Ratooned Lowland Nerica Rice Varieties as an Option for Triple Cropping in Inland Valleys of Derived Savannah in Nigeria

Abstract

SUMMARYAlthough triple cropping in inland valleys of Nigeria is technically feasible, the third crop between the main crop and dry season non-rice crop has been considered not to be economically viable because of poor crop establishment due to soil inundation. The identification of an appropriate technology with low input, such as ratooning, would allow this niche to be utilized. Field experiments were conducted at the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2007–2008 and 2008–2009 cropping seasons to evaluate the performance of the main and ratooned crops of lowland NERICA (New Rice for Africa) rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in a lowland rice–ratooned rice–fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis Hook F.) sequence. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The lowland rice varieties used were NERICA-L 19, NERICA-L 20, NERICA-L 22, NERICA-L 24, OFADA, NERICA-L 26, NERICA-L 41, NERICA-L 42, NERICA-L 44 and NERICA-L 47. The grain yield of the main rice crop ranged from 5.0 to 7.3 t ha−1 in 2007–2008 cropping season and from 4.1 to 9.1 t ha−1 in 2008–2009. The ratooned rice had a grain yield of 1.0–4.7 t ha−1 in 2007–2008 and 1.2–3.4 t ha−1 in 2008–2009. The total grain yield obtained in 2007–2008 from the main and ratooned rice crops in seven months was 6.7–11.6 t ha−1, while in 2008–2009 it was 5.3–2.6 t ha−1. The fresh leaf yield of fluted pumpkin ranged from 14.6 to 16.9 t ha−1 in 2007–2008 and from 18.3 to 19.8 t ha−1 in 2008–2009, similar to previously reported rainy season unfertilized yields. Thus, a ratooned rice crop appears to be a feasible technology capable of boosting rice production and consequently increasing the overall productivity of the inland valley in a rice–rice–vegetable cropping sequence.

Response of lowland rice-ratooned rice-fluted pumpkin sequence to fertilizer in rainfed inland valley in derived savannah of Nigeria

“…However, the upland rice component in the sequence decreased the overall benefit/cost ratio of triple cropping rather than increasing it. Hence, Adigbo et al (2012a) report that ratooned rice was technically feasible technology to fit into the niche between lowland rice and fluted pumpkin. Rice ratooning is the practice of harvesting grain from tillers originating from the stubble of previously harvested crop and it enhances rice grain yield without increasing land area because it provides higher resources use efficiency per unit land area per unit of time (Jason et al, 2005).…”

Evaluation of Sowing Methods of Upland and Ratooned Rice Planted in-between Lowland Rice-Fluted Pumpkin Sequence in Derived Savannah

“…Self sufficiency in rice in Nigeria, West Africa and indeed in Sub-Sahara Africa could be attained, if efforts are geared towards increasing crop intensification in the abundant inland valley where cultivation of arable crops can be done three times in a year (Adigbo et al, 2007;Adigbo et al, 2012; rather than dissipating energy in over-exploited upland ecology. Wetlands in sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to cover 228 million ha (Bergkamp et al, 2000).…”

“…Poor crop establishment was the major challenge associated with the second rice in the niche between lowland rice and dry season crops but this was resolved. The two likely available technologies that could optimize the existing niche between lowland rice and dry season crops are: 1) appropriate sowing methods of early maturing upland rice and 2) ratooning of lowland rice (Adigbo et al, 2012). Rice ratooning is the practice of harvesting grain from tillers originating from the stubble of previously harvested crop (main crop) and it enhances rice grain yield without increasing land area because it provides higher resources use efficiency per unit land area per unit of time (Jason et al, 2005).…”

Evaluation of the Performance of Lowland Rice-ratooned Rice-vegetable as Influenced by Fertilizer Rates in Sawah Rice Systems

“…The utility of inland valley was further improved by increasing the crop intensification from two to three crops per year (Adigbo et al, 2007;Adigbo et al, 2010;Adigbo, 2012) without supplemental irrigation but the sustainability and judicious fertilizer utilization were not efficient. Therefore, there is the need to ascertain the productivity of the triple system in sawah based rice system which lay emphasis on the improvement of the rice environment.…”

“…

AbstractThe trial was conducted at the Federal University of Agriculture; Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 cropping season to evaluate the performance of lowland rice-ratooned rice-okra as influenced by fertilizer rates in sawah rice based system. Field was manually cleared and bunded but power tilled, puddled and leveled with inlet and outlet connections for irrigation and drainage.

…”