COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SELECTED AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTIC OF LOCAL AND IMPROVED RICE VARIETIES IN GOMBE STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Rice is popularly known for its nutritional value, calories and its ability to eliminate hunger. Rice
production faces many difficulties in Nigeria due to some environmental factors and failure to
choose the right varieties by farmers.. These losses are due to many factors, among which
include drought, diseases, erosion, low amount of rainfall and other factors. A total of 15
selected indigenous and newly introduced hybrid rice varieties in Gombe State, Nigeria, had
their agronomic characteristics assessed. The rice varieties were grown under same
environmental conditions and screened for morpho-agronomic traits. Significant differences
(P<0.05) were picked among the 15 rice varieties for all the traits evaluated. The results showed
that plant height ranged between 51.2 cm in Jamila and 36.2 cm in Nerica. The leaf area showed
the highest value of 63.8 cm2 ± 0.01 in Sippi. Flowering time ranged from 68 ± 6.0 days in Mai
Lemo to 48.5 ± 4.0 days in China, while Nerica and Sippi took the shortest period of 14 days
after flowering to mature. Nerica had the highest value 143.2 g ± 12.25 for panicle weight. Mai
Zabo had high number of seeds per panicle (139 ± 0.19). Nerica had the highest value of 14850.0
± 1965.8 for 100 seeds per panicle. In order to conserve the wholeness of the richness of
indigenous rice varieties, farmers are advised to begin the cultivation of improved varieties
capable of withstanding drought and harsh weather conditions and produce high yield. Further
research should be conducted on Jamila, Mass and Madara local varieties in waterlogged areas as
these varieties produced no flower as a result of drought and harsh weather conditions, as
suggested by some practical farmers.