Sanya new rice breed increases yields by 40 percent

The Nanfan Scientific and Research Breeding Base, known as the 'Agricultural Silicon Valley' of China, has recently announced its successful trial planting of a new hybrid rice variety, which had improved yields by a whopping 40 percent. 

At the rice breeding base in Sanya's Wenmen village, the new variety yielded 1,081 kilograms of rice per mu (0.16 acres), hitting a record high in the yield of hybrid rice varieties in China.

Hainan is a unique natural greenhouse with warm climate and sufficient sunshine, and the new rice planted here increased its yield,while its resistance to lodging has improved, said Liu Zhibin, a rice expert who developed the new rice variety. 

The Sichuan-based expert has continuously explored and practiced new rice planting in Hainan, hybridized rice varieties with reed stalks and bamboo to develop these two new varieties. 

Through the multi-embryo hybrid rice new planting technology, the yield and quality of rice have improved. This year, about 10,000 mu of the two rice breeds will be planted in Sichuan, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and other places, greatly enhancing China's grain production.

Liu Zhibin, a rice expert from Sichuan, checks his rice in Hainan. [Photo/southcn.com]