Identifying Rice Genotypes Suitable for Aerobic Direct-Seeded Conditions

Abstract

Direct-seeded rice (DSR) requires less labor and less water. The low input cost of DSR makes it a better alternative than the conventional transplanted system for rice. DSR helps to reduce production risk, facilitates crop production, and limits irrigation water use. In the present study, a total of 44 rice genotypes were evaluated in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications over two seasons (2020 and 2021) under DSR conditions at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal. The average grain yield ranged from 1114 kg/ha (CSR 62) to 5198 kg/ha (CSR MAGIC-167), biomass ranged from 6670 kg/ha (CSR 52) to 14,744 kg/ha (CSR MAGIC-117), plant height ranged from 67 cm (CSR 52) to 113 cm (CSR 47), panicle length ranged from 19 cm (CSR 53) to 30 cm (CSR 66), and total tillers ranged from to 7 (CSR MAGIC-117) to 13 (CSR 2748-4441-193). Out of 44 genotypes, maximum grain yield was observed in genotype CSR MAGIC-167 (5198 kg/ha) followed by CSR 58 (5117 kg/ha), CSR 49 (5014 kg/ha), and CSR RIL-06-178 (4904 kg/ha). The best performing genotypes, namely CSR MAGIC-167, CSR 58, CSR 49, and CSR RIL-06-178, should be further evaluated in larger and multilocation trails under DSR situations, and stably performing lines could be released as commercial varieties of DSR.

Keywords

• rice
• DSR
• aerobic
• CSR