New rice variety produces high yields in Yunnan

At a rice demonstration area in a town in Yunnan province, the highest-altitude place in the world that grows rice, a new yield record was set recently, according to field tests carried out on Nov 1.

The average yield per mu (0.067 hectares) of rice planted in the 7.33-hectare area at an altitude of 2,670 meters in Yongning town of Ninglang county, Lijiang city, reached 548.93 kilograms this year.

Experts tested three sample areas in the demonstration area, which measured 431.73 kg, 572.14 kg and 642.91 kg per mu.

"Thanks to the quality rice variety, growing and management techniques, we set a new record this year," said Yang Hong, a senior agronomist of the agricultural research institute of Lijiang.

Agricultural workers spent eight years cultivating the rice variety Lijing 11, which can withstand cold, said Yang.

"Lijing 11 rice grows well in areas at an altitude of 2,100 meters to 2,670 meters," he said.

The variety can produce 240,000 to 280,000 ears of rice each mu, ensuring a high yield.

Because of the good performance of Lijing 11, the rice variety has been grown in cold areas across the province, including the cities of Dali, Kunming and Zhaotong, totaling over 3,330 hectares, according to the institute.

In addition to a quality rice variety, growers are using a series of techniques ranging from transplanting rice seedlings, applying fertilizer, irrigating and disease control and prevention to increase production while reducing labor and fertilizer use.

Compared with ordinary growing techniques, the tailored techniques are able to save 0.5 kilograms of rice seeds each mu, and reduce fertilizer use by 20 to 30 percent, said Yang.

"By using the techniques, we can harvest 20 percent more of rice each mu than before when we used ordinary techniques," he said, adding farmers can save 300 yuan ($41) each mu spent on things such as buying seeds and fertilizer.

Located at the border of Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, Yongning is home to six villages with a total population of 19,000 among eight ethnic groups, and has an average altitude of 2,670 meters. The town grows 800 hectares of rice every year.

Lijing 11 rice has the potential to be grown on more soil in the town, said Yang.