Response of Transplanted rice to different Nitrogen and Phosphorus Fertilizer Rates in Fogera Plain, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Fogera Plain during the rainy seasons of 2018/19 and 2019/20 to determine, economically optimum rates of Nitrogen and Phosphorus fertilizer on yield of transplanted rice. Five levels of N rates (0, 92, 184,276 & 368 kgha^-1) and four levels of P₂O₅ rates (0, 23, 46 & 92 kgha^-1) were combined factorially and laid in RCB Design with three replications. The combined analysis of variances showed a significant effect (P<0.001) on plant height, number of total tillers per m² and number of fertile panicles per m², grain yield, straw yield harvest index and panicle length. The highest grain yield (4.56 t ha-¹) was obtained at 368-46 N- P2O5 kg ha-¹. The economic analysis exhibited that combined application of 184-46 N- P2O5 kg ha-¹ is the most profitable treatment with mean net benefit of 63928.2 Birr ha-¹. Therefore, it can be concluded that application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers at rates of 184-46 N- P2O5 kg ha-¹ is the best recommended for rainfed lowland transplanted rice production in Fogera plain