ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RICE SECTION • • YANCO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND RESEARCH STATION 1966-67 7 1966 -67 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE RICE SECTION at Yanco Agricultural College and Research Station Yanco, N.S.W., AUSTRALIA. D.J. McDonald, B.Sc.Agr. E. B. Boerema, 0 RICE BREEDER. AGRONOMIST Scope of Investigation 1 • Introduction 2• Staff 3. Rice Improvement a) Cross breeding and selection b) Variety testing c) Pure Seed production 4. .Agronomy a) Soil testing b) Depth of ploughing x compaction x varieties c) Varieties x seed rates d) Gypsum rates x Nitrogen rates e) Methods of aerial sowing x Nitrogen .rates x seed rates f) Methods of aerial sowing x varieties g) Rotation x Nitrogen rates x Phosphorus rates b) Seed treatment i) Topdressing with Nitrogen j) Sod-sown Variety Trial k) Edge Effect 1) Effect of sowing boots on the establishment and yield of rice. 5• Programme fr 1967-68. I 'I L ,_ I • - 1 - 1 • INTRODUCTION Seasonal conditions were excellent for rice growing in the 1966-67 rice season. Cold weather in early October delayed the emergence of early aerial -sown crops. It was feared that due to very dry conditions in the previous winter water restrictions could be imposed. This led to an enormous increase in the area of aerial-sown rice. Generally the resulting yields were good but severe lodging made harvesting operations expensive. The Autumn was extremely dry and harvesting operations progressed uninterrupted. The area sown to rice increased to 73,669.4 acres, producing 210,939 tons of rice, averaging 2.863 ton/acre. A:l three figuxes represent records for the rice growing area of New South Wales. A large nwnber of variety x nitrogen rate trials were carried out throughout the northern area with the object of determining the adaptability of a newly developed long-grain variety in comparison with the well established varieties Calrose and Caloro II over a wide range of conditions. For a second year the value of the nitrogen soiltest was evaluated over a large nwnber of trials throughout the Murrwnbidgee and Coleambally Irrigation Areas. The highlight of this year was the official naming of the long-grain variety ''Kulu" at the Annual Rice Field Day at Yanco Agricultural College and Research Station by Mr. w. Poggendorff, the former Riqe Breeder and now Chief of the Division of Plant Industry of the New South Wales Department of Agricul­ ture. This high yielding long -grain variety was bred by Mr. D. J. McDonald from a cross between Calxose and Bluebonnet 50. It is the first really high yielding long -grain variety suitable for a temperate climate. The popul&�ity of this variety in overseas conntries could be gauged by the numerous requests for seed, Some 6, 000 acres of Kulu will be grown in the next rice season. On request of the Rice Growers Organisation, the Annual Field Day at the Yanco Agricultural College and Research Station was made into a whole­ day event. This proved to be very successful with approximately 375 people in attendance. 2• STAFF Mr, E. B. Boerema returned in September, 1966 to the Research Station after spending over a year at Kimberley Research Station in ·western Australia. Mr. D, J.McDonald was awarded an overseas scholarship for a period of three years, Mr. McDonald left early in August to study for his Ph.D. degree at the Texas A. & M. University. The laboratory and field assistants, Miss Dianne Muston, Mr. J.P. Klinkhammer, and Mr, F. J. Matthews, continued their valuable services in the rice section, The first two mentioned persons are employed by the Irrigation Research and Extension Committee. 3 . RICE IMPROVEMENT a) Crossbreeding and selection Advanced generations:- following extremely heavy culling last year9 �ly one line from the Bluebonnet 50 x Calrose series was retaued fw flll'ther seleetion. All selections from this line, 1-7 -33-1-3 -9-, proved too weak in the seedling stage 9 even though they produced very high yield�, ana a composite seed sample has now been plaoed in the variety collection fer pos­ sible future use as parental material. - 2 - 3. RICE IMPROVEMENT (contd.) a) Crossbreeding and selection (contd.) Approximately 1, 600 selections of eight advanced crosses (F 5 and F6) were grown • .An outline is given below of the details of the crosses, their performances and possible future. (i) Crosses YR 4 and YR 5 - (Cal�ro II x Calrose and reciprocal). F6generation material from crosses made in 1961. The original objective of the cross was a higher yielding Calrose type with the ability of Caloro II to grow through water. This objective was realised more quickly by selection within the Calrose variety itself and the crossbred material is not likely to produce any better types. However, there was a great deal of variability amongst the selections for milling quality (returns of whole grain) and for "chalky belly" Si" 16 of the most promising lines in these repeats were sovm as long rows last season. Four have been harvested for testing in a variety trial. They are:- YR 4 - :::6-9 YR 4 56-6 YR 4 - 56 -8 YR 4 - 57- 10 In addition, 10 short 1·ows were harvested and further selections were made to provide new seed for fuxther trials if necessary. The short rows harvested were�- YR 4 42-3 -2 YR 4 56-6-1 YR 4 56-6- 4 YR 4 56-8-3 YR 4 - 56-8-5 YR 4 - 57-10-2 YR 4 57-10-5 YR 4 68 -3-1 YR 4 68-3-3 None of the short rows of YR 4 - 26 derivation were of acceptable milling quality. The future of the material from these crosses depends entirely on the performance of the lines to be tested next seas�n. Before they will be consid­ ered as commercial pcssibilities they must prove themselves superior in some respect to present commercial varieties. The point at which this is most likely to happen is if one of the rounder grain (Caloro type) selections proves to �e hardier than and/�r of higher milling quality than Calero II. Most of the selections are a few days earlier than Caloro II and this would be an advantage. (ii) YR 6 (CenturyPatna x Caloro II) F5and F6generation selections from a cross made in 1961. A total of 80 selections were sown last season for final assessment. Some exceptionally attractive progeny have come from this cross but, unfortunately, they tend to be of late maturity and subject to very high ster­ ility. Grain conformation of some lines is outstanding. Kernels are generally without ridges and much more translucent in appearance than our present varieties. Many lines are Bmooth having none of the fine hair (pubescence) on the out­ side of the hull or on the leaf. 11 11, Only six short rows were harvested and selections taken for seed increase and testing. TheT were:- YR 6 - 27-3-2- YR 6 - 100-2 YR 6 - 27-7 -3 YR 6 100-7 YR 6 - 100- 1 YR 6 - 100- 9 - 3 - 3. RICE IMPROVEMENT (contd.) a) Crossbreeding and selection (contd.) Selections were made from a further five rows for crossing to hardier or earlier varieties. Details are as follows:- YR 6 - 27-3-2 pedigree rows and cross to Calrose, Somewake, Hirai and Cody for hardiness and earlier maturity. YR 6 - 27-7-3 pedigree rows and cross to Belle Patna, c.r. 9402 and Kulu for hardiness and earlier maturity. YR 6 - 54-10-5 Cross with Belle Patna, C.I.9402, Rexoro and Kulu YR 6 - 54-10-7 for hardiness and earlier maturity. YR 6 - 54-10-8 The three last mentioned selections have very attractive long-grains and appear to have exceptionally high yield potential. However, their actual yield was very low due to sterility. (iii) YR 9 ( Calrose x Bluebonnet 50 stranger) Only 10 selections from one line of this cross were grown. Plant type was attractive but yield very disappointing. The last of the progeny have now been discarded. (iv) YR 11 (Agosta.no x Bluebonnet 50 stranger) About 190 F6 selections of this cross were grown last season. Most of these were very vigorous growers and matured relatively early. From a point of view of plant typ0 they were quite attractive but yield was low in most cases. Ten rows were harvested and re-selected for further seed increase and testing. They were:- YR 11-58-- 6-7 YR 11-179-7-8- YR 11 - 179-1-10 YR 11 - 179-8-1 YR 11 - YR 11 - 179-11-3 YR 11 - 179179-2-5 -2-6 YR 11 - 179-11-4 YR 11 179-2-10 YR 11 180-2-2 The future of this cross depends on performance in larger plots, but, whether or not any of the selections prove worthy of advanced testing, the best lines should be retained for use as parent material. (v) YR 12 ( Agosta.no x Bluebonnet 50) Only abo ut 70 F6 lines were grown of this cross which has shown little sign of producing high yielding progeny. The cross has now been discarded entirely. (Qi) YR 13 (Century Patna x Calrose) About 230 F6 selections were grown of which 9 were harvested and re-selected. A large number of lines were very weak in the seedling stage and straw strength was very variable. Most flowered at about the same time as Calrose, The progeny selected were chosen because of their exceptionally attractive plant and grain type. Some of the long-grain segregates are amongst the most attractive types in the entire programme.