Abstract

Mohammed U. A, Abubakar Z. A, Jibo A. U , M.B. Abdullahi, Abdul Hameed. A

It is a global challenge of sustainable rice cultivation to find or develop rice varieties that have tolerance to limited water and nutrients while at the same time maintaining or improving grain yields. The aim of this research was investigate NPK fertilizer and water use efficiency of three rice cultivars namely; Faro 55 (Nerica 1), Srilanka, Faro 44 (Sippi) and three different phenotypic cultivars of Faro 44 viz. Faro 44 (SD drought), Faro 44 (SD tall) and Faro 44 (SD short). The rice cultivars were subjected to droughted (water deficit) and irrigated treatments with 180kg/ha NPK fertilizer and 90kg/ha NPK in each case. Tiller numbers, shoot biomass and root biomass of each of the rice cultivars were determined. The results showed that, while all the rice cultivars had tolerance (NPK use efficiency) to low NPK fertilizer, they had no resilience to limited water. Faro 44 (SD short) had the highest tolerance toward low NPK having higher tiller numbers, shoot mass and root mass. This could suggest a drastic reduce in the input of NPK fertilizer, saving cost of cultivation and the environment (soil ecosystem) from unnecessary accumulation. This could enhance the production of rice toward attainment of food security in developing countries.