EVALUATION OF GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED UPLAND RICE (Oryza sativa L.) CULTIVARS UNDER A CENTER PIVOT IRRIGATION SYSTEM IN IGBOORA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

A field trial was conducted at Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora to evaluate the growth and yield performance of selected NERICA rice cultivars. Three rice cultivars (NERICA 7, NERICA 8 and NERICA 10) were selected for the study.  A randomized complete block design was used to arrange the cultivars. The rice cultivars were planted and evaluated for growth and yield parameters. Data collected were: plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, number of days to 50% flowering, panicle weight, number of grains per panicle and weight of grain per plant. The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance, while the treatment means were separated by Least Significant different at 5% level of probability. The rice cultivars showed significant differences in all the parameters understudied. NERICA 7 produced the highest weight of grain (3.6 g), followed by NERICA 10 (3.1 g), while NERICA 6 produced the lowest significant grain weight (2.5 g). However, NERICA 10 had the shortest number of days to 50% flowering, while NERICA 7 had the longest number of days to flower. The growth and yield differences observed on all the parameters understudied were due to inherent genotypic composition. However, all the cultivars can be cultivated in the study area and were recommended for commercial production to rice farmers.