A comparison of the growth and yield of upland rice accessions under two different conditions: Oil palm polyculture and natural conditions

¹ Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya. Jl. Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32, Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, South Sumatra, Indonesia
² Department of Agroecotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya. Jl. Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32, Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, South Sumatra, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Optimizing land under mature oil palm plantations offers an opportunity to support food production through the cultivation of upland rice. However, information regarding the adaptability of local upland rice varieties in oil palm-based polyculture systems remains restricted. This study aims to evaluate the growth and yield of selected upland rice genotypes from South Sumatra. Therefore, rice was planted under mature oil palm crops (polyculture) and compared with natural conditions (open fields). This study was conducted from November 2025 to April 2026 using two upland rice varieties (IPB 9G and Pandan Wangi) and four local genotypes (Dayang Rindu, Besar, Halus, and Seluang). The rice were planted in two cropping systems: under 18-year-old oil palm trees (polyculture), and in natural open fields (open space) without treatment replicates, thus not using a experimental design. Twenty sample plants were selected from each variety and genotype population. Growth and yield components of all rice varieties were analyzed using a t-test for each cropping system. The results of the study showed that light intensity under oil palm shade ranged from 14,000–16,000 lux, with temperatures of 30.26–31.56°C and relative humidity of 57.43–57.74%. All upland rice accessions and varieties exhibited reduced plant height and a prolonged flowering period under polyculture conditions. Upland rice accessions from South Sumatra, namely Seluang, Halus, and Besar, have the potential to be developed as intercrops in oil palm plantations.