Effect of Phosphorous and Sulfur Fertilizer Interaction on Rice Yield and Yield Attributes

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at El-Gemmaza Station Farm, during 2012 and 2013 seasons to study the response of rice crop to phosphorous and sulfur fertilizations. Sakha 105 rice cultivar was used. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with four replications; the net plot size was 10 m 2. The main plots were designated for phosphorus treatments and the sub-plots for sulfur treatments. The phosphorus treatments were 0, 18, 37, 55 kg P2O5 ha-1 denote P0, P18, P37 and P55, while, the sulfur treatments were 0, 47, 95 and 142 kg S ha-1 denote, S0, S47, S95 and S142. The main results could be summarized as follows, phosphorous application as signal significantly and positively affected rice grain yield in both seasons of study. At the same time significant improving in grain yield were detected as a results of significant improvement in yield attributes by phosphorous application. The optimum rate of P was 37 kgP2O5 ha-1 at the first season and 55 kg P2O5 ha-1 in the second season. Sulfur application significantly improved growth, yield and yield attributing traits in both seasons of study. Yield and yield attributes significantly responded to sulfur fertilizer up to 95 kg S ha-1 in both season and increasing sulfur rate beyond this rate slightly decreased the yield and yield components. Regarding the interaction effect, the interaction between sulfur and phosphorous had significant effect on dry matter (gm-2), number of tillers hill-1 , Number of panicles hill-1 , number of filled grains panicle-1 and grain yield tha-1 in both seasons. the optimum combination of phosphorus and sulfur was P37S95. The interaction effect on rice grain yield, in the first season, grain yield recorded its maximum value at the combination of P37S95 in the first season. It is noted that P35S95 combination occupied the second order after P55S95 without significant differences in the second season. The combination of P37S95 could be recommended under such conditions for optimum rice grain yield .