Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop for a significant portion of the global population, especially in developing countries. Maximizing yield and net returns in rice production is crucial for food security and economic stability in these regions. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are essential nutrients for rice growth and development, and their proper management through fertilizer application is key to achieving high yields and profitability. This research project aims to investigate the optimal application rates of N, P, and K fertilizers for maximizing rice yield and net returns on lowland soils. The study will be conducted through field experiments in representative rice-growing areas, where different fertilizer rates and combinations will be tested to determine the most effective strategy. The research will also assess the interactions between N, P, and K in influencing rice growth, nutrient uptake, and grain yield. By evaluating the response of rice to varying fertilizer rates, the project seeks to provide farmers with practical recommendations to enhance nutrient use efficiency and economic returns. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to sustainable rice production practices that balance high yields with environmental stewardship. Furthermore, the economic analysis will help farmers make informed decisions regarding fertilizer investments and crop management strategies to maximize profitability. The research will involve data collection on rice growth parameters, nutrient uptake, grain yield, and economic returns from different fertilizer treatments. Statistical analysis will be employed to determine the significant effects of N, P, and K fertilizers on rice productivity and profitability. The results will be presented in tables, graphs, and descriptive summaries to communicate the key findings to stakeholders, including farmers, extension workers, and policymakers. Overall, this project aims to enhance the understanding of nutrient management in rice production and provide evidence-based recommendations for optimizing fertilizer use efficiency and economic returns on lowland soils. By maximizing rice yield and net returns through strategic fertilizer application, this research contributes to sustainable agricultural practices that support food security and economic development in rice-producing regions.

Thesis Overview

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple for more than half of the world’s population. It accounts for 18.99% of calorie, 1.83% of fat and 12.73% of protein intake per day (FAOSTAT, 2011). The demand for rice may increase by 60% by 2025 (Fageria et al., 2003). The demand for rice is growing particularly in sub-Saharan Africa due to rapid population growth, consumer preference and rising income. Nigeria is the largest consumer of rice in sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated demand of 6.7 million metric tons of milled rice (USDA, 2017). Production is estimated at 3.8 million metric tons of milled rice and has failed to keep pace with the growing demand resulting to the importation of 2.6 million metric tons of milled rice to fill the gap. (USDA, 2017).

Low yield has been identified as major constraint to rice production in Nigeria where average yield is estimated at 1.88 tons per hectare (USDA, 2017). Soil nutrient depletion and low fertilizer use have been commonly cited as yield limiting factors in Nigeria (Ezui et al., 2010; Liverpool-Tasie et al., 2014). Farmers understand the need to apply nutrients to their land but little is used due to the economic and social factors surrounding access to fertilizer. High cost and delayed delivery of fertilizer are major limitations to its use in rice production. The expenses incurred in procuring fertilizer in Sub-Saharan Africa are two to six times the cost in Europe or the United States (Sanchez, 2002). Cost of importation, market inefficiencies and transportation cost are some of the factors responsible for high fertilizer prices. Excessively high fertilizer cost usually reduces the profitability of fertilizer use (Kaizzi et al., 2012a).

Several studies have reported significant increase in yield of rice with fertilizer application. Ishaya and Dauda (2010) reported optimum yield of 7 tons/ha with application of 130 kg/ha of nitrogen in the sudan savanna. Kamara et al. (2011) observed yield increase of 3 tons/ha with the application of 100kg/ha of N to NERICA varieties. In a trial conducted by Jibrin et al. (2010) in the sudan savanna, 120kg/ha of N increased yield by 62.9%.

1.1 Statement of Problem

The Fertilizer recommendation for all irrigated lowland rice in Nigeria has been 100 kg/ha N, 60kg/ha P2O5 and 60kg/ha K2O (Chude et al., 2011) with the assumption that the need for applied nutrients is constant over varieties, seasons and diverse agro-ecological zones. Fertilizer recommendations are commonly developed without considering the cost of fertilizer relative to the price of paddy typically referred to as fertilizer cost to paddy price ratio (CP). Instead, the fertilizer rates needed to attain maximum yield have often been estimated. The CP is an indicator of how much of an output is required to purchase a kilogram of a nutrient (Liverpool-Tasie et al., 2014). As the fertilizer cost increases relative to price of paddy, the Economically Optimum Rate (EOR), described as the nutrient rate needed to maximize net return to fertilizer use, is expected to decrease (Wortmann et al., 2007). In Nigeria, Liverpool-Tasie et al. (2014) observed that the CP can be as low as 1.7 and high as 11.2 in some years and farming systems. Applying fertilizer at existing recommendations when the CP is high could lead to low net returns on fertilizer use. Kaizzi et al. (2012a) and Kaizzi et al. (2014) developed regression equations to relate CP and EOR for maize and rice respectively. This provided a means for estimating EOR at any CP value.

In addition, Nitrogen is the most limiting nutrient in rice production as it is prone to losses by volatilization, leaching and denitrification (Wortmann et al., 2010). The high cost of nitrogen in the developing world requires that higher yield are attained with minimum nitrogen fertilization (Havlin et al., 2014). Adoption of improved agronomic practices to increase efficient use of fertilizer N is therefore critical to profitability and environmental sustainability. Agronomic efficiency and partial productivity are components of Nitrogen Use Efficiency that are closely related to profitability and are higher at EOR (Wortmann et al., 2007). In Uganda, application of N at EOR was observed to increase nitrogen use efficiency in upland rice compared to N rate that gave maximum yield (Kaizzi et al., 2014). Similarly, Kaizzi et al. (2012a) and also observed higher efficiency of N use by maize at EOR in Uganda.

1.2 Justification

Existing blanket fertilizer recommendations for lowland rice require periodic revision because the growth and need of crops for supplemental nutrients can vary greatly among fields, seasons and years as a result of differences in crop-growing conditions, crop and soil management, and climate. Furthermore, the variation across locations and seasons of CP (Liverpool-Tasie et al., 2014) requires that fertilizer recommendations be fine-tuned to ensure maximum profitability of fertilizer use. Additionally, the inability to accurately determine fertilizer rates leads to over fertilization in some years and locations and under fertilization in others with lower NUE. As a result, there is a clear need to improve fertilizer management strategies.

1.3 Aims and Objectives

The general objective of the study therefore was to provide recommendations for optimizing yield and profit from fertilizer use by rice farmers. The specific objectives were to;

• Quantify the response of lowland rice to N, P and K

• Determine the economically optimal nutrient rate for N, P, K at different fertilizer cost to paddy price ratios (CP).

• Evaluate the Nitrogen Use Efficiency of lowland rice in the savanna.