Agronomic evaluation of rain fed rice varieties in Seke - Banza area, Democratic Republic of Congo

Six rain fed rice varieties from INERA (National Institute for Agronomic Study and Research) YANGAMBI center were cultivated at INERA GIMBI station. The objective was to get high yield rain fed rice varieties adapted to Seke-Banza area conditions in view to increase farmers’ production and to reduce import of rice in the country. This evaluation will also permit the diversification of rain fed rice varieties in investigation area. Randomized bloc design with four replications was used to evaluate the height of plant at the end of flowering (cm), number of days for plant flowering, number of maturity days, diseases resistance, number of panicles per square meter, weight of 1000 grains (g), grains yield (t/ha) and panicle length (cm). Compared to control (NERICA4), significant difference was detected between tested materials (P≥0.05). All varieties produced high values of evaluated parameters than control. Three varieties were more effective: NERICA11 (4.942 t/ha), LIENGE (4.514 t/ha) and WAB 897-B-B-B-B-2 (4.183 t/ha). Evaluated materials were found to be resistant to diseases but susceptible to attacks of borer insects. Weight of 1000 grains was correlated to the plants height, the panicles length and the grains yield. Number of panicles/m² was correlated to grains yield and to panicles length. A positive correlation was observed between grains yield and panicles length. Number of days for plants flowering was correlated to number of maturity days. Tested materials can be cultivated in Seke-Banza area conditions in order to improve farms rain fed rice production, increase their income and contribute to reduce rice import in the country.Keywords: Rain fed rice variety, high yield, climate condition.