ZenToks Publication

Chapter 2

Performance dynamics of Upland Rice under Flooded Paddy Ecosystems

Abstract/Preface

This study was conducted to determine the performance of three upland rice varieties; NERICA 4, NamChe 5 and PR 107 in flooded paddy ecosystems of Doho, Tororo and Kween paddy flooded sites in Uganda. The research was under in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications during March-June in 2022 and 2023. Data were collected once prior to planting on soil pH, organic matter, soil mineral nutrients and texture. At harvest the plant height, number of tillers plant−1/ hill−1, panicles plant−1/ hill−1, seeds panicle and grain yield were determined at harvest. Collected data were analyzed (ANOVA) using 13th Edition of GenStat statistical package and significant differences between treatments means, separated using Fischer’s least significant difference test at P < 0.05. The pH range was slightly acidic (5.8-6.6) in all sites and the nitrogen levels were high under all treatments. Ngenge however, registered higher Phosphorus (70.4 Mgkg−1) than Doho (17.1 Mgkg−1) and Tororo (23.9 Mgkg−1) sites. Similar potassium levels, were observed in Doho and Tororo (0.5-0.6 Cmol/ kg) but were higher in Ngenge (1.33 Cmol/ kg). The major soil textural class was sandy clay loam for Doho & Tororo and Ngenge had clay soil texture. At all the sites WITA 9 was significantly (P > 0.05) shorter (55 & 58 cm) than NamChe 5, NERICA 4 and PR 107 (76 & 82cm) during both seasons. WITA 9 at Doho and Tororo sites, produced significantly (P > 0.05) more) tillers plant−1 (8.8 tillers), tillers hill−1 (23 tillers), panicles m2 (321 panicles), panicles hill−1 (23 panicles), seeds panicle−1 (189 &192 seeds and rice grain yield (5.0 & 3.6 Mt ha−1) than other treatments during both seasons. In Doho the panicles hill−1 and number of tillers plant−1 for NERICA 4, NamChe 5 and PR 107 were at par during 2022. Similarly, NamChe and PR 107 treatments recorded similar numbers of tillers m2 and panicles plant−1 during 2023. During 2022 the yield was high and similar for NERICA 4, NamChe 5 and PR 107 while lower and similar rice grain yields were recorded under the same rice treatments during 2023. In Tororo NamChe rice recorded significantly (P > 0.05) higher tillers hill−1 (9 tillers) than NERICA (6-8 tillers) rice during 2022. The panicles per unit area (209-211 panicles) and rice grain yield (3.0-3.2 Mt ha−1) were at par for both varieties during the two seasons. NamChe 5 however, recorded significantly (P > 0.05) higher seeds per panicle (172-175 seeds) than NERICA 4 rice (157160 seeds) during both seasons. In Ngenge the growth attributes, yield attributes and yield for NERICA 4 and NamChe 5 were similar during the two years. Based on the findings under this study, NamChe 5, NERICA 4 and PR 107 Upland rice varieties could be adapted and adopted under smallholders flooded paddy conditions dependent on seasonal rainfall for reduced risks, increased rice production and productivity in similar ecologies.