Dinheiro, Virgilio Agostinho Gabriel2026-02-052026-02-052012https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7295DissertationA field experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of cowpea residues (CR), and combination of urea as source of nitrogen on growth and yield of rice variety Makassane. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with six treatments and three replications. The six treatments were control plot, 0% urea + 100% CR, 25% urea + 75% CR, 50% urea + 50% CR, 75% urea + 25% CR and 100% urea + 0 % CR. Soil and organic material analysis revealed that the soil was deficient in N. Data recorded were number of tillers, plant height, leaf area, days to 50% flowering, 1000 grain weight, days to physiological maturity, total dry matter, panicles per plant, spikelets per panicle and grain yield. The recorded data were analyzed by the analysis of variance and stepwise multi-regression techniques. The result showed that sole cowpea residues, urea and different combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers significantly produced comparable higher rice grain yields over the control plot. Overall, the study results indicated that combination of organic and inorganic source of nitrogen at the rate of 50% urea + 50% CR could be the best combination strategy in improving rice grain yield. Furthermore, it is concluded that cowpea residues instead of urea could be used as a source of nitrogen for improving rice production.enUrea residuesCowpea residuesRice variety makassaneZambeziaMozambiqueThesis