Rice response on Nitrogen application method under Huye ecological conditions

Abstract

As one of important food crop, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is cultivated across Rwanda, it plays a critical role in nation food security. The use of fertilizers is sensitized for increasing production, however there is a need of proper use of nitrogenous fertilizer as the most important nutrient which may limit the production or causes the pollution when are not used efficiently by plant. Therefore, this study investigated rice response using growth and yield parameters, correlation among parameters and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), in four different treatments selected; T0 (Control), T1 (FFP; nitrogen was splited three times), T2 (Basal; all nitrogen applied as basal), T3 (SSNM; site specific nitrogen management) these treatments were replicated three times in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in Cyili wetland south province of Rwanda, analysis were performed using genstat statistical software. The result showed no significant difference at p<0.05 observed in all treatment on plant height, number of tillers, panicle weight ,1000 grain weight and grain yield. Significant difference at p<0,05 was observed on dry matter and nitrogen uptake. Adherence between parameters using (Pearson’s correlation coefficient) were observed on following basis: Panicle initiation showed strong positive correlation with number of tillers (0.9983), negative correlation with plant height (-0.8716), strong positive correlation with grain yield (0.9182) and moderate positive correlation with 1000 grain weight (0.4486). Number of tillers have negative correlation with plant height (-0.8881), strong positive relationship with grain yield (0.9394) and moderate positive relationship with 1000 grain (0.4987). Plant height show negative relationship for all parameters; grain yield ,1000 grain weight, panicle weight, number of tillers; (-0,8904), (-0.7336), (-0.8881), (-08716) respectively. Grain yield have positive correlation with 100 grain yield weight of (0.7336). Result of three different indicators of NUE revealed SSNM to be the best method which use N efficiently with Partial factor productivity of 100kg kg

-1 , Agronomic efficiency of 21kgkg -1 and Recovery efficiency of 78%. And enhanced yield and profit by saving form of reduced fertilizer use, without a reduction in yield, it reduces as well N 2 O emission, by decreasing the total N application and timing to crop need.