Irrigated lowland

NSIC Rc 438 (Tubigan 38) Rice Variety: Yield, Maturity and Characteristics

NSIC Rc 438 is an inbred rice variety for irrigated lowland, known locally as Tubigan 38. The NSIC approved it in 2016. It matures in about 106 days and averages 5.4 tonnes per hectare, with a top yield of 10.3 tonnes in trials.

5 min read Updated October 17, 2026 By the anee.io agriculture team Read it all with Libre + Anee
An irrigated palay field in the Philippines, where NSIC Rc 438 is meant to grow

The average and top yields in tonnes per hectare come from the trials each variety went through to be registered with the NSIC, and from what the seed companies say about their own seed.

What farmers harvest today can be different. Newer harvest records, the season, the place, the soil, the water and the care all move these numbers over time.

So use them to compare varieties, not as a promise for your field. Ask your seller or your agriculturist how the variety did on farms near you in the last few seasons.

If you came here looking for rice variety 438, or Rc 438, this is the one. Compare it with the other varieties in our rice variety finder before you buy seed. Also read our guide to rice varieties in the Philippines for how inbreds, hybrids and special rice differ.

  • Maturity: about 106 days after sowing when transplanted, 102 when direct seeded.
  • Yield: 5.4 tonnes per hectare on average, or about 108 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 10.3 tonnes.
  • Season: Dry season and wet season.
  • Holds up against: stem borer.
  • Watch out for: bacterial leaf blight, tungro, sheath blight.

Key facts about NSIC Rc 438

Key facts of NSIC Rc 438 (t/ha means tonnes per hectare)
TraitValue
Year approved2016
Local nameTubigan 38
TypeInbred
Growing environmentIrrigated lowland
Also suited toNational (dwsr)
Recommended seasonDry season and wet season
How to plant itTransplanted, wet direct seeded
Recommended forLuzon, Visayas
Maturity, transplanted106 days after sowing
Maturity, direct seeded102 days after sowing
Average yield, transplanted5.4 t/ha
Average yield, direct seeded5.4 t/ha
Top yield in trials10.3 t/ha
Plant height95 cm

How much does NSIC Rc 438 yield?

On average it gives 5.4 tonnes per hectare. That is about 108 cavans of 50 kilograms of palay. It sits above the average of the 118 irrigated lowland inbreds on the list, which is 5.2 tonnes. But the top yield, 10.3 tonnes, came from a trial with good water, seed and care. So plan your costs on the average, then work toward the top with the habits in our guide to raising rice yield per hectare.

How many days does it take to mature?

It takes about 106 days from sowing to harvest, and about 102 days if you seed it directly. Varieties of 100 to 120 days count as short duration and 120 to 140 days as medium, so this one counts as short duration. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains turn golden yellow. Because the day count drives every task, anee.io counts it for you from each lot's own planting day, with the growth stages and weather beside it.

Is it resistant to pests and diseases?

Reactions in trials: R resistant, MR moderately resistant, I intermediate, MS moderately susceptible, S susceptible. Some carry a second rating in brackets.
Pest or diseaseRatingWhat it means
Rice blastIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Bacterial leaf blightSusceptibleTook heavy damage
TungroSusceptibleTook heavy damage
Brown planthopperIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Green leafhopperIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Stem borerResistantHeld up well in the tests
Sheath blightSusceptibleTook heavy damage

So scout early for bacterial leaf blight, tungro, sheath blight. When you see the first signs, check the guide before you spray, because the right timing saves more than an extra dose. If you are not sure what you see, our pest and disease finders help you name it from the damage.

Grain and eating quality

Grain quality of NSIC Rc 438
MeasureValueClass
Amylose19.3 percentIntermediate
Milling recovery72.6 percentPremium
Head rice40.7 percentGrade 2
Chalky grains13.9 percentGrade 3
Grain length6.5 mmMedium
Grain shape, length to width2.9Intermediate
Protein9.3 percent

Amylose decides how rice cooks. With intermediate amylose, expect rice that is soft but not sticky. In fact, Filipino taste has moved from high to intermediate and low amylose rice, because people want it softer. Head rice is the share of whole grains after milling. So a higher number means fewer broken grains and a better price at the mill.

Where should you plant it?

It suits irrigated lowland, where you control the water. Level the field well so the water stands evenly, and plant together with the farms around you, so pests cannot move from field to field. Our guide to rice land preparation shows each step. It is recommended for the dry season and the wet season. You can plant it transplanted or wet direct seeded. For the right month in your province, see the best time to plant rice.

Plan your next season of NSIC Rc 438

Set the planting day of each lot and anee.io dates every task to harvest, with the weather beside it. Free on the Libre plan.

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Varieties like this one

These come from the same kind of farm and grow about as long. So if seed of this one is hard to find, compare these first.

  • NSIC Rc 632: 106 days, 5.4 tonnes per hectare on average, 2021
  • NSIC Rc 628: 106 days, 5.5 tonnes per hectare on average, 2021
  • NSIC Rc 134: 107 days, 5.4 tonnes per hectare on average, 2005
  • NSIC Rc 630: 106 days, 5.6 tonnes per hectare on average, 2021
What is the local name of NSIC Rc 438?
It is known as Tubigan 38. Seed sellers and agriculturists use both names, so ask for either one.
How many days does NSIC Rc 438 take to harvest?
About 106 days after sowing when transplanted, and about 102 days when direct seeded. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains are golden yellow.
What is the average yield of NSIC Rc 438?
It averages 5.4 tonnes per hectare, about 108 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 10.3 tonnes. Your own yield depends on water, seed, fertilizer and timing.
In which season should I plant it?
It is recommended for the dry season and the wet season. Then pick the month with our planting calendar guide and the forecast for your town.
Is this variety a hybrid?
No, it is an inbred. So the seed you buy grows true, but certified seed still gives the best start.
What should I watch for when I plant it?
In trials it was weak against bacterial leaf blight, tungro, sheath blight. So scout from the early weeks and act at the first signs.

See how NSIC Rc 438 will do on your farm

With Libre + Anee, see its full record: how it yields, its strengths and weaknesses against pests, diseases and the weather, and whether it fits your farm, your season and your soil.

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