Growth, Nutrient Uptake Efficiency and Yield of Upland Rice as Influenced by Two Compost Types in Tropical Rainforest-Derived Savannah Transition Zone

Abstract

Cultivating traditional upland rice cultivars on nutrient depleted soil causes poor and low yield. Little attention is paid to performance of inter-specific NERICA cultivars grown on nutrient deficient soil augmented with different types of compost. Therefore, field trials were conducted during 2010 and 2011 planting seasons in Ibadan to evaluate growth, dry matter, nutrient uptake efficiency and grain yield of upland rice grown on nutrient deficient soil augmented with different types of compost. There were nine treatments comprising of three upland rice cultivars: NERICA I, NERICA II and Ofada, two compost types applied at the rate of 8 t·ha - 1 : poultry dropping + maize stover (PDMC) and cattle dung + maize stover (CDMC) and control. The treatments were laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. CDMC enhanced growth, nutrient use efficiency, dry matter and grain yield of upland rice cultivars. Performance of Ofada was better than NERICA cultivars. N (24.55 g), P (12.45 g) and K (35.41 g) uptake concentration and grain yield (5.45 t/ha) were highest in Ofada plots augmented with CDMC. Residual effect of compost on growth, yield and nutrient uptake efficiency of upland rice on nutrient deficient soil was marginal.