Performance of rice under different water regimes and plant nutrient sources

J Ofori,D K Enning,J Ofosu-Anim,S Narh,C Amoatey

doi:10.4314/gjas.v53i1.2

Abstract

Field experiment was carried out at the Soil and Irrigation Research Centre, University of Ghana, Kpong in 2015 and 2016 cropping seasons to evaluate the effect of different soil water condition and plant nutrient sources on the growth and yield of rice. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. Water regime and nutrient source were the main and sub-plot factors, respectively. Water regimes included; continuous flooding (CS), alternate wetting and drying (AWD) and moist soil condition between field capacity and permanent wilting point (MC) while the nutrient fertilizer treatments included no fertilizer (N0), 90 kg N/ha mainly from urea fertilizer (N1), 90 kg N/ha from 12.8 tons of compost (N2) and 45 kg N/ha from urea fertilizer + 45 kg N/ha from 6.4 tons of compost (N3). Results from the study revealed that keeping the soil periodically in aerobic and anaerobic condition through AWD method of water management recorded similar growth and grain yield of rice as with complete submergence of paddy field. Combination of inorganic fertilizer and compost for each to supply 45 kg N/ha under AWD produced the highest rice growth and grain yield. There was a positive and significant correlation between grain yield and growth parameters (plant height, chlorophyll content and above ground biomass accumulation).

Highlights

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important staple grain crops in the world including Africa
According to Cassman et al, (1996), nitrogen is highly mobile in the soil and it is subjected to different types of losses
Chlorophyll is a component of photosynthesis, the higher the chlorophyll content of a leaf, the higher the production and partition of photosynthate into the grains which in turn increases grain yield

Summary

Introduction

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the important staple grain crops in the world including Africa. The crop contributes significantly in achieving food security and socio-economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. It reduces poverty by creating employment, income generation and improved nutrition. The consumption of rice in the region is estimated to increase from 19.8 to 34 million tons in 2010 and 2020, respectively (Africa Rice Centre, 2011). About 14 million tons of milled rice will be imported into the region in 2020 to meet the increasing rice demand. Rice production is low due to many factors including poor water and nitrogen management practices. Nitrogen is the most important and limiting nutrient in rice production (Haefele et al, 2006).

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Conclusion