ASCOT Library Zabali Campus

Master of Science in Agriculture (Crop Science)

This study was initiated to determine the effect of different methods of application for Bio-N inoculants on the growth and yield of SL-8H hybrid rice variety. It was tested in four treatments replicated three times in a randomized complete block design (RCBD).
This research study was conducted during wet season. Result of the soil analysis in the experimental areas was the basis for inorganic fertilizer application together with the application of Bio-N for Treatments 2, 3, and 4. The application of inorganic N-fertilizer (urea) for Treatment 1 was farmer’s practice and a control for Bio-N application.
SL-8H hybrid rice variety was used for medium of inoculation. One packet of Bio-N (200 gm) was poured directly to a five kilograms pre-germinated seeds and mixed thoroughly until the seeds were evenly coated and it was sown immediately on the prepared seedbed.
The two packets of Bio-N (200 gm each) were separately mixed with 16 liters of water to form slurry for root dipping and root spraying. Bundles of pulled seedlings were dipped in a slurry for 30 minutes prior to transplanting while in root spraying, bundles of pulled seedlings were arranged with the roots upward for Bio-N inoculation through spraying 30 minutes before transplanting.
Fertilization was based on the result of the soil analysis by the Regional Soils Laboratory, San Fernando, Pampanga for wet season planting. For Treatments 2, 3 and 4 (720 m2 each), the total amount of fertilizer used were 4. Kilograms for urea as topdressed and 21.6 kilograms complete fertilizer for basal application.
At 30 days after transplanting (DAT), ten representative sample hills from the sampling area in each plot were taken and were properly tagged for data gathering on plant height, number of productive tillers, number of panicles, length of panicles, number of grain per panicle and weight of 1, 000 grains. Crop cut area of 2m X 5m (10 sq m) was measured and was harvested separately for the determination of estimated yield per hectare.
Based on the result gathered, plant height at 30 DAT, their mean differences are almost the same and for final plat height, seed coating with the combination of 50-60-60- (recommended rate) appeared to have the highest mean. Statistically there was no significant effect between treatments.
The number of productive tillers and panicles in the root spray method of application of Bio-N + 50-60-60 (RR) appeared to be the best application but their mean differences was not valid to justify its significance because in block 1, for farmer’s practice (T1), seed coating (T2), and root dipping (T3) were better than root spray (T4). Likewise, on the length of panicles their mean differences was not statistically significant among treatments.
Although there were significant differences among treatments on the number of grains per panicle using the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level, Treatments 1, 2, and 3 were significantly different only from treatment 4.
Results on the weight of 1,000 grains, root dipping (T3) and root spraying (T4) means were identical and using DMRT at five 5% level, statistical difference was observed between treatments. Using Bio-N with the combination of 50-60-60 (RR) inorganic fertilizer influenced the grain weight performance of SL-8H hybrid rice variety.
Furthermore, cost and return analysis resulted to a high income of Php 2,641.42 for seed coating + 50-60-60 (Recommended Rate) and a return on operating expenses (ROE) of 213.45% and return on sales (ROS) of 6.01% were obtained. A comparable net income from Php 1,831.75, Php 1,943.17, Php 1,905.42 and ROE of 147.62%, 159.19%, 156.24% and ROS of 59.62%, 61.40%, 60.96% for farmer’s practice (T1) root dipping (T3), root spraying (T4) with the combinations of 50-60-60 (Recommended Rate) respectively.