Impact of Sugar Pressmud Compost and Rice Husk Ash on the Productivity of Upland Rice (Nerica 1)

Abstract

Factory waste products were evaluated at the National Agricultural Research Organization, Ikulwe satellite station, in Uganda to establish their efficacy as source of nutrients for rice. A potted study was conducted in CRB, replicated four times during 2022 and 2023 while, a field experiment was conducted in RCBD during 2023. The eleven treatments tested included: (i) 100 kg Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) ha-1 (FDAP), (ii) sugarcane press mud compost (SPC) (iii) rice husks (RH) (iv) rice husk ash (RHA) (v) SPC + Cymbopogon compost (CC) (vi) RH + CC (vii) RHA + CC (viii) SPC + 50 kg DAP hectare-1 (HDAP) (ix) RHA + HDAP (x) RH + HDAP (xi) control (No amendments). Baseline soil physico-chemical properties were determined prior to planting, while nutrient uptake by rice was assessed at harvest. Growth attributes including height, leaf length, leaf width, leaf number and tillers were determined. Yield components, comprising panicles and grain and were quantified, and grain yield determined. Data were analyzed using GenStat package and Fischer’s significant test applied. SPC had significant NPK, Ca, Mg & Fe while; RH and RHA recorded high K, Si, and Ca with deficiency in Mg & Fe. Treatments given FDAP, RHA + HDAP or SPC + HDAP, registered high NP in stover, growth parameters, yield attributes and yield relative, to RHA and RH amendments while, FDAP, RH and control produced shorter rice plants. Based on the current study, SPC + HDAP, RHA + HDAP and FDAP are hereby recommended as nutrients for increased productivity of upland rice in Uganda and similar ecosystems.