Growth and productivity of new superior rice varieties and respondents’ preference in Majalengka Regency

Abstract

In developing new superior rice varieties, farmers’ preferences are important things to study and high yield potential. The study aimed to obtain new superior varieties of adaptive rice based on plant growth and productivity performance and determine respondents’ preferences for the varieties studied. The study was conducted in rainfed rice fields, Majalengka Regency, West Java Province, from April to August 2020. The study used a randomized block with 6 treatments: Inpari 32 varieties, Inpari 39, Inpari 42, Inpari 43, Pajajaran, and Siliwangi, and repeated 5 times. The observed parameters consisted of: growth, yield components, and yields were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% level. The respondent’s preference test for grain and rice and organoleptic characters used a Likert scale and analyzed non-parametrically (Friedman test). The results showed that the Inpari 43 variety gave the highest yield. Still, farmers preferred the Inpari 32 variety to be developed because it has characters favored by farmers (respondents), namely short plant height, a large number of tillers, thin grain shape, white rice color, and fluffier rice taste.