PHYSIOLOGICAL AND AGRONOMIC RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE (Oryza sativa L.) VARIETIES GROWN ORGANICALLY UNDER JASAAN SOIL SERIES

Upland rice is mostly grown in extremely diverse marginal upland ecosystems with highly degraded, infertile and acidic soils. The responses of selected upland rice varieties (Dinorado, Speaker, Ma. Gakit, and Cabuyok) to vermicast, Bio-N, and its combination were evaluated under Jasaan soil series in Claveria, Misamis Oriental from September 2013 to January 2014. The study was laid out following a 3 x 4 factorial in split-plot design with three replications. The Bio-N, vermicast and its combination served as the main plot while the upland rice varieties as the subplot. No synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides were used. Served application of vermicast, Bio-N and its combination did not influence the relative chlorophyll content of the leaves and dry matter accumulation of upland rice varieties before heading. It also did not influence the number of spikelets per panicle, weight per panicle, 1000 seeds weight and grain yield of the selected upland rice varieties. However, the significant effect of vermicast and Bio-N applied in combination revealed only at approximately three weeks after heading. Among the upland rice varieties, the grain yield of Speaker variety tended to be higher compared with other varieties. Results suggest that the farmer could either use vermicast, Bio-N, or in combination depending on the availability of the materials, and opt to use Speaker upland rice variety for its yield advantage.