DYNAMIC ASSESSMENT OF GROWTH, YIELD, AND QUALITY TRAITS IN HIGH-YIELDING RICE VARIETIES UNDER TIDAL AGROECOSYSTEMS

Introduction: Swamplands, including tidal and freshwater areas, offer significant potential for agricultural expansion in Indonesia, particularly for rice cultivation. However, challenges such as low productivity and quality hinder the full realization of this potential. While new high-yielding varieties (NHVs) like Inpara-3, Inpari-33, Inpari-47, Inpari-48, and Logawa have been developed to address these challenges, factors like pre-harvest conditions (NHV selection) and post-harvest processes (drying, milling, storage) significantly impact rice quality. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the performance of several new high-yielding varieties of rice in tidal lands based on growth, yield, and grain quality. Method: The study collected data on growth, yield, and quality parameters. Statistical analysis (ANOVA and Duncan's Multiple Range Test) was used to compare treatment means and identify correlations between variables. Results and Discussion: The study revealed that new high-yielding rice varieties (NHVs) demonstrated significant adaptability to tidal agroecosystems, with notable effects on plant height, panicle length, 1,000-grain weight, harvest age, and dry grain yield. Inpari-33, Logawa, and Inpari-47 showed superior performance, yielding 5.48 t/ha, 5.33 t/ha, and 5.29 t/ha, respectively, while also exhibiting good growth characteristics. All tested varieties fell into the third category of medium-quality rice due to a high percentage of broken grains, influenced by genetic traits and post-harvest processing. Research Implications: The study identifies Inpari-33, Logawa, and Inpari-47 as promising NHVs for tidal rice cultivation. By highlighting the potential of these varieties in challenging environments, the research contributes to improving rice production and food security in marginal areas.