Effects of N.P.K Fertilizer, Poultry Droppings and Cattle Dung on the Yeilds of Upland Rice in Nsukka
Effects of N.P.K Fertilizer, Poultry Droppings and Cattle Dung on the Yields of Upland Rice in Nsukka.
ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to search for an alternative source of nutrients to N.P.K fertilizer using poultry droppings and cattle dung for the production of upland rice, in Nsukka town. Four research questions were developed and answered in consonance with the purpose of the study.
Three null research hypotheses and three block hypotheses were formulated and tested at the probability of 0.05 level of significance, and 3 and 9 degrees of freedom. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was the experimental design used. The data were analyzed using Mean and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for RCBD.
Mean separation was done using Fisher’s least Significant Difference (LSD0.05) at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study showed that:
- Poultry droppings gave the highest yields, followed by N.P.K fertilizer, next was cattle dung and no treatment was the least.
- Poultry dropping had the longest maturity period, followed by N.P.K fertilizer, next was cattle dung and no treatment was the least.
- N.P.K fertilizer gave the highest cost-benefit, followed by poultry droppings, next was cattle dung and no treatment was the least.
- Poultry droppings had the highest growth, followed by N.P.K fertilizer, next was cattle dung and no treatment was the least.
INTRODUCTION
Rice is a cereal food crop grown on lowland (wetland) and upland (dryland) rice cultures. Hornby (2001) said that rice is a short, narrow white or brown grain grown on a wetland in hot countries as food, and also refers to the plant that produces the grain.
Wikipedia (2009) stated that rice is a cereal foodstuff, which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such is a staple food for many.
The author further stated that rice (Oryza sativa and Oryza glaberrima) are the two species of the domesticated rice, which belong to the poacea (true grass) family, and are all native to tropical and subtropical Southern Asia and Southeastern Africa.
Rice is very important for many reasons. First, it is consumed as food by man. Olaf, Lancon, Titiola, Akpokodje, and Ogundele (2003) reported that rice production and consumption in Nigeria have vastly increased in the recent period, but the production increase was insufficient to match the consumption increase.
Wikipedia (2009) stated that rice is a staple food for a large part of the world’s population, especially in tropical Latin America, East, South, and Southeast Asia; and traditional food in Africa.
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CSN Team.
