Irrigated lowland

PSB Rc 18 (Ala) Rice Variety: Yield, Maturity and Characteristics

PSB Rc 18 is an inbred rice variety for irrigated lowland, known locally as Ala. The Philippine Seed Board approved it in 1994. It matures in about 123 days and averages 5.1 tonnes per hectare, with a top yield of 8.1 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 PSB Rc 18 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 18, or Rc 18, 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 123 days after sowing.
  • Yield: 5.1 tonnes per hectare on average, or about 102 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 8.1 tonnes.
  • Season: Dry season and wet season.
  • Watch out for: stem borer.
  • Cooked rice: intermediate amylose, so soft but not sticky.

Key facts about PSB Rc 18

Key facts of PSB Rc 18 (t/ha means tonnes per hectare)
TraitValue
Year approved1994
Local nameAla
TypeInbred
Growing environmentIrrigated lowland
Recommended seasonDry season and wet season
How to plant itDry direct seeded, transplanted, wet direct seeded
Tested and suited inBangsamoro, Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, the Cordillera
Maturity123 days after sowing
Average yield5.1 t/ha
Top yield in trials8.1 t/ha
Plant height102 cm

How much does PSB Rc 18 yield?

On average it gives 5.1 tonnes per hectare. That is about 102 cavans of 50 kilograms of palay. It sits close to the average of the 118 irrigated lowland inbreds on the list, which is 5.2 tonnes. But the top yield, 8.1 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 123 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 medium 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 blightIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
TungroIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Brown planthopperIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Green leafhopperIntermediateTook a middling share of damage
Stem borerModerately susceptibleTook clear damage

So scout early for stem borer. 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 PSB Rc 18
MeasureValueClass
Amylose21.5 percentIntermediate
Milling recovery65.6 percentGrade 1
Head rice42.1 percentGrade 2
Chalky grains3.4 percentGrade 1
Grain length6.8 mmLong
Grain shape, length to width3.1Slender
Protein7 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 dry direct seeded, transplanted or wet direct seeded. It was tested and found suitable in Bangsamoro, Caraga, Davao, Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas, Mimaropa, Calabarzon, Central Luzon and the Cordillera. For the right month in your province, see the best time to plant rice.

Plan your next season of PSB Rc 18

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.

  • PSB Rc 2: 123 days, 5.1 tonnes per hectare on average, 1991
  • PSB Rc 66: 123 days, 5.2 tonnes per hectare on average, 1997
  • PSB Rc 64: 124 days, 5 tonnes per hectare on average, 1997
  • PSB Rc 58: 124 days, 4.9 tonnes per hectare on average, 1997
What is the local name of PSB Rc 18?
It is known as Ala. Seed sellers and agriculturists use both names, so ask for either one.
How many days does PSB Rc 18 take to harvest?
About 123 days after sowing. Then harvest when 85 to 90 percent of the grains are golden yellow.
What is the average yield of PSB Rc 18?
It averages 5.1 tonnes per hectare, about 102 cavans of 50 kilograms. The best trial reached 8.1 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 stem borer. So scout from the early weeks and act at the first signs.

See how PSB Rc 18 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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