Management of Two Potentially Iron Toxic Benchmark Wetlands Using Integrated Approach for Rice Production in Nigeria |
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| Authors: | A O Olaleye & A O Ogunkunle |
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| Institution: | Department of Soil Science &Resource Conservation, The National University of Lesotho, Roma, Lesotho;
Agronomy Department, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria |
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| Abstract: | To manage iron toxic rainfed lowlands on a sustainable basis for rice production, a trial was conducted using an integrated approach (i.e. tolerant genotype and fertilizer nutrients). This trials involved two rice cultivars ITA 212 and Suakoko 8 in two cropping seasons (1994 and 1995) and on two potentially iron toxic soil types with excessively high active Fe contents of between 4.43 % and 5.15 %, respectively, located in two agro‐ecological zones in Nigeria. The effects of fertilizer nutrients (N, P, K, Zn, N+P, N+K, N+Zn, N+P+K, N+P+K+Zn and control) were evaluated on the grain yield (GY) and nutrient uptake (leaf analyses) of the rice plants using stepwise multiple regression analysis (SMRA). Results showed that these soils are acidic and had sub‐optimal macronutrient and micronutrient contents coupled with excessively high active Fe (FeH) of between 4.43 % and 5.15 %. Fertilizer nutrients N+K, N+P+K and N+P+K+Zn consistently appeared to result in higher GY compared to others on both soil types. Plant analysis of both rice cultivars showed no apparent deficiencies in elemental composition with regard to macronutrients and micronutrients. Results of SMRA showed that tissue K, Zn and Mg contents were significantly related (P < 0.01) to the GY of the two rice cultivars. |
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| Keywords: | fertilizer iron management rice toxicity wetlands |
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