Adaptability study on 12 rice cultivars in Rwanda-Case study of Kayonza, Gatsibo, Gasabo

Abstract

Field trials done have provided the opportunity to observe the adaptability level of 12 rice varieties eventually to the increased rice production and income. This study aimed at assessing the adaptability study on 12 rice cultivars in KAYONZA, GATSIBO, GASABO and MUHANGA Districts with the specific objectives to increase the agricultural productivity of organized farmers in the marshlands targeted for development in an environmentally sustainable manner; increase the farmers’ income in market-based value chains activities; test the adaptability of 12 rice varieties in 4 Districts in collaboration with Rwanda Agriculture and Animal resources Board(RAB) and to contribute to the environment-friendly rice birds scaring by providing the rice varieties having capacity of self-protection in addition to the adaptability. During the study implementation, the experimentation plot in each site was set up for the trials of 12 rice cultivars to test the rice adaptability in each of the 4 Districts with the selected sites. Each sub-bloc is for one variety with 4 small equal sub-plots to differentiate the 4 different spacing (15-20, 20-20, 25-20, and 30-20) considered during the transplantation.

To collect the data relating to the production, 5 plants selected in cross position localized by fixed wooden sticks have to be considered in each sub-plot. The results of the study showed the rice cultivars with high production from 6MT and farmers themselves will make the appreciation and then select the high ranked ones to be considered for seed multiplication and finally go to the production on large scale by farmers. To monitor the production factors, the data have been collected on the number of tillers, the number of panicles, planting space impact on production, diseases resistance, and then resulting production by each variety with different planting space (15-20, 20-20, 25-20 and 30-20).