This study evaluated the yield performance of traditional rice varieties compared to new improved varieties in Sri Lanka's mid country wet zone. Four traditional varieties (Baranigala, Kiri Murunga, Sudu Heenati, Kalu Heenati) and one new variety (BG-300) grown with organic or chemical fertilizers were compared. The traditional varieties generally had higher numbers of spikelets per panicle, thousand grain weights, yields, crude protein contents, rice to paddy ratios, and head rice yields compared to the new variety. The results suggest that in low potential paddy lands, traditional rice varieties are better suited than new improved varieties in terms of both quality and quantity of yield.

1. Studies on the yield performance
of selected traditional rice
cultivars grown in mid country
wet zone
J.H.M.M.Jayaweera
Department of Crop
Science
University of
Peradeniya.

2. Introduction
Oryza sativa
• Staple food
• Employment
Production
surplus
Can’t export-
low quality
Low potential
High cost for
NIV-
pest disease
weeds
Lack of
research
Traditional
Verities with
diversity
Traditional varieties
with low cost

3. Introduction
Oryza sativa • Staple food
• Employment
Production
surplus
Can’t export-
low quality
Low potential
High cost for
NIV-
pest disease
weeds
Lack of
research
Traditional
Verities with
diversityTraditional varieties
with low cost

4. Objectives
to evaluate traditional rice varieties suitable
for mid country wet zone

5. Objectives
1. To compare performance of traditional rice
varieties (TRV) and new improved varieties
(NIV) qualitatively and quantitatively
2. To compare performance of NIV under high
in-put and low in-put conditions

6. Methodology
• 5 treatments in 3 blocks (RCBD)
T1-Baranigla with organic fertilizer
T2-Kiri Murunga organic fertilizer
T3-Sudu Heenati organic fertilizer
T4-Kalu heenati organic fertilizer
T5-Bg 300 with organic fertilizer
T6-Bg 300 with chemical fertilizer
• Block size – 2m*5m
• Seed paddy broad cast - 75 kg/ha

7. Observations
• Yield
• Yield components
No. panicles/m2
No. spikelets/panicle
Filled grain %
Potential size of grain
• Crude protein content
• Paddy to rice ratio (fraction of rice)
• Head rice yield (HRY)

8. Yield

9. No.of spikelets/panicle

10. Thousand grain weight

11. Crude protein content

12. Ratio between rice and paddy

13. Results and discussion
Treatment No.of spikelets/panicle
1.Baranigala 99b
2.Kirimurunga 142b
3.Suduheenati 204a
4.Kaluheenati 105b
5.BG-300(organic fertilizer) 115b
6.BG-300(chemical fertilizer) 131b
For each harvest, means with different superscripts are significantly different (P<0.05)
Table 2: Number of spikelets per panicle of different treatments

14. Treatment Thousand grain wt.(g)
1.Baranigala 25.5e
2.Kirimurunga 30.3c
3.Suduheenati 38.3a
4.Kaluheenati 32.3b
5.BG-300(organic fertilizer) 27.1d
6.BG-300(chemical fertilizer) 27.0d

15. Treatment Yield (mt/ha)
1.Baranigala 3.64a
2.Kirimurunga 3.64a
3.Suduheenati 2.88c
4.Kaluheenati 1.90b
5.BG-300(organic fertilizer) 3.42a
6.BG-300(chemical fertilizer) 3.79a

16. Treatment Crude protein content (%)
1.Baranigala 3.06b
2.Kirimurunga 2.87c
3.Suduheenati 3.12b
4.Kaluheenati 3.40a
5.BG-300(organic fertilizer) 2.80cd
6.BG-300(chemical fertilizer) 2.70d

17. Treatment Fraction of rice
1.Baranigala 1.26cd
2.Kirimurunga 1.20d
3.Suduheenati 1.57a
4.Kaluheenati 1.43b
5.BG-300(organic fertilizer) 1.32bc
6.BG-300(chemical fertilizer) 1.20d

18. Treatment Head rice yield
1.Baranigala 55.59b
2.Kirimurunga 55.00b
3.Suduheenati 59.02a
4.Kaluheenati 59.25a
5.BG-300(organic fertilizer) 52.40c
6.BG-300(chemical fertilizer) 60.09a

19. Conclusions
• Quality wise and quantity wise - BG-300<TRV
in low potential lands
• No significant difference between compost
treated and chemical fertilizer treated BG-300
• Beneficial to grow TRV in low potential paddy
lands