Rice Per Mu Yield Expected to Reach 500 Kg on Average

Recent years have seen successive progress being made by China in the research of high-yield super-rice. Now with some new varieties growing in large-areas, the per-mu yield is expected to reach 500 kg on average, which means another new step up. The rice production is likely to follow a new pattern of less planting, more yielding, higher quality and high efficiency in the days to come.

Since 1950s, China has witnessed twice leaps and bounds in per mu yield of rice. In the late 1950s, China, by resorting to short-stalk gene, initiated the successful breeding of a new-type of rice, which was of high yield and resistant to lodging. And in the early 1970s, China had for the first time scored a success in the breeding of a hybrid rice. These two major breakthroughs have pushed the per-mu yield of rice to 200 kg and 300 kg respectively in the 60s and 80s. With the promotion and popular use of fine seeds and methods, 1990s found the per mu yield of rice leaping to 400 kg.

With its growing area accounting for 30% of the total crop-planting areas and its yield taking up 40% in gross grain production, rice is considered to be the most important grain crop in China. It is the staple food feeding over 50% of the Chinese population. With the increase in population and the shrinking of arable land, China must vigorously raise its average yield of rice so as to make sure the grain supply in safety.

China has achieved a historical breakthrough in the research of the ordinary and hybrid rice, which will play a significant role in the further increase of rice yield and improvement of quality, thereby ensuring China's grain safety in the 21st century, said Min Shaokai, a specialist of hybrid rice.

People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/