Chinese scientists have achieved a record rice yield of nearly 22.5 metric tons per hectare, or 1,500 kg per mu, in an experimental field in Central China's Hunan province.

Assessment experts announced on Monday average yield at the field in Hunan's Hengnan county planted with the third generation of hybrid rice varieties reached 13.68 tons per hectare, or 911.7 kg per mu.

In July, early harvests at the same field growing another strain of third-generation hybrid rice showed an average yield of 9.29 tons per hectare, 619.06 kg per mu.

The two harvests combined — consisting of early-season and late-season crops — show important progress in the realization of the goal of exceeding 22.5 tons per hectare, erecting a new milestone in the country's hybrid rice breeding efforts and setting a new world record, according to the China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center.

Yuan Longping, renowned agricultural expert known for spearheading research into hybrid rice strains, said on Monday the new record means one mu (0.067 hecatre) of rice fields can feed five people.

Renowned agronomist Yuan Longping, known as the "father of hybrid rice", watches the yield assessment of third-generation hybrid rice grown in the experimental field in Hengnan county of Central China's Hunan province via video link in the provincial capital of Changsha on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

"I am more than excited and extremely satisfactory with the results," he said in an office in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, while watching the live announcement ceremony.

"The next goal is to promote the experiences of Hengnan county and plant the advanced rice variety in other rice-producing regions in China, contributing to safeguarding the country's food security," he said.

Research teams headed by Yuan began cultivating and selecting third-generation rice varieties in 2011, and started trial planting in 2017.

The rice strain of the crops harvested on Monday, named "Sanyou No1", is known for its high yield, resilience to unfavorable weather conditions and high quality, according to rice experts.

Yuan Longping celebrates as the third generation of hybrid rice varieties achieved a record yield of nearly 22.5 metric tons per hectare, or 1,500 kg per mu, in Changsha, Hunan province on Nov 2, 2020.[Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Yuan Longping, second from right, watches the yield assessment of third-generation hybrid rice grown in the experimental field in Hunan's Hengnan county via video link in the provincial capital of Changsha on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

An assessment expert works at the experimental field in Hunan's Hengnan county planted with the third generation of hybrid rice varieties on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Peng Bin/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Assessment experts harvest third-generation hybrid rice grown in the experimental field in Hunan's Hengnan county on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Zhou Wei/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Assessment experts work at the experimental field in Hunan's Hengnan county planted with the third generation of hybrid rice varieties on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Zhou Wei/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Assessment experts work at the experimental field in Hunan's Hengnan county planted with the third generation of hybrid rice varieties on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Peng Bin/for chinadaily.com.cn]

Late-season crops of the third-generation hybrid rice planted in the experimental field in Hunan's Hengnan county on Nov 2, 2020. [Photo by Peng Bin/for chinadaily.com.cn]