Two short-duration rice varieties for Kerala
By Our Agriculture Correspondent
'Kunjikunji varna' is an attractive and productive crop for the farmers of the Central zone of Kerala.
RICE BREEDERS at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Pattambi, of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) have developed two promising short-duration varieties of rice that are ideally suited for cultivation in the double-cropped areas for the Central Zone of Kerala. The varieties, `Kunjukunju Varna' and `Kunjukunju Priya', are the pioneer cultivars evolved through participatory plant breeding in rice in Kerala, implemented in Palakkad district under the Group Approach for Locally Adapted and Sustainable Agriculture (GALASA) Programme.
The main objective of the programme was the purification of local rice variety `Kunjukunju'. The two new varieties were released for commercial cultivation by the farmers by KAU recently. `Kunjukunju Varna' is a short-duration (110-115 days) variety recommended for the double-cropped areas of central zone of Kerala. The variety is suited for direct seeding as well as transplanting especially in the kharif season.
Growing to an average height of 93 cm the variety produces red kernels. A characteristic feature of this variety is purple colouration of leaf sheath and the grain. `Kunjukunju Varna' produces of grains of excellent cooking qualities.
The variety is moderately resistant to rice blast disease and the pests such as gall fly, leaf folder and stem borer. It is moderately susceptible to sheath blight.
`Kunjukunju Priya' is also a short-duration variety and it is shorter than the other variety by about 10 days. It comes to harvest in 105 to 110 days. It is recommended for cultivation in double-cropped regions of Palakkad, Thirusoor and Ernakulam districts. It can be raised as direct-seeded crop or as transplanted crop. The variety is photo-insensitive, and it can be grown both in kharif and rabi seasons. The basal leaf sheath and grain apicules of the variety are green, and the seed coat has red pigmentation. The variety is resistant to major diseases and pests such as rice blast, gall fly, leaf folder and stem borers, according to the scientists.
The two varieties can be grown by following the package of practices prescribed for other high yielding short-duration rice.
They respond well to liberal application of organic manures and amendments. Application of biofertilizers such as azospirillum, azotobacter, phosphobacterium, powdered neem cake and powdered rock phosphate along with vermi-compost will prove to be rewarding.
The use of botanical insecticides, cow's urine and vermi-wash to ward off crop pests and to encourage plant growth, panicle initiation and grain filling will also be of very great advantage.
The field should be kept free of weeds and sound water management by regulating the irrigation schedule will prove to be beneficial in reaping a rich harvest from the two varieties.
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