Agronomic Performance of Modern Rice Varieties in South-west Bangladesh

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in Boro season during November 2018 to April 2019 at two farmer’s fields of Batiaghata and Dumuria sub-district under Khulna district of Bangladesh with the objective of testing agronomic status and adaptability of four modern rice varieties in comparison with the popular mega variety BRRI dhan28. The varieties were BRRI dhan67, BRRI dhan81, BRRI dhan84 and BRRI dhan86. BRRI dhan28 was chosen as a control due to its wide acceptability among the farmers. The soil of the studied area was moderately alkaline and medium to moderately saline. In Batiaghata and Dumuria field, initial soil EC was 3.19 and 3.29 dS/m, respectively and it was 4.7 and 4.8 dS/m, accordingly at maturity stage. It was observed that germination rate, plant height, effective tiller number were significantly higher in BRRI dhan67 than the other varieties but insignificant with BRRI dhan28 (p?0.05) for both fields. All the yield components spikelets per panicle, filled grain and 1000-grain weight were also significantly higher in BRRI dhan67 in compared to the other varieties but insignificant with BRRI dhan28 (p?0.05) for both fields as well. The highest grain yield was observed in BRRI dhan67 in both plots (7.89 and 7.29 t/ha) and showed significant differences among all other varieties (p?0.05). Harvest Index of BRRI dhan67 (51.02±4.2, 57.84±8.6)% indicated that this variety is the best yielder among the varieties. Considering overall performances and facts, BRRI dhan67 showed better agronomic performance and adaptation than the other modern varieties in compare with popular mega BRRI dhan28.