The potentials and prospects of tidal swamp local brown rice as a nutrition source of iron and zinc and the parent of rice breeding

Abstract

Brown-rice originating from local tidal swamp rice is identified as having high iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content. This paper aims to elaborate the potentials and prospects of Fe and Zn content of brown rice in tidal swamp local rice, especially from South Kalimantan. This research was carried out at tidal swampland of Belandean Experimental Station, Barito Kuala District South Kalimantan. A total of 71 local varieties of tidal swamp rice originating from the tidal swampland were planted in a 2 m x 5 m plot. The planting system was followed by the South Kalimantan farmers’ traditional system with three times transplanting. The harvested rice was threshed and then milled which was still aleuron. The analysis of Fe and Zn of the brown rice was carried out in the laboratory of The Center for Soil and Agroclimate Research (at present ICALRD) Bogor. The results of the analysis of Fe and Zn levels of rice showed that levels of Fe and Zn of brown rice varied greatly. Fe levels ranged from 11-83 ppm, where Fe levels of local varieties were higher than high yielding varieties. Likewise, levels of Zn with a wide enough interval, which ranged from 20-108 ppm Zn. Among 71 brown rice local varieties, Siam Panangah showed high levels of Fe and Zn, which were 54 ppm Fe and 108 ppm Zn. The brown rice can be used as a source of nutrition Fe and Zn and as the parents in rice breeding with high Fe and Zn content.