Photo: VCG

Output of a hybrid rice demonstration base in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province with the techniques developed by Yuan Longping, the “father of hybrid rice,” reached a record high of 1,186 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectare), the maximum yield since the demonstration base was set up. 

The crop yield of the demonstration base with an area of 100 mu (6.67 hectares) in Mengzi city, Yunnan, is so far the closest to the goal of rice yield of 1,200 kilograms per mu in a single season proposed by Yuan, the Chinese hybrid rice research pioneer. 

Experts from Yunnan Agricultural University, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Hunan Agricultural University were responsible for the measurement and assessment of the production. 

According to the yield measurement method and calculation formula of super rice which is stipulated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the experts randomly chose three field for yield measurement. The sample was harvested manually and weighed on-site to obtain the final yield data of average 1,186 kilograms per mu for the three fields. 

This year, the hybrid rice variety Zhuoliangyou 1126 produced at the Mengzi demonstration base employed quantitative and precise cultivation along with accurate and quantitative fertilization techniques, with the combination of manual and mechanical methods. 

Sowing seeds took place on March 10, they were transplanted between April 6 and 9, and the harvest occurred on September 13. The crops showed balanced growth, with large and abundant grains, high fruiting rates, good coloration, and were free from major diseases and pests. 

This yield measurement has provided effective experience and technology for the future cultivation of Yuan’s super hybrid rice aiming for high quality, high yield, and high efficiency of production. It has further enhanced the comprehensive level of agricultural production, promoted the steady and healthy development of modern agriculture, and contributed to the steady growth of grain production and the continuous increase in farmers’ income. 

Global Times