Shaoyang: A hybrid rice production field in Suining county of Shaoyang, Hunan province, has achieved a record yield of 530.4 kilograms per mu (0.067 hectares), surpassing the 500-kilogram mark for the first time.
This achievement was confirmed on Monday by a field measurement session during an expert panel organized by the Hunan Association of Agricultural Science Societies, with participation from researchers at the China National Rice Research Institute of Wuhan University and other research institutions.
The trial production field, spanning about 200 mu, utilized a high-yield seed variety called Shuangliangyou 138, according to the association. Launched earlier this year, the trial project is part of a broader effort to overcome a longstanding bottleneck in hybrid rice production. Although hybrid rice is planted on over 200 million mu annually across China, seed yields have typically remained around 160 kilograms per mu, the association noted.
To increase yields, experts from the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center have devoted over two decades to developing new breeding methods and cultivation techniques.
One significant breakthrough was the creation of a new sterile male line with improved outcrossing rates, which largely enhanced seed production efficiency. The team has also developed a comprehensive cultivation system for high-yield seed production.
The new project in Suining was part of a coordinated effort involving the Hunan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, local governments, and seed companies.
According to local authorities, the trial fields were well-managed and exhibited uniform growth, minimal pest damage, and good color at maturity. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
