Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L) Yield Response to Nutrients Application in Kadawa and Wushishi, Nigeria

Abstract

Rice is a staple food crop for over 50% of the world's population. In Nigeria, rice is becoming more important crop to
smallholder farmers and constitute to 8.69% of household food expenditure and 4.92% of total household expenditure.
On-farm NPK fertilizer-response trials were conducted in 2015 at Kadawa and Wushishi in Kano and Niger States,
respectively under the auspices of OFRA Project. The aim was to determine paddy yield responses to NPK fertilizer. The
treatments consisted of 20 fertilizer rates of partial factorial combinations laid out on a randomized complete block design,
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replicated 3 times, in each location. Results showed that, highest paddy yield of 4.43 tons ha was achieved when NPK was
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applied at the rate of 80N.15P.0K (kg ha ) in Wushishi. At Kadawa, the highest yield of 4.04 tons ha was achieved when
NPK was applied at the rate of N 120 and P 15. Response of yield to K was not significant in the two locations, indicating
the soils capacity to supply the nutrient (K) from indigenous sources. Yield response to Zinc at Kadawa shows that the
soils are being depleted of micronutrient. It was concluded that N was the most limiting nutrient in the two locations with
Kadawa being prominent. Micronutrients in soils of Kadawa are being mined and with time there is need for replenishment
for a meaningful yield attainment. It was recommended that fertilizer recommendations should tailor the use of N at 80 and
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120 kg N ha at Wushishi and Kadawa, respectively.