Study on the Adaptation of Superior and Local Upland Rice Varieties (Oriza sativa) in Dry Climate of West Southeast Moluccas Border Region of Country

Abstract

This study on the adaptation of superior and local upland rice on dry climate was carried out from July to October 2017 at the West Southeast Moluccas Main Seed Center involving 15 members of the Webat Farmer Groups. The aim of this study was to obtain adaptive superior and local varieties that could potentially be developed in dry climates (dry land) in the region. Field assessments were done usinged a Randomized Block Design with eight treatments (superior and local varieties of upland rice) and repeated three times. The five superior varieties assessed were Towuti, Inpago 8, Inpago 9, Inpago 10, and Inpago 11 and the three local varieties used were Red Tanimbar, White Tanimbar, and Black Tanimbar. The results of the study showed that the average productivity of superior new varieties of upland rice higher yields (2.03 t ha^-1) compared to local varieties (1.24 t ha^-1), revealing a yield increase of 63.71 %. Results suggest that there are five varieties of upland rice that have potential to be developed in the West Southeast Moluccas Border Region, namely Inpago 9, Inpago 10, and Inpago 11 (superior new varieties), and Red Tanimbar and White Tanimbar (local varieties). However, the yields obtained in this assessment are still low because the number of productive tillers is also low. This could be due to low plant density caused by the very small number of seeds used per planting hole, and the effect of legowo 2: 1 planting system with a very wide.