Drought Tolerance of Two Rice Varieties Grown in Two Different Soil Condition

Abstract

Sudden climatic changes such as drought will hit hard on farms especially on the vulnerable local farmers of Indonesia that are far from science and technology. The aim of this experiment was to study the drought tolerance ability of two varieties of rice e.g. Ciherang and Towuti grown in two different soils. The vigorous of 21 days old rice seedlings were grown in a glasshouse and irrigated with different amount of water (67ml, 133ml, 200ml as a control and 267 ml) per day. After a week of treatment the growth, visual symptom changes, and electrophysiological effects were then observed for four weeks on weekly basis. The result showed that a treatment of 67ml-water and 133ml-water inhibited plant growth on both varieties in fertile soil and caused plant death after four weeks. While on arid soil both varieties of rice were found to be more tolerant to 133ml of water than on the 67ml water treatment. Drought stress (67 ml water) has caused the decline of electric potential differences (PD) of Towuti in the ranges of 32.50 mV - 47.50mV and 55mV - 67mV in each fertile and arid soil from its PD control at each 57.50mV - 120.00mV and 77.50mV - 80.00mV respectively. While on the Ciherang variety, drought stress has caused the decline of PD both in fertile and arid soil from approximately in range of 77.50mV - 92.0mV and 85.00mV - 122.50mV to each 42.50mV - 72.50mV to 72.50mV - 85mV. We concluded that both varieties of rice Towuti and Ciherang were more tolerant on arid soil than fertile soil in response to drought stress. The result will be beneficial to the local farmers and help maintain their farming practice during dry conditions.