Harvest is starting to pick up again, and the UC Rice Project is starting to harvest the statewide variety trials. The trials are conducted in collboration with the breeders at the Rice Experiment Station (RES). RES breeders evaluate and select varieties that not only produce good yields, but also good grain quality. The varieties are tested for several years at several locations, and promising varieties are later tested in larger areas before being released for seed production. This year we have trials in nine locations, besides the trials conducted at the Rice Experiment Station in Biggs.
Short, medium and long grain varieties are included in the trials. Throughout the season, the breeders evaluate their growth and development. In some cases the differences in growth, size and potential are easily seen in the field.
Ray Wennig, Staff Research Associate with the Department of Plant Sciences, UC Davis, is one of the main forces behind the trials. He is involved in the planning, planting, evaluating and harvesting of the trials. He drives the UC small research combine to harvest the trials. In this way, we can determine the yield in a very precise manner, and much faster than if we harvested manually!
Inside the cabin, Ray measures the grain's weight and moisture content.
Results of the 2011 trials will be available early next year. They will be included in the first issue of the 2012 Rice Briefs newsletter and posted in the Colusa County Rice Program website (http://cecolusa.ucdavis.edu/rice/).
Attached Files:
Attached Images:
