YIELD POTENTIALS OF RICE VARIETIES UNDER IRRIGATED LOWLAND IN COTE DIVOIRE GUINEA SAVANNAH ZONE

Cote dIvoire every year resorts to rice imports to cover its populations needs, due to significant shortfall in national production. This study aimed to assess the yield potentials of 20 rice varieties in irrigated rice farming to enhance national production. The 20 lines were evaluated in a split-plot design with 3 replications and 2 factors. The mainplotwas variety group with 2 levels (improved and local), while the sub-plot was the variety type (cultivar). NPK fertilizer (15-15-15) was applied as basal dressing at 200 g/15 m2 before transplanting. Urea (CO(NH2)2, 46% N) was applied as top dressing at rates of 14 g/15 m2 at tillering and 19 g/15 m2 at flowering. Analysis of variance showed significant differences at the 5% level for grain yield (GY), straw yield (SY), total dry matter (TDM), harvest index (HI), and agronomic efficiency of fertilizer (AE). Furthermore, these analyses revealed that local rice varieties, Koite and GT11, yielded around 5 tha-1, approximately two-thirds of the hybrids yields. However, the Danane variety had one of the lowest yields with 1.5 tha-1. The hybrids AR043H, AR034H, and AR051H were statistically identical and the top three in grain yield.Furthermore, the varieties AR043H, AR034H, and AR051H could be recommended to increase rice in Cote dIvoire. These results constitute a significant step in the search for genotypes suited to lowland rice cultivation with high yield potential.