|
Abstract:
|
The study was conducted at Gulu University, Northern Uganda between August, 2013 and March, 2014 to evaluate the ratooning characteristics of four common rice varieties (NERICA4, NERICA3, NYLON and SINDANO) in Gulu District. The experiment was a CRD with four treatments (the four rice varieties) and with three replications. 12 plots in total measuring 2m x 3m were planted with 5 seeds/ hill at a spacing of 0.2m x 0.2m and
thinned to 1 plant per hill after seed emergency. Data was collected on tiller number/ plant, weight of rice seeds/ plot, 1000 seed weight, and number of seeds per panicle and then
entered in MS Excel and analyzed with Genstat 12th edition (95% confidence level). The differences between the means were compared by computing ANOVA according to Steel
and Torrie (1980).NERICA 4 produced significantly higher yield from its ratoons of 12.41% of its main crop yield thanother varieties. The main crop generally gave more yield
than ratoon crop in terms of seed weight per plot and number of seeds per panicle. 93.9% of the main crop bore panicles but only 56% of ratoon tillers had panicles. Among the four
main crop varieties, NERICA 4 matured earliest in 110 days from planting but the ratoon crops matured in 96 days, two weeks earlier than main crop. In the main crop the main
pests were termites and rice bugs and diseases were rice blast and rice yellow mottle virus disease whereas in the ratoon crop the main pest were termites and the diseases were dead heart and rice blast. |