-13, TRC2015-7, TRC-2013-11 and Local cultivar) at WRC region of ICAR Kolasib research farm under RBD design for two years (2019 and 2020). The rice Gomati performed best under the humid subtropical hill region of Mizoram with 152.5% higher grain yield as compared with local cv cultivar. Gomati recorded high leaf area index, higher productive tillers per hill with medium duration. Apart from rice Gomati; RCM 9, RCM cv10, NLR 1, NLR 9, PNR 546 and TRC 2015-7 recorded nearly double yield than that of local cultivar. However, even with high yield performance of above rice varieties, some of these varieties are not very well adopted by Mizo farmers due to taste requirements of Mizo people. Based on appearance, taste, consistency, aroma and hardness of tested rice varieties, PNR 546, RCM 9 and Tripura Chikan were confirmed at par taste with the local rice cultivar. Most of these varieties matured in about 130-150 days, with very few maturing in about 120-130 days (PNR 546, PS 5 and PD 13) and local cultivar at 159 days. Thus, with adoption of best suitable high-yielding medium duration rice varieties with their preference to taste will enhance rice productivity and narrow down the yield gaps that existed in WRC local rice cultivar of Mizoram.