Varietal Evaluation and Preference Analysis of Sixteen Released Rice Varieties in Bhojad, Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract— A study on varietal selection trials for different varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was conducted in the field of Nepal Polytechnic Institute, Bhojad, Chitwan, Nepal with the objective of identifying suitable, high yielding promising rice varieties for the interest of the farming community. The experiment was carried out using 16 different treatments of released rice varieties in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with the identity on growth parameters like plant height, several tillers per meter square, panicle length, and yield parameters like effective tillers per meter square, filled grains per panicle, sterility percentage thousand-grain in weight, grain yield, straw yield, and Harvest Index were recorded. Data was entered and tabulated using MS-Excel while Analysis of variation and mean separation was done using R-Studio. The variation among varieties was observed for various traits. The variety Bahugunidhan-2 produced the highest grain yield (5.9 t/ha) followed by Ramdhan with the yield of (5.25 t/ha). The statistical analysis showed that the variety Sukha Dhandhan-3 was found earlier in 50% heading (84.67days), and maturity (125days). It was closely followed by Sabitri and Ramdhan which took 87.67 days to 50% heading and 139 and 138 days respectively for days to attain maturity. The information on variation for the traits among studied rice varieties will be helpful to plant breeders in constructing their breeding materials and implementing selection strategies in the future. Inappropriate varietal evaluation and selection in our country have led to the less development of variety with high yield potential. Improvement and participatory selection of promising rice varieties by studying genetic variability, character association between yield traits, and farmer preference analysis help in rice breeding for the selection of best rice varieties in the Chitwan district of Nepal.