Abstract
Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major limiting factor for crop production in highly weathered soils in the humid tropics. Field experiments were conducted for two years (1992 and 1993) to determine P response and efficiencies of upland rice cultivars in an Ultisol, low in available P, in the forest zone of Cote d'Ivoire. The rice cultivars tested were selected from a large number of entries tested earlier for acidity tolerance.
Grain yields of the cultivars were significantly increased by P application. There was little further response in grain yield at higher rates than 60 kg P ha−1. The rice cultivars differed in agronomic and physiological P efficiencies and the efficiencies were higher at lower rates of P. The rooting depths of the cultivars were increased by application of P at the lowest application rate (30 kg P ha−1).The results suggest that P fertilization of soil acidity-tolerant upland rice cultivars can significantly improve the productivity of the Ultisols.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fageria NK, Morais OP, Baligar VC and Wright RJ (1988) Response of rice cultivars to phosphorus supply on an Oxisol. Fert Res 16: 195–206
Juo ASR and Fox RL (1977) Phosphate sorption characteristics of some benchmark soils of West Africa. Soil Sci 124: 370–376
Mokwunye AU, Chien SH and Rhodes E (1986) Phosphate reactions with tropical African soils. In: Mokwunye AU and Vlek PLG (eds) Management of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Sub-Saharan Africa, pp 253–281. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, The Netherlands
Olsen SR and Sommers LE (1982) Phosphorus. In: Page ALet al. (eds) Methods of Soil Analysis Part 2, Agronomy 9: 403–430. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI
Sanchez PA and Salinas JG (1981) Low input technology for managing Oxisols and Ultisols in tropical America. Adv Agron 34. 280–406
Walkley A and Black IA (1934) An examination of the Degtjareff method for determining soil organic matter and proposed modification of the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37. 29–38
Warren GP (1992) Fertilizer Phosphorus. Sorption and Residual Value in Tropical African Soils. NRI Bulletin 37, Natural Resources Institute, Chatham, UK. 91 p
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sahrawat, K.L., Jones, M.P. & Diatta, S. Response of upland rice to phosphorus in an Ultisol in the humid forest zone of West Africa. Fertilizer Research 41, 11–17 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749515
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00749515