Evaluation of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Herbicides on Lowland Rice in Nigeria

Two field trials were conducted during the 2007 and 2008 rainy seasons at Kadawa, under Sudan savanna ecological zone of Nigeria to evaluate various levels of Nitrogen fertilizer and herbicide treatments on three varieties of lowland rice. The application of nitrogen fertilizer gave more vigorous, less injurious and taller rice plants, while the higher rates of nitrogen fertilizer (130 and 100kgNha-1) gave longer panicles, higher TDW and grain yield of rice than the lower rates and the no fertilizer control. Among the herbicides evaluated, 2,4-D+Propanil at 1.44+0.8kg a.i. ha-1 and Butachlor + propanil at 2.40+0.8 kg a.i. ha-1 gave better growth, weed control and grain yield of rice than all other herbicide treatments tested and the control, which received no herbicides. Also among the rice varieties evaluated, WITA 4 performed better in terms of growth, and yield followed by NERICA and then SIPPI which was the least. In conclusion the higher rates of the N-fertilizer and the two herbicides with WITA 4 or NERICA should be adopted by farmers in this ecology.