Central Rice Research Institute Annual report...2011-12

salinity due to shortage of irrigation
water. In Ersama also, in two
replications, all the genotypes
died due to high salinity (soil ECe
9.3-18.3 dS m -1 and field water EC
4.4-7.2 dS m -1 ). In one replication,
where salinity was relatively low
(soil ECe 9.4-14.4 dS m -1 and field
water EC 4.1-6.1 dS m -1 ), IR72046-
B-R-3-3-3-1 produced the highest
grain yield of 2.22 t ha -1 , followed
by CR2472-1-6-2 and IR71895-3R-
60-3-1 (grain yield around 1.50 t
ha -1 ), as against 1.26 t ha -1 for
Patitapaban and 1.14 t ha -1 for
FL478. During the wet season, 12
elite lines along with two salt-tolerant
checks (SR 26B and Luna
Suvarna) and a farmer’s variety
(Bhaluki/Panikoili) were evaluated
in Ersama and Astarang blocks. At Ersama with
high salinity (soil ECe 7.3-12.6 and field water EC 1.4-
6.6 dS m -1 ), all the entries produced lower grain yield as
compared to Astarang (Fig. 18). The grain yield of CR
2468-1-319-3-1 and CR2464-1-203-1-1 was comparable
to SR26B but 32% higher than the farmer’s variety
Bhaluki. At Astarang with low-medium salinity (soil
ECe 4.6-8.3 and field water EC 1.1-3.4 dS m -1 ), CR2092-
141-2 gave significantly higher (21.6%) grain yield than
SR26B, while the remaining entries were comparable
to SR26B.
Farmer-managed baby trials
In the dry season, performance of two CRRI lines
(CR2472-1-6-2 and CR2485-7-3-45-1) and a Vietnam
variety (OM6051) selected from the previous year’s PVS
trials was evaluated under farmer’s management at 17
locations in Ersama, using IR72046-B-R-3-3-3-1 and a
farmer’s variety as checks. CR2472-1-6-2 recorded the
highest mean grain yield of 3.70 t ha -1 , followed by
OM6051 (mean grain yield 3.40 t ha -1 ) and CR2485-7-3-
45-1 (mean grain yield 3.10 t ha -1 ). IR72046-B-R-3-3-3-1
recorded the mean grain yield of 3.60 t ha -1 , whereas
the yield of farmer’s variety was 3.10 t ha -1 . On an average,
the test lines gave a yield advantage of about 20%
over the farmers’ variety. However, none of them was
superior to IR72046-B-R-3-3-3-1. In the wet season, 18
baby trials were conducted in Ersama, where grain
yield of SR26B, Luna Suvarna and CR2092-141-2 was
3.0-4.3, 2.9-4.7 and 3.5-5.0 t ha -1 , respectively, as against
Grain yield (t ha -1 )
Fig. 18. Grain yield of promising salt-tolerant rice lines in farmer’s fields at
Ersama (Jagatsinghpur) and Astarang (Puri) blocks, Odisha during the wet
season
2.1-3.4 t ha -1 for the farmer’s variety Bhaluki. Improved
varieties gave yield advantage of 0.8-1.5 t ha -1 over the
farmer’s variety.
Evaluation of promising breeding lines
Out of 10 most promising entries with 90-100% plant
survival and grain yield of 702-818 g m 2 , nine were
from Annapurna/FL 478 cross and only one from
Naveen/FL478 cross. The tolerant checks FL478 and
IR72046-B-R-3-3-3-1 showed 51 and 35% survival and
produced grain yield of 178 and 117 g m 2 , respectively.
Farmer’s variety recorded 30% survival but did not produce
any grain.
Rice-based cropping system
Effects of different spacing (1.5 x 1.5 m and 1.0 x 1.0
m) and irrigation schedules at 4, 6 and 8 day intervals
on the yield of watermelon (cv. Sugar baby) were studied
in farmer’s field at Ersama under medium salinity.
The EC of soil (saturation extract), groundwater and
irrigation water was 4.9-10.0, 3.0-4.8 and 1.1-1.9 (beyond
30 days after sowing) dSm -1 , respectively. The yield
was significantly higher under 1.5x1.5 m (6.6-8.5 t ha -1 )
than under 1.0x1.0 m (6.1-7.7 t ha -1 ) spacing, irrespective
of the irrigation schedule. Further, the yield was
the highest when the crop was irrigated at 4 days intervals
and increasing the irrigation interval had a detrimental
effect. Besides, sweet potato planting materials
were supplied to 25 farmers in Ersama. A large variability
in tuber yield was noticed depending on salinity
levels and farmer’s management and average yield
58 CRRI ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12