TITLE:
Effect of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsley) and Inorganic Fertilizers on Morpho-Agronomic Characteristics of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Grown on Oxisols in Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Constantin Kalubi Nkongolo, Georges Mupala Muyayabantu, André Mbumba Kayombo
KEYWORDS:
Rice, Fertilization, Mineral Fertilizer, Organic Fertilizer, Yield
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.16 No.1,
January
20,
2025
ABSTRACT: Rice (Oryza sativa) is becoming a staplefood in many regions of DR-Congo. However, its production is still limited to the North Eastern part of the country and grain yield is low. A study was carried out in the city of Mbujimayi located in the Central part of the DR-Congo to assess the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on morpho-agronomic characteristics of O. sativa. The trial was conducted during the 2021 agricultural season A using a completely randomized design with three replicates. The six treatments studied consisted of application of T. diversifolia biomass at a dose of 2 kg/4m2 (BFT − 2 kg), 4 kg/4 m2 (BFT − 4 kg), inorganic fertilizer consisting with NPK17-17-17 + Urea (46% N) at a combined dose of 80 g/4 m2 (NP), 1/2 of the combination (BFT − 2 kg + NP) and finally 1/2 of the combination (BFT − 4 kg + NP). The untreated plots were used as controls. Plants treated with 1/2 combination (BFT − 4 kg + NP), BFT – 4 kg, and NP showed similar height (100.93 cm, 99.03 cm, and 98.63 cm, respectively) that were significantly higher than control and other treatments [1/2 (BFT – 2 kg + NP, BFT – 2 kg] For agronomic characteristics, days to 50% flowering varied between 73.00 and 74 days with an average of 74 days. The control and BFT – 4 kg showed significantly shorter panicles compared to other treatments. For yield components, 1/2 (BFT – 4 kg + NP) and the NP treatments generated a higher weight of 1000 grains. For yield per hectare, 1/2 (BFT − 4 kg + NP) induced significantly different levels of production than the control and other treatments, including 1/2 (BFT – 2 kg + NP), BFT – 4 kg + NP, BFT – 2 kg, BFT – 4 kg. The correlation coefficients between agronomic traits revealed that with the exception of the length of particle and the abortion rates, all the yield components (panicles per plant, seeds per panicle, weight of 1000 grains, and grail yield per plot) were strongly correlated with grain yield per hectare.