Chinese Scientists Create a New Giant Rice Variety Reaching 2.2 Meters Tall, Yielding 11.5 Tons per Hectare.
The new rice variety, called “Giant Rice”, has been developed by experts at the Subtropical Agriculture Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences with the hope of providing food for more people, according to China’s People’s Daily. The new rice variety was officially introduced on October 16 after 10 years of research, boasting a yield that is 50% higher than traditional rice varieties.
A researcher stands next to the giant rice plant. (Photo: Xinhua).
The research team conducted trials of the giant rice in a field located in Jinjing Town, Changsha County, Hunan Province, China. The average height of the rice plants is 1.8 meters, with the tallest plants reaching up to 2.2 meters.
Xia Xinjie, a researcher involved in the project, stated that the expected yield could exceed 11.5 tons per hectare, with each rice plant producing more than 500 grains.
Chinese scientists utilized a range of new technologies to create the new rice variety, including mutation induction and hybridization between various wild rice species. The giant rice could provide substantial benefits to China, a country facing a shortage of farmers and a growing population.
This giant rice variety can yield 750-900kg per sample.
“The amount of rice that needs to be produced by 2030 is over 60% higher than in 1995. Currently, one hectare of rice land provides enough food for 27 people. By 2050, each hectare must meet the food needs of 43 people,” emphasized Yuan Longping, a renowned agricultural scientist in China, in an interview last month.
This giant rice variety can yield 750-900kg per sample. It is known to be tolerant to salinity and can also provide ample nutrients for nearby plants while creating a favorable habitat for aquatic species and mammals. When the rice paddy where the “Giant Rice” is grown has water depth of 60-80 cm, it will be conducive for raising fish, shrimp, or crabs.
Chinese netizens refer to this as the moment of “a dream come true” for the “Father of Hybrid Rice,” Yuan Longping, who passed away last May at the age of 91.
