Response of Some Rice Cultivars in New Opening Paddy Fields with High Fe2+ Using Multi-packet Technology

The main obstacle to increase rice yield in new opening paddy fields, is that high levels of dissolved ferrous ions (Fe2+) which toxic to plants. This research aimed to study the growth and yield of several rice cultivars tolerant to Fe2+ in the new opening paddy fields with multi-packet technology. The experiment was conducted from April toDecember 2010, at the new opening pay fields in Koto Baru of Dharmasraya District, West Sumatra. Experiments used a factorial in a Completely Randomized Design with three replications. The first factor was, selected rice varieties which were: Krueng Aceh; IR 36; Tukad Balian; Ciherang; and Cisokan. The second factor was thedifferent plant spacing which were a 30 × 30 cm with two seeds per hole, and Plant spacing (10 × 10) × 30 × (10 × 10)cm with one seed per hole. The rice cultivation with packet technology can improved the growth and yield of paddy rice cultivated in new opening paddy field high in Fe2+. Technology package consisting a combination of rice variety (Krueng Aceh, IR36, and Tukad Balian) + SRI system + peat amelioran 20 Mg ha-1 + plant spacing (10 × 10)× 30 × (10 × 10) cm with one seed per hole, had the best growth and yield of rice cultivated in the new opening fields high in Fe2+, especially in Koto Baru of Dharmasraya District, Krueng Aceh was a variety with the highest grain production by 5.65 Mg ha-1