Influence of Tillage Practices and Irrigation Schedule on Yield and Yield Attributes of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Varieties in Sokoto Rima Flood Plain.

Abstract

Proper soil tillage practice and adequate supply of irrigation water enhances the productivity of irrigated rice. Field experiments were conducted in Sokoto Rima flood plain, close to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching and Research Farm in the dry season of 2018 and 2019. The treatments consisted of factorial combination of two tillage practices; conventional tillage (CT) and reduced tillage (RT), three irrigation schedules and three rice varieties, all laid in a split plot design and replicated three times, where tillage practice and irrigation schedule were allocated to the main plots and varieties were allocated to the sub-plots. Field observations and measurements were made for two consecutive seasons using the same experimental design and field layout. Data on 1000 grain weight, percentage unfilled grain and grain yield/ha were collected from all the rice varieties and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS software and significant means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at P˂0.05. Significant difference (P˂0.05) was observed between CT and RT in the value of 1000 grain weight and grain yield/ha, where CT had higher value (27.85g) compared to RT (26.87g). There was an increase in 1000 grain weight and grain yield/ha with a corresponding increase in irrigation schedule, where one day irrigation schedule had significantly (P˂0.05) higher grain yield (5470.17Kg/ha) and FARO 44 (4185.33 Kg/ha) out yielded both FARO 60 (4036.84 Kg/ha) and 60 (3903.04 Kg/ha), respectively. In conclusion, CT with alternate one day irrigation scheduling favors the