Enhancing Seed Yield and Quality of Nerica by Timely Harvesting

Abstract

Rice is one of the new crops in the seed certification system in Kenya. New Rice for Africa (NERICA), which is upland rice, has been developed and four varieties released for multiplication in Kenya. Evaluation of Nerica varieties for adaptability has been done and varieties recommended for different ecological zones. However, due to the scarcity of information on right stage of harvesting of NERICA grown for seed production, yield and quality of seeds may not be currently reaching the highest potential. This study was therefore to investigate the effect of stage of harvesting on the yield and seed quality of NERICA. The experiment was carried out in two sites :-Marigat in Baringo county and Mwea in Kirinyaga County for one season from October 2014 to March 2015 and seed testing in KEPHIS Nakuru seed testing laboratory. The field trial was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split plot arrangement and each treatment was replicated three times in each site with each plot measuring 3x1M. The soil in experimental plots was analyzed for total N, available P (Bray I), exchangeable K, organic C and pH before application of treatments. Percentage of seedling emergence, plant height, number of tillers were measured as growth parameters while grain moisture content and grain yield were determined at harvest and seed quality determined after harvest. The data obtained was subjected to analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the effects of treatments were separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at p ≤ 0.05. The stage of harvesting good quality seeds of NERICA rice was determined. The stage of harvesting had a significant effect on seed quality; however the effect was not significant on yield. At 138 Days after Planting at Mwea seeds attained maximum qauality and 124DAP at Marigat. The study therefore recommends harvesting at 138 and 124 Days After Planting respectively for high quality seed production and high yields.