Influence of Sri Fertilizer Practice on Yield Components and Grain Yield of Hybrid Rice Varieties in Kenya

Rice is one of the staple food crops in Kenya and its demand is generally increasing annually especially when maize production has declined due to various factors. The national rice consumption is estimated at 300,000 metric tonnes compared to annual production of 45,000-80,000 where the deficit is met through importation. The low production can be increased through adoption of system of rice intensification methods that can lead to higher yields and sustainable production. Several studies have been conducted on SRI water requirements, plant systems and soil but very little has been done on fertilizer regime on hybrid rice in Kenya. To address this challenge, yield performance of two rice hybrid varieties; Arize Tej Gold and Arize 6444 Gold against a locally inbred variety (BW 196) under SRI fertilizer regime were evaluated at two sites; Mwea irrigation scheme in Kirinyaga County and Ahero irrigation scheme in Kisumu County. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design where the SRI fertilizer practices were the main plots (2.5 t ha-1 Evergrow, 200 Kg ha-1 SA, 2.5 t/ha Evergrow + 100 Kg ha-1 SA, 2.5 t ha-1 Evergrow +200 Kg ha-1 SA, and a control-without fertilizer) and the rice varieties were the sub-plots and replicated three times. Data was collected on number of grains per panicle, filled grains per panicle and grain yield then subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SAS 9.2 and means separated using Fischer’s Protected LSD. Significant differences were observed on the number of grains per plant with the Evergrow+100 Kg ha-1 SA and Evergrow+200 Kg ha-1 SA SRI fertilizer treatments showing the highest at 293 and 275 grains per plant respectively under variety Arize Tej Gold at Mwea and 256 grains per plant at Ahero. The high number of grains per plant consequently led to the highest grain yield under the SRI treatments where the Evergrow+100 Kg ha-1 SA treatment had the highest grain yield per plot in Ahero (1202 g) and Mwea (4002 g). The application of 100 Kg ha-1 of SA and organic fertilizer is recommended in rice production.