Performance and Energy Efficiency of New Rice Varieties Under Aerobic Growing Conditions, Different Tillage and Direct Seeding Methods in Kalinga, Philippines

Rafael J Padre

doi:10.17485/ijst/2020/v13i05/144621

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of three (3) selected hybrid rice varieties, namely NSIC RC9 (V1), M19 (V2), M20 (V3) and one (1) inbred rice variety (M228) through minimum and conventional tillage with the use of different direct-seeding methods for seeding in aerobic condition in Kalinga, Philippines. Methods/analysis: The field experiment was laid out in a split-split-plot in RCBD with tillage, seeding method, and variety as treatments in four replications. The agronomic performance, yield performance, and energy efficiency of the rice varieties were evaluated in two cropping year from August 2013 to March 2015. Agronomic performance, such as seed emergence, height at maturity, number of productive tillers, length of panicles, percent of filled grains, weight of 1000 seeds, final grain yield of the said varieties were analyzed for each treatments. The cost effectiveness, labor productivity, and energy efficiency were also analyzed for each treatment. Findings: Generally, there are no significant differences of the selected varieties including the inbred variety in terms of seed emergence, plant height, length of panicle, productive tillers, and percent filled grains, 1000 grain weight and grain yield under tillage practices and different seeding techniques. In like manner, the agronomic and yield performance varied across varieties. Regardless of tillage practices, the varieties did not exhibit any significant differences in terms of production cost, labor productivity and energy efficiency after two cropping year. Furthermore, plastic drum seeding techniques found to be more cost effective, while Korean seeding technique had the highest labor productivity and most energy efficient. Based on the result of the study, the agronomic and yield performance of newly released varieties are comparable as to inbred varieties used while the used of plastic drum seeder had the lowest cost of production and highest overall energy ratio (OER). On the other hand, the highest labor productivity was observed from the used of Korean seeder. Novelty/improvement: This study demonstrated that selected rice varieties exhibited the same agronomic performance and yield performance under conservation and minimum tillage with different seeding techniques in Kalinga, Philippines. In addition, the production cost, labor productivity, and energy efficiency depend from seeding techniques to be employed. Keywords: Energy Efficiency, Aerobic, Tillage, Direct Seeding, Labor Productivity.

Highlights

Cultivation of newly release input-responsive rice varieties in a well-drained, nonpuddled, and non-saturated soils (“aerobic soil”), without ponded water, is one of the production systems that is less popular to farmers owing to low yield
Growing aerobic rice varieties in aerobic condition cannot stand alone to increase agricultural productivity unless power, fertilizer and rainfall or supplemental irrigation are available at the right time and applied efficiently
This study aims to evaluate the performance of newly released hybrid and inbred rice varieties under different tillage and direct-seeding methods and aerobic condition in Kalinga; aims to determine the agronomic and yield performance of new hybrid and inbred varieties under aerobic conditions, minimum tillage and mechanized direct seeding method; and determine the advantages of minimum tillage and alternative seeding methods, in terms of energy efficiency, labor productivity, and cost effectiveness

Summary

Introduction

Cultivation of newly release input-responsive rice varieties in a well-drained, nonpuddled, and non-saturated soils (“aerobic soil”), without ponded water, is one of the production systems that is less popular to farmers owing to low yield. This technology was first introduced in the Philippines by the International Rice Research Institute in the early 2001. Aerobic rice requires supplemental irrigation and external inputs (fertilizers) to achieve its potential yields. It has an intermediate feature which combines the drought tolerance of upland rice varieties with the high – yielding characteristics of lowland rice varieties. This study aims to evaluate the performance of newly released hybrid and inbred rice varieties under different tillage and direct-seeding methods and aerobic condition in Kalinga; aims to determine the agronomic and yield performance of new hybrid and inbred varieties under aerobic conditions, minimum tillage and mechanized direct seeding method; and determine the advantages of minimum tillage and alternative seeding methods, in terms of energy efficiency, labor productivity, and cost effectiveness

Objectives

Methods

Results