Differential growth and yield response of hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.) to seasonal variability

Abstract

The response of hybrid rice to seasonal changes is largely unknown. This study presents the effort to assess the response of tropical hybrid rice to rainy and winter seasons in alluvial soils at Regional Research Sub-Station under Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Chakdah, West Bengal. Five commercial tropical hybrid rice cultivars together with a local HYV were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications. The variety NPH-207 (Champion) produced taller plants and recorded significantly higher number of effective tillers than the local HVY (Satabdi) did during both the seasons. The cultivar NPH-8889 (Karishma) recorded the maximum chlorophyll content at all dates of observations and it was statistically at par with NPH-207 (Champion). The values of all measured yield components were higher in the hybrid cultivar NPH-207 (Champion) in comparison with any other tested cultivars. Consequently, NPH-207 (Champion) produced significantly higher grain and straw yield, accounting 67.9 and 50.1% more than those obtained from HYV in rainy season, while 98.2 and 103% more than those obtained from HYV in winter season, respectively. The significant and positive correlations with grain yield were observed between plant height, 1000 grain weight and chlorophyll content at 30 DAT both in rainy and winter season.