China develops strange hybrid rice: Plant once, harvest for many years

When he heard about a new rice variety that could be harvested for years without needing to be replanted, Guangxi (China) farmer Liang Yuxin was eager to try it out.

Liang is one of more than 40,000 small farmers in China who have decided to grow the new rice variety. Liang Yuxin told the South China Morning Post (Hong Kong, China) that if his trial is successful, it will motivate many other local farmers.

Liang Yuxin's perennial rice fields. (Photo: SCMP).

Farmer Liang Yuxin said: 'There are many abandoned plots of land in rural areas in southern China and the cost of cultivation is high. But if I can plant rice once and harvest it for many years, the cost will be greatly reduced.'

Researchers at Yunnan University spent more than two decades developing the rice. They crossed a domesticated Asian annual rice with a wild African perennial to create a variety called Perennial Rice 23 (PR23).

According to the study published in the journal Nature Sustainability, PR23 not only has potential for yield, but is also believed to reduce farming costs and improve soil quality. Less frequent tillage protects the soil and builds organic matter, said Erik Sacks, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and co-author of the study. In addition, perennial rice cultivation also saves water.

In the first 4 years, the yield of PR23 averaged 6.8 tons/ha/crop, slightly higher than the annual replanted rice variety at 6.7 tons/ha/crop.

This rice variety can help farmers save up to $1,400 per crop.

Perennial rice varieties do not require sowing, cultivating and plowing for several years , which means farmers can save up to $1,400 per subsequent crop. Perennial rice varieties can contribute to cutting labor costs by up to 60%.

PR23 is among 29 rice varieties recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to farmers since the beginning of this year. Farmers have had access to the variety for commercial planting since 2018. In 2021, the total area under perennial rice cultivation in China is 15,000 hectares.

Mr. Liang planted another perennial rice variety, PR25, on 1 hectare of land in August this year and harvested over 8 tons of rice after 3 months.