Response of rice (oryza sativa l.) to different phosphorus fertilizers in Lekitatu village, Meru district, Tanzania
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Date
2012
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
A study was conducted to evaluate the response of rice to P and P use efficiency from
MPR, Minjingu mazao and TSP fertilizers under irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.)
production in Lekitatu village. The fertility status of the soils and their suitability for rice
production at two experimental sites were evaluated based on technical indicators of soil
fertility. The major soil fertility limitations included low soil organic matter, low total
nitrogen and medium available phosphorus hence the rice soils in Lekitatu village were
categorized as of low fertility status and moderately suitable for rice production.
Phosphorus was applied at rates of 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P ha’1 as MPR, Minjingu mazao
and TSP. Nitrogen was applied uniformly at a rate of 60 kg N ha’1 as urea to the MPR,
Minjingu mazao and TSP treatments plots taking into account the 10% N contained in the
Minjingu mazao fertilizer. The P fertilizers were broadcasted and incorporated into the
soils before transplanting the rice seedlings and N was applied at two equal splits, namely
at tillering and panicle initiation stages. The ranges in yield components between the
control (0 kg P ha’1) and the highest levels of P (60 kg P ha’1) were 12-22, 12-19 and 12-
22 number of tillers per plant, 7.67-25.97, 7.67-26.83 and 7.67-30.20 tha’1 dry matter
yields and 1.5-8.63, 1.5-9.23 and 1.5-10.43 tha’1 grain yields for MPR, TSP and
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Rice Production Constraints, Lowland rice production, MPR Minjingu mazao, Lekitatu village