Evaluation of Ratooning Potentials of Some Selected Rice Cultivars under Boro– Fallow−T. Aman Cropping Pattern
This study conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University evaluated fifteen rice cultivars under a Boro–Fallow–T. Aman cropping pattern to identify key anatomical and physiological traits, such as vascular bundle count and water-soluble carbohydrate storage, that determine ratoon potential, ultimately highlighting BRRI dhan102 and four other cultivars as the most promising for sustainable ratoon rice production.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
Rice is the daily bread for more than half the world's population, a crop that feeds billions and supports the livelihoods of countless small farmers. In countries like Bangladesh, where the population is growing steadily, finding ways to produce more food without clearing new land is a matter of survival. One traditional method that has gained renewed attention is ratoon rice farming. Instead of planting a new crop from seed after a harvest, farmers leave the base of the rice plant, known as the stubble, in the ground. Under the right conditions, this leftover stubble sprouts new shoots that grow into a second crop. This approach saves time, water, and fertilizer, offering a way to squeeze an extra harvest out of the same field. However, not all rice plants are built to survive this second act. The ability to regrow depends on hidden traits within the plant, such as how much energy it stores in its stem and the internal structure of its tissues that transport water and nutrients.
In a recent study conducted at Bangladesh Agricultural University, researchers set out to solve a practical puzzle: which specific varieties of rice are best suited for this ratoon method? The team focused on fifteen modern rice cultivars, testing them under the common local farming pattern where a dry-season crop is followed by a fallow period and then a monsoon crop. They wanted to understand the physical and biological reasons why some plants regrow vigorously while others fail. By examining everything from the height of the plant to the microscopic anatomy of its stem, the scientists aimed to identify the key characteristics that make a rice variety a strong candidate for producing a second harvest without the need for replanting.
The experiment began in late 2023, with the team planting seeds of fifteen different rice varieties in a controlled field setting. They grew the first crop, harvested it, and then cut the plants back to a height of twenty centimeters above the soil, leaving the stubble behind. Immediately after cutting, they applied a small amount of fertilizer to encourage the remaining buds to wake up and grow. While the first crop was harvested in April 2024, the researchers waited until June to measure the success of the second, or ratoon, crop. They collected a vast amount of data, recording how tall the plants grew, how many new shoots emerged, how heavy the grains were, and how much yield each plot produced. Beyond these visible traits, they also looked inside the plant. They took samples of the stems and examined them under a microscope to count the number of vascular bundles, which are the tiny tubes that act as the plant's plumbing system, carrying water and food. They also measured the thickness of the outer cell walls and the amount of water-soluble carbohydrates, a type of sugar stored in the stem that acts as an energy reserve for the new growth.
The results revealed clear differences between the varieties. Some plants were tall and produced many leaves, while others were shorter but packed with energy. The researchers found that the varieties with the highest ratoon yields were not necessarily the tallest or the ones with the most grains in the first harvest. Instead, success was linked to a specific combination of traits. The most promising varieties, such as BRRI dhan102, BRRI dhan100, and BRRI Hybrid dhan5, shared a common profile. They produced a large number of new shoots, had a high capacity to store sugars in their stems, and possessed a robust internal plumbing system with a high number of vascular bundles. For instance, BRRI dhan102 produced a ratoon yield of 2.16 tons per hectare, the highest among the group, and it also had the highest count of vascular bundles and the largest vascular structures. This suggests that the plant's ability to transport nutrients and its stored energy reserves are critical for a strong second growth.
The study also highlighted that not all traits are equally important. While factors like the length of the leaves or the width of the stem mattered, the number of effective tillers, the amount of stored sugar, and the total number of vascular bundles emerged as the most reliable indicators of ratoon potential. The researchers used statistical tools to group the varieties and traits, confirming that the top-performing cultivars clustered together based on these specific strengths. Five varieties in total were identified as the most promising for future ratoon farming: BRRI dhan102, BRRI dhan100, BRRI Hybrid dhan5, Binadhan-25, and BRRI dhan58. These plants demonstrated the genetic and structural capacity to regenerate effectively, turning a fallow period into a productive one.
This research provides a clear roadmap for farmers and breeders looking to adopt ratoon rice farming in Bangladesh. By selecting varieties that naturally possess high sugar storage and efficient internal transport systems, farmers can increase their annual rice production without needing extra land or heavy inputs. The study confirms that the success of ratoon rice is not just about leaving the stubble behind; it is about choosing the right kind of stubble. While the findings are specific to the conditions tested, they offer a tangible step toward more sustainable and intensive farming. The authors suggest that further field trials and deeper genetic studies are needed to fully validate these results, but the current evidence points to a viable path for boosting food security in a densely populated region.
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