PERFORMANCE OF DIFFERENT RICE GENOTYPES UNDER APPLICATION OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZER LEVELS

Abstract

Phosphorus is one of the essential macronutrient element not only for rice but also for other plants, it is important for plant metabolism and enzymatic activity during the periods of growth and grain filling. Rice growth, yield and its attributes strongly influenced by phosphorus nutrition. This investigation was conducted to study the performance of different rice genotypes i.e. Sakha105 and Sakha106 (japonica), Giza178 (indica/japonica) and Giza182 (indica) under four phosphorus levels namely 0, 18, 36 and 54 P2O5 ha-1. This study was carried out at Experimental Farm of Rice Research and Training Center during both 2010 and 2011 growing seasons. At harvest, plant height, number of panicles m-2,panicle weight, panicle length, number of filled grains panicle-1, number of unfilled grains panicle-1, 1000 grain weight, grain and straw yield were determined. After harvest, N and P content of rice grain and straw were measured as well as hulling, milling, head rice and amylose percentages were assessed. The obtained results revealed that the rice genotypes were significantly differed in their response to phosphorus application according to genetic background. indica or indica/japonica genotypes responded up to 54 kg P2O5 ha-1 without significant differences with 36 kg P2O5 ha-1 more than japonica type which responded up to 18 kg P2O5 ha-1. Application of phosphorus fertilizer up to 36 kg P2O5 ha-1 improved rice growth traits i.e. plant height and panicle length as well as grain yield and its attributes. Combination of Giza178 with 36 kg P2O5 ha-1 produced the highest grain yield followed by Giza182 with the same levels of phosphorus. Application of phosphorus fertilizer up to 18 kg P2O5 ha-1 gave the maximum grain yield of Sakh105 and Sakha106. Concerning grain quality traits had positive significant effect with increasing phosphorus levels.