Potential Role of Groundnut Stover in Soil Nutrient Management for a Sustainable Rainfed Upland Rice Production in Bimodal Rain Forest Zone of Cameroon

Abstract

Mineral fertilizer is an environmental hazard and economic discouraging factor for rice farmers in Cameroon. The objective was to assess the effect of groundnut stover as a substitute to mineral fertilizer on agronomic performance of rainfed upland rice in bimodal HFZ. The experiment was carried out during short raining season (August – December 2015). Two doses of groundnut stover: 1.5 t/ha ± mineral fertilizers and 2.4 t/ha ± mineral fertilizers were used, design in a RCBD (randomized complete block designed) with four replications involving NERICA 8 progeny. Thirteen agronomic traits were collected, analyzed and Pearson’s correlation test was performed at 1% and 5% level of probability. There was an overall increase in rice paddy grain yield in the different treatments except in treatment 1.5 t/ha of groundnut Stover (3.5 t/ha) with the highest grain yield of 5.75 t/ha (SR1+ and SR2). Treatments 1.5 t/ha of groundnut Stover + urea+ NPK; 1.5 t/ha of groundnut Stover; 2.4 t/ha of groundnut Stover + urea+ NPK had the lowest number of tillers/plant. Panicle length (PL) correlates with the following traits: NSR (r = 0.762**); 1000SW (r = 0.463*); FG (r = 0.573**); NGP (r = 0.601**) and GY (r = 0.649**), similarly NSR correlated with GY (r = 0.649**). Panicle length (PL) and secondary ramifications (NSR) are NERICA traits important for an increase in grain yield under incorporated groundnut Stover in humid forest ecology.