EVALUATION OF SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) FOR ENHANCED RICE (Oryza sativa L) PRODUCTION IN THE GUINEA SAVANNAH ZONE OF GHANA

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted in the dry season of 2014 in the Golinga Irrigation farm (Latitude 09°21 'N and Longitude 0°56' W) at Golinga, in the Northern Region, Ghana. This was to evaluate the System of Rice Intensification (SRl) for enhanced grain yield, yield components and economic viability of Gbewaa rice variety production under irrigated conditions. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised four SRl and two Farmers' Practice treatments viz: T1- FP 1, T2 - SRl1, T3 - SRl2, T4 - SRl 3, T5 - SRl4 and T6 - FP 2. Under all SRl treatments, seeds were nursed and seedlings were transplanted singly and widely (25 cm x 25 em), irrigated intermittently and soil earthing up regularly. SRI 1 and FP 2 each received only 13 tlha compost, SRl 2 and FP 1 each received an amount of 37.5 kg/ha each of N, P205 and K20 as basal application and 26.25 kglha ofN as top dressing while SRl3 and SRl4 both received 13 t/ha compost followed by either 18.75 kg/ha each ofN, P205 and K20 as basal application or 13.13 kg/ha of N as top dressing respectively. SRl1 plants established best and took the longest days to flower. Higher number of grains per panicle was obtained in SRl 3. SRl 2 produced the highest plant height, panicle length, panicle weight, tiller count and plant biomass. SRl 2 also produced the highest yield (4026 kg/ha) which was not statistically different from the yields produced in SRl 3 (3866 kg/ha) and SRl 4 (3737 kg/ha) as compared with the control- FP 1 (2410 kg/ha). The benefit- cost analysis showed that SRl 2 0.97} was the most profiting entry followed by SRl 4 (1.35) and SRl 3 (1.31). Where mineral fertilizers are available and affordable, SRl 2 could be chosen under irrigated condition.