Yield evaluation of four rice varieties under the organic fertilization strategy in Tabuk City, Kalinga, Philippines

Despite the growing interest in organic rice production, location-specific evaluations of hybrid rice variety performance under organic management in the unique agro-climatic conditions of Tabuk City, Philippines remain limited. This study evaluated the growth and yield responses of four hybrid rice varieties (MS 16; CLS 1, NSIC 222, NSIC 514) to organic fertilization at Kalinga State University, Philippines employing a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Key agronomic parameters were meticulously assessed, including plant height, tiller number, panicle length, grains per panicle, 1000-grain weight, and yield per plot. While organic fertilizer application consistently positively influenced overall growth and grain weight across all varieties, significant inherent differences in performance were evident. CLS 1 consistently outperformed the other varieties, exhibiting the most essential plant height (116.21 cm), the highest number of grains per panicle, the heaviest 1000-grain weight (41.91 g), and the highest grain yield per plot. In contrast, MS 16 produced the highest average number of tillers (11.6), and CLS 1 displayed the most extended average panicle length (28.21 cm). Based on these results, the cultivation of CLS 1 with organic fertilization is recommended for rice farmers in Tabuk City, Kalinga, Philippines.