Abstract
Rice production has been inconsistent in Mwea irrigation scheme due to poor crop management practices and reduced soil fertility. Proper rice nutrition conserves the environment, increases sustained crop production, farmer’s crop yield and profits. A field experiment was conducted at MIAD Center, in Kirinyaga County, during 2016-17 and 2017- 18 to determine the response of rice varieties to different N, P and K fertilizer treatments. The trial was conducted in randomized complete block design, with three replications of 13 N, P and K fertilizer regimes as the main plots treatments and varieties Basmati 370 and BW 196 as the sub-plot treatment. The N kg ha-1: P2O5 kg ha-1: K2O kg ha-1 fertilizer treatment ratios used were: 00:00:00, 60:40:40, 80:60:60, 100:80:80, 60:40:00, 80:60:00, 100:80:00, 60:00:40, 80:00:60, 100:00:80, 00:40:40, 00:60:60 and 00:80:80. Plant height, number of tillers hill-1, panicle length, and grain yield responded positively to fertilizer application, but 1000-grain weight did not. Variety BW 196 recording shorter plants and panicles, more tillers hill-1, higher grain weight and yield than variety Basmati 370. 00:40:40, 00:60:60, 00:80:80, 60:40:00 and the no-fertilizer control treatments recorded the least number of tillers hill-1. 60:40:40, 80:60:60, 100:80:80, fertilizer treatments had longer panicles than the no fertilizer control and 00:40:40. Except for 100:80:00 and 00:40:40, in the first season and 60:40:00, 80:60:00, 100:80:00 in the second season, all the fertilizer regimes increased grain yield relative to the control. The highest grain yield was realized in fertilizer regime 80:60:60, 100:80:80, 80:00:60 and 100:00:80. 80:00:60 is the recommended fertilizer regime.
 Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. & Tech. 8 (2): 42-46, December, 2018
Highlights
IntroductionBut over the years, it has gained prominence in Africa’s farming systems and diet
Rice crop was prominent only inAsia, but over the years, it has gained prominence in Africa’s farming systems and diet.In Africa, rice is ranked fourth after maize, sorghum and millet, in terms of acreage grown.Its production is ranked second after maize (FAOSTAT, 2012)
A positive response of varieties Basmati 370 and BW 196 to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, in plant height, number of tillers hill-1, panicle length and grain yield was recorded in this study
Summary
But over the years, it has gained prominence in Africa’s farming systems and diet. Balanced application of inorganic fertilizers is important for increased yields and sustained production of quality rice. It aids in reducing injury from infestation of pests and diseases, and minimizes expenditures that are to be used in controlling them. Irrespective of the soil nutrient status and rice variety planted, most farmers apply 50 kg acre-1 of either DAP or SA, to their fields. Such application of blanket fertilizer could have significant negative effect on the performance and yield of rice. Considering these perspectives, the current study was set up to monitor the response of selected rice varieties to varying nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer regimes
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