Response of rice varieties to nitrogen fertilization under irrigation at Talata Mafara, Sudan savanna

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the dry seasons of 2012 and 2013 in Irrigation Research Station, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, Latitude 12°34ʹ00ʺ N and Longitude 6°04ʹ00ʺ E 488m above sea level in the Sudan savanna agro-ecological zone. The objective of the research was to test the effect of rice varieties to various levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization under irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a Complete Randomize Block Design (CRBD) using split plot arrangement and was replicated three times. Three rice varieties (Faro 44, 45 and 57) were allocated to the main plot and three nitrogen levels (60, 120 and 180 kg N ha^-1) were allocated to the sub plot. The gross and net plot sizes were 5 x 4 and 3 x 3 m respectively. Weeds were controlled using Glyphosate as pre-plant, Butachlor as pre-emergence and Orizo plus as post-emergence herbicides and supplemented with hand pulling at 9 WAS. Fertilizer was applied in two split doses. First half was applied at planting using NPK and the remaining half at 6 WAT using Urea (46 % N). Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant means were separated using DMRT at 5 % level of probability. The result of the effect of variety on growth parameters showed that Faro 44 recorded higher days to 50 % anthesis but was significantly (p≤0.05) shorter in height than Faro 57. The effect of the treatment on yield parameters showed that Faro 44 recorded higher thrashing percentage, 1000-grain weight and number of grain panicle^-1 significantly (p≤0.05) higher than Faro 45 and 57 in all the seasons. Increasing nitrogen levels from 60 kg N ha^-1 significantly increased growth and yield parameters. Application of 180 kg N ha^-1 on Faro 44 is hereby recommended for rice growing in the ecological zone.