Charactérisation de la tolérance de nerica ô la sécheresse de mi-saison en riziculture pluviale

Abstract

To evaluate and reinforce the level of tolerance of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) to midseason drought stress in tropical humid zone, nutrient-omission trials were conducted during two years on terre de barre soil at Niaouli, in southern Benin. A complete fertiliser treatment (Fc) comprising N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Zn and treatments with specifics nutrient-omission (Fc-N, Fc-P, Fc-K, Fc-Ca, Fc-Mg, Fc-Zn) were evaluated on the growth and yields of NERICA 4. Drought was expressed by mean annual rainfall of 0 – 40 mm with evaporation ranging from 2.39 to 4.20 mm during the period from July to August every year. There was a significant level of drought tolerance in treatments with omission of N, Mg, Zn and Ca. These treatments had higher grain yields with reduced number of tillers especially under severe drought condition Thus, it was recommended to use basal fertiliser containing P and K for NERICA rice production under bimodal rainfall pattern.