Abstract
Complex and ecologically responsive rice-fish farming systems have evolved in the coastal wetland regions of India over centuries. Kaippad is such an indigenous rice-fish farming system of coastal North Kerala in India. It is a natural system utilizing indigenous knowledge and local resources. The proximity to sea and subsequent periodic sea inundation ensure the uniqueness of this system. However kaippad farms are decreasing in area and the traditional salt tolerant rice cultivars cultivated in the area are also slowly receding from the scene owing to low productivity. Performance evaluation of five popular rice cultivars was attempted based on performance index and cumulative performance index to find out the most promising among the traditional varieties. The study revealed that the cultivar Kuthiru ranked first based on the cumulative performance index calculated on the basis of thirteen characters including six growth characters and seven yield characters. The cultivars Kuttusan and Orkazhama ranked second and third. Selection and further improvement programmes using these cultivars will give rise to promising rice varieties suited for the needs of this special rice ecosystem.
Highlights
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important cereal crops providing staple food for more than half of the world’s population
The kaippad rice farming area is located in the coastal region of Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod Districts of Kerala State which is rich in estuaries and wetlands
The study was carried out on participatory mode in farmers’ fields at Ezhome and Keezhara regions in Kannur District of Kerala so as to assess the comparative performance of the cultivars used by the farmers
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important cereal crops providing staple food for more than half of the world’s population. Rice is produced in a wide range of locations and under a variety of climatic conditions, from the wettest areas in the world to the driest deserts. Rice occupies an extraordinarily high portion of the total planted area in South, South East, and East Asia This area is subject to an alternating wet and dry seasonal cycle and is nourished by many of the world’s major rivers, each with their own vast deltas. The farming system is traditionally organic, as farmers desist from the use of agrochemicals since it hampers the productivity of the succeeding fish crop This system is similar to the Pokkali system of rice cultivation practiced in Central Kerala. The kaippad rice farming area is located in the coastal region of Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod Districts of Kerala State which is rich in estuaries and wetlands. The soil pH throughout the depth of soil profiles of kaippad is slightly acidic, whereas that of pokkali is slightly alkaline [4, 7]
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