Establishment of Alternative Season for Cultivation of Photoperiod-Sensitive Traditional Rice Cultivars

Aims: To find out the suitable time for cultivating the photoperiod-sensitive rice cultivars during off-season.

Study Design: Randomized Block Design.

Place and Duration of Study: University Research Farm, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, Cooch Behar 736165, West Bengal, India. Experiments were conducted during Boro 2017 and Kharif 2018.

Methodology: Forty nine cultivars were sown in seed beds on 28th November, 2017 for cultivation of the Boro crop and sowing was done on 30th June, 2018 for cultivation of Kharif crop. Seedlings were transplanted in randomized block design with two replications. Row to row spacing was 30 cm and plant to plant spacing was 20 cm. Standard agronomic practices compatible to the humid tropic of Terai Zone were practiced. Ten random plants from each plot were selected for recording data. Observations were recorded on yield and yield attributing parameters.

Results: High significant variation was observed for all the characters under study indicating the presence of high variability among the selected cultivars. Only the test weight between the two seasons had insignificant difference representing that there was no effect of seasons on this character. Time of sowing was standardized for sowing of the traditional cultivars in alternative season- Boro. The yield ranged from 0.35 t/ha to 2.68 t/ha during Boro and from 2.67 t/ha to 8.48 t/ha during Kharif. Ronga Komal (2.68 t/ha), Kauka (2.65 t/ha), Jaldhyapa (2.54 t/ha), Chakhao Angangbi (2.07 t/ha), Kaloboichi (1.87 t/ha), Kalturey (1.85 t/ha), Chakhao-Selection-2 (1.59 t/ha), Chakhao-Selection-1 (1.46 t/ha), Chakhao Sempak (1.43 t/ha) and Chakhao-Selection-3 (1.42 t/ha) performed well during Boro season.

Conclusion: Ronga Komal, Kauka, Jaldhyapa, Chakhao Angangbi, Kaloboichi, Kalturey, Chakhao-Selection-2, Chakhao-Selection-1, Chakhao Sempak and Chakhao-Selection-3 performed well during Boro season. Consequently, those above varieties may be recommended for cultivation during Boro season.