Enhanced Growth and Yield of Lowland Rice (Oryza sativa L.) with Greenshield Organic-based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer

Abstract

This study was conducted from December 2015 to March 2016 at the rice field area of the University of Southeastern Philippines, Mabini Campus, Compostela Valley Province. It was conducted to evaluate the bioefficacy of Greenshield Organic-Based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer (GOFFF) on the growth and yield of lowland rice; to determine the best fertilizer combinations for the optimum yield of rice; and to evaluate the economic benefits of using Greenshield Organic-Based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer for rice. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having six treatments and replicated three times. The treatments were: Treatment 1 (Untreated), Treatment 2 (Recommended rate of NPK fertilizer/Ha), Treatment 3 (½ of Recommended NPK/Ha), Treatment 4 (Greenshield Organic-Based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer (GOFFF) at 100 ml/16 li of water), Treatment 5 (½ Recommended NPK + GOFFF, and Treatment 6 Recommended NPK + GOFFF. The result of the statistical analysis revealed that the agronomic characteristics and yield of Rice (Rc82) were significantly affected by Greenshield Organic-Based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer (GOFFF) at 5% level of significance such as plant height, leaf color, number of tillers, number of productive tiller, number of days to maturity, grains per panicle in 20m2 and weight of 1000 grains and grain yield per hectare. It was observed that using Greenshield Organic-Based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer (GOFFF) alone enhanced the growth and yield of rice (Rc82) with an ROI of 71.39%. Moreover, T6 Recommended NPK + Greenshield Organic-Based Fortified Foliar Fertilizer (GOFFF) recorded the highest plant height by 24%, leaf color, number of tillers and productive tillers by 50%, number of grains per panicle, weight of 1,000 grains and yield of 4.59 tons/ha. Although, it has the longest time of maturity.