The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) says early-maturing varieties require lesser water, as they can mature faster than other inbred varieties.
PhilRice says a rice crop that matures in 100 days will require approximately 1,000-mm of water while a crop that matures in 150 days will require 50 percent more.
For rainfed and irrigated areas, using these varieties will reduce the water needed and the number of days in supplying water.
According to PhilRice, farmers in irrigated areas are recommended to plant the following rice varieties, which include the PSB Rc 4 (Molawin), Rc 8 (Talavera), Rc 10 (Pagsanjan), Rc 82 (Peñaranda), NSIC Rc 118 (Matatag 3), Rc 120 (Matatag 6), Rc 130 (Tubigan 3), Rc 134 (Tubigan 4), Rc 140 (Tubigan 6), Rc 144 (Tubigan 8), Rc 146 (PJ7), Rc 148 (Mabango 2), Rc 152 (Tubigan 10), Rc 154 (Tubigan 11), Rc 242 (Japonica 2), Rc 436 (Tubigan 37), Rc 438 (Tubigan 38), and Rc 440 (Tubigan 39).
While the PSB Rc 12(Caliraya), Rc 14(Rio Grande), and NSIC Rc 192(Sahod Ulan 1) are suitable for rainfed areas.
Average yield of these varieties ranges from 4 to 10 tons per hectare (t/ha).
They mature between 105 and 110 days compared to 115 to 125 days for the other varieties.
Reduction in yield happens when rice plants are exposed to stress like drought, especially during the flowering stage.
With early-maturing varieties, this is less likely to happen, says PhilRice’s in-house agriculturist and Text Center lead agent Fredierick M. Saludez.
A series of studies from the Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division showed an average of 64 percent yield reduction, under drought condition, during dry season from 2015 to 2018.
PhilRice also recommended water-saving technologies, such as the alternate-wetting, and drying (AWD).
AWD is a water-saving technology that reduces the use of irrigation water without penalizing crop yield.
Based on studies, rice farmers in lowland areas can save water by up to 50 percent, if properly implemented.
Locally available materials such as bamboo or PVC tubes with 4-inch diameter and 25-cm in length are used to install AWD.
A farmer from Masinloc, Zambales testified that AWD is effective, as it helped him save water in irrigating his farm.
Technology promoters say that farmers should also put holes (3-5mm) to serve as a water passage, around the tube with 5cm distance.
This will be inserted into the soil up to the 15cm marked for dry season and 20cm marked for wet season. Every irrigation time, 5cm deep is enough.
Researchers said that farmers will just have to wait until the water subsides down to the bottom of the tube before the next irrigation.
In technology dissemination, PhilRice is urging agriculturists from the local government units, rice technicians, extension workers, and rice advocates to promote the use of these technologies for farmers to avoid yield losses during dry season.
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In anticipation of the coming dry season, farmers with insufficient water supply are advised to adopt early-maturing rice varieties or with maturity days less than 110.