Yield components of lowland rice (oryza sativa l.) as influenced by different management practices in Sudan savanna ecology

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in 2012 and 2013 wet seasons at the Irrigation Research Stations of the Institute for Agricultural Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Talata Mafara to assess the effect of different rice production management practices to yield and yield components of lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the Sudan savanna ecology. The treatments consisted of four weed management practice (Oxadiazon at 1.0 kg a.i ha^-1 [pre-emergence], Orizoplus [premix- propanil 360 g/l + 2, 4-D 200 g/l] at 2.8 kg a.i ha^-1 [post emergence at 3 WAS], manual weeding [at 3 and 6 WAS] and Weedy check); three each of seeding methods (Drilling, Dibbling and Broadcast) and seed rates (40, 70 and 100 kg ha^-1). The experiment was laid in a split plot design replicated three times. Weed management practice was allocated to the main plots while seeding method and seed rate were factorially combined and allocated to the sub-plots. The general trend in this study revealed that paddy yield was enhanced when plots were weeded twice compared to other weed management practices. Broadcast method of seeding had significantly lower values for yield attributes and paddy yield when compared with drilling and dibbling seeding methods at both years of study. Higher than 40 kg ha^-1seed rate increased yield components as primary spikes, secondary spikes and paddy yield. The best paddy yield at Talata Mafara was by dibbled rice manually weeded at 3 and 6 WAS (4800 kg ha^-1) or treated with oxadiazon at 1.0 kg a.i ha^-1 (4789 kg ha^-1) and by drilled rice manually weeded twice (4304 kg ha^-1).