Multi-location yield evaluation of lowland hybrid rice varieties in Nigeria.

Abstract

This study evaluated the yield stability of three commonly grown hybrid rice genotypes across seven locations in the Northern Guinea Savannah (NGS) and Sudan Savannah (SS) of Nigeria. Three inbred commercial rice varieties were used as local checks. The rice cultivars were arranged in three replicates using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). Grain yields were analysed using Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI). Although the environment effect was significant (p<0.05), genotypes, the first and second interaction principal component axes were not significant. Environment effect accounted for 93.8 % of the total variation. The rice cultivar CP 801 produced the highest (5998 kg-ha) grain yield while CHAOTA gave the lowest (4853 kg-ha). The highest environment mean grain yield was observed in Kano (SS) (11899 kg-ha), followed by Kaduna (NGS) (8898 kg-ha). The hybrid CP 801 was identified as genotype adapted to wider environments, and hereby recommended for cultivation in NGS and SS of Nigeria