Effects of mineral N and P fertilizers on yield and yield Components of flooded lowland rice on Vertisols of Fogera plain

Despite its very recent history of cultivation in Ethiopia, rice is one of the potential grain crops that could contribute to the efforts for the realization of food security in the country. However, the scientific information available with regards to the response of flooded rice to N and P fertilizers for its optimum production on Vertisols of Fogera Plain is very limited. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted on Vertisols of Fogera plain, northern Ethiopia to study the yield and yield components response of rice and to establish the optimum N and P fertilizer levels required for improved grain yield of flooded rice. Six levels of N (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha−1) and five levels of P (0, 13.2, 26.4, 39.6 and 52.8 kg ha−1) laid down in a randomized complete block design with four replications were used as treatments. Nitrogen was applied in two equal splits (50 % basal and 50 % at maximum tillering) as urea and the entire dose of P was applied basal as triple super phosphate at sowing. The main effects of N and P fertilizer levels showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) for all yield and yield components studied. The effects of N by P interaction were significant only for grain yield (P ≤ 0.05)