Abstract
The scientific information available with regards to the response of upland rice to N and P fertilizers for its optimum production on nitosols of Kamashi zone is very limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted on nitosols of Kamashi, western Ethiopia to study the yield and yield components response of rice and to establish the optimum N and P fertilizer levels required for improved grain yield of upland rice. Field experiments were conducted at Kamashi locations, for two years at this location, to investigate the response of rice N and P fertilization. Four levels of N (0, 46, 92, 138 kg ha-1) and four levels of P (0, 10, 20 and 30 kg ha-1) were studied in factorial combinations in a randomized complete block design with triplicates. The results revealed substantial responses of rice to the main factors of N and P fertilization on grain yield, No. of panicle/m2, No. of tiller/plant, No of tiller/m2, and plant height. Rice grain yield, No. of panicle/m2, No. of tiller/plant, No of tiller/m2, and plant height increased significantly with increasing level of P and N (P < 0.001). The effects of N by P interaction were non-significant (P ≤ 0.05) among the different yield and yield components studied except panicle length (p < 0.05) and straw yield (P < 0.01). Mean grain yield was significantly (P < 0.001) enhanced by 16.2% with the application of 10 kg P ha-1, 23.6% with application 20 kg P ha-1 and 34.6 with the application of 30 kg P ha-1 over zero-P (Table 2). High N at 138 kg ha-1 significantly (P < 0.001) increased the yield of rice by 47.2%, while 92 kg N ha-1 increased it by 36.2%, and 46 kg N ha-1 increased the yield by 32.5% compared to 0 kg N ha-1. There was no significant difference in grain yield between 46, 92 and 138 kg N ha-1. The magnitude of increase in grain yield over the control due to application of 46 N and 10 P ha-1 were 32.5% and 16.2% higher over the control respectively. The partial budget analysis also indicated economic benefit for finger millet when it is fertilized with 46 N and 10 P kg ha-1.
Highlights
The demand for rice far exceeds the production which in the last 30 years in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has increased by 70% due mainly to land expansion and only 30% due to increase in productivity [10]
The study was designed to determine the effects of Nitrogen and P fertilizer applications on grain yield and yield components of rice on Nitisols of Kamashi Zone District
The results obtained from this study showed that, grain yield and plant parameters were significantly (P ≤ 0.001) influenced by the applied rates of nitrogen and/or phosphorous fertilizer
Summary
The demand for rice far exceeds the production which in the last 30 years in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has increased by 70% due mainly to land expansion and only 30% due to increase in productivity [10]. This increase in production, not withstanding, rice production has not kept pace with the demand as a result of rapid population growth. Some evidences indicate that cultivation of rice in Ethiopia was first started at the Fogera and Gambella plains in the early 1970s. The Fogera, Gambella, Metema, and Pawe plains located in the northern, northwestern, and western regions are developing in to major rice-producing areas in Ethiopia [7]. At the Fogera plain, rice plays an important role in relaxing the problem of food-insecurity of the farming community
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