Abstract:
A screen-house pot experiment was
conducted at Sokoine University of Agriculture,
Morogoro, Tanzania to assess response of rice
variety TXD 306 growth parameters to nitrogen and
phosphorus applied to the dominant soil type at
Dakawa Irrigation Scheme (DIS) Morogoro,
Tanzania. The study was prompted by low rice yields
and the need to find out the soil constraints to high
rice production at the scheme. Based on physical,
chemical and biological properties of composite soil
sample, the soil had low total N, OC, exchangeable
Ca and Mg, hence rated as marginally to moderately
suitable for rice production. N and P rates adopted
were 0, 50,100, 150, 200 kg N ha-1 and 0, 40, 80,
120, 160 kg P ha-1, respectively. Sources of N and P
were (NH4)2SO4 and Ca(H2PO4)2, respectively
applied in a 52 factorial in CRBD. Number of tillers
increased significantly (p < 0.05) with N and P levels
from P0N0 kg ha-1 to P80N200 kg ha-1. Biomass weight
(g) increased significantly (p<0.05) from 10.99 g
pot-1 to 93.04 g pot-1 at P0N0 kg ha-1 and P160N200 kg
ha-1, respectively. Grain yield (g) increased
significantly (p<0.05) from 2.24 g pot-1 to 33.06 g
pot-1 for the absolute control and P160N200 kg ha-1,
respectively. Thus, for optimum grain yield of TXD
306 on Cambisols at DIS, 80 kg P ha-1 should be
applied as basal and N in two splits i.e. 100 kg N ha-1
close to tillering and 100 kg N ha-1 at panicle
initiation. For appropriate N and P
recommendations, field studies should be conducted
to take onboard integrated soil fertility management
strategies, principles and practices in rice cultivation
based on soil types to allow extrapolation of the
results to other similar soils and areas.
