Response of two lowland rice varieties to N, P and a combination of other nutrients in a flooded soil

Abstract

A 4x3x2x2 factorial experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of N, P and a combination of some other nutrients on grain yields of two rice varieties under hydromorphic soil conditions, in the rainforest of southern Nigeria.

The low yielding variety (IR-20) responded better to fertilizer application than the higher yielding variety (OS-6). The best rates of N and P application to both rice varieties in this flooded soil were 60kg N/ha and 25kg N-P/ha. Yield response to a combination of 100kg K, 40kg Mg, 5kg Cu, 2kg Zn and 2kg Fe per ha was significant during both years of cropping. Yield response to N-P, and the combined application of the other nutrients were greater during the second than the first year of cropping.