NSIC Rc 708H (Mestiso 129) Rice Variety: Yield, Maturity and Characteristics
NSIC Rc 708H is a hybrid rice variety for irrigated lowland, known locally as Mestiso 129. The NSIC approved it in 2022. Bayer bred it. It matures in about 116 days and averages 8.1 tonnes per hectare, with a top yield of 10.5 tonnes in trials.
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 708H, or Rc 708H, 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 116 days after sowing.
- Yield: 8.1 tonnes per hectare on average, or about 161 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 10.5 tonnes.
- Holds up against: rice blast, stem borer.
- Watch out for: tungro, green leafhopper.
- Cooked rice: intermediate amylose, so soft but not sticky.
Key facts about NSIC Rc 708H
| Trait | Value |
|---|---|
| Year approved | 2022 |
| Bred by | Bayer |
| Local name | Mestiso 129 |
| Type | Hybrid |
| Growing environment | Irrigated lowland |
| Maturity | 116 days after sowing |
| Average yield | 8.1 t/ha |
| Top yield in trials | 10.5 t/ha |
| Plant height | 119 cm |
How much does NSIC Rc 708H yield?
On average it gives 8.1 tonnes per hectare. That is about 161 cavans of 50 kilograms of palay. It sits above the average of the 180 irrigated lowland hybrids on the list, which is 6.9 tonnes. But the top yield, 10.5 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 116 days from sowing to harvest. 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?
| Pest or disease | Rating | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Rice blast | Resistant | Held up well in the tests |
| Bacterial leaf blight | Intermediate | Took a middling share of damage |
| Tungro | Susceptible | Took heavy damage |
| Sheath blight | Intermediate | Took a middling share of damage |
| Green leafhopper | Susceptible | Took heavy damage |
| Brown planthopper | Intermediate | Took a middling share of damage |
| Stem borer | Resistant | Held up well in the tests |
So scout early for tungro, green leafhopper. 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
| Measure | Value | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Amylose | 20.4 percent | Intermediate |
| Milling recovery | 69.4 percent | Grade 1 |
| Head rice | 45 percent | Grade 2 |
| Chalky grains | 47.3 percent | Not graded |
| Grain length | 6.7 mm | Not given |
| Grain shape, length to width | 3 | Intermediate |
| Protein | 5.4 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. For the right month in your province, see the best time to plant rice.
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.
Start freeVarieties 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 688H: 114 days, 8 tonnes per hectare on average, 2022
- NSIC Rc 654H: 112 days, 8 tonnes per hectare on average, 2021
- NSIC Rc 712H: 113 days, 7.8 tonnes per hectare on average, 2022
- NSIC Rc 820H: 112 days, 8.2 tonnes per hectare on average, 2026
What is the local name of NSIC Rc 708H?
How many days does NSIC Rc 708H take to harvest?
What is the average yield of NSIC Rc 708H?
Is this variety a hybrid?
What should I watch for when I plant it?
Is it soft when cooked?
See how NSIC Rc 708H 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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