Productivity and seed quality of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under synthetic and organic farming practices
2008
Valdez, R.E., Puerta Building, 1 Felisa Road, Mansilingan, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental (Philippines)
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food in around 25 countries, mostly in Asia. Since the 'Green Revolution', production of rice has increased enormously. A problem arose however. Excessive fertilizer use caused the euthrophication of surface water, when nitrate and phosphate escaped from paddy fields into rivers and lakes via drainage canals. The general objective of the study was to assess the productivity and seed quality of rice varieties given synthetic and organic farming practices. An experiment was conducted at PhilRice Nueva Ecija (2005 WS) to compare the performance of varieties (Dinorado Gold, PSB Rc82 and PSB Rc72H) under four production practices: synthetic, organic, biodynamic and control. Parameters included yield and other agronomic traits, eating quality, seed quality, soil quality and economics. PSB Rc72H had 8% higher grain yield than PSB Rc82. PSB Rc72H also had higher number of productive tillers, shoot biomass, 1000-seed weight and harvest index. Grain yield of synthetic was 14% higher than organic. Soil phosphorus increased after cropping only with biodynamic and organic practices. Organic had greater net profit (16%) and return of investment (30%) than synthetic; biodynamic followed organic. The PSB's were more favored in eating quality than Dinorado. Based on the study, organic fertilizer has advantages over chemical fertilizer. The grain yield advantage of synthetic was only very slight and not enough to give it the economic advantage. Aside from monetary returns, organic treatments on the benefits like better grain quality, better seed storability and increased soil quality.
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