Influence of Sowing Dates and Nitrogen Fertilization Levels on Rice Yield and Insect Infestation of Sakha Super 300 Rice Cultivar

S., Taha, A.; Saleh, H. A.; Bleih, Eman M.

doi:10.21608/eajbsh.2021.158820

Influence of Sowing Dates and Nitrogen Fertilization Levels on Rice Yield and Insect Infestation of Sakha Super 300 Rice Cultivar

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Rice Res. Dept., Field Crops Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Egypt

² Field Crop Pests Res. Dept., Plant Prot. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Egypt

10.21608/eajbsh.2021.158820

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Farm of Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC), Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt, during 2019 and 2020 rice growing seasons. The objectives were to investigate the effect of three sowing dates (May 1^st, June 1^st and July 1^st) and four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0, 46, 69 and 92 kg /fed.) on rice yield and the infestation by rice leaf miner, Hydrellia prosternalis Deem. and rice stem borer, Chilo agammnon Bles. in Sakha Super 300 rice cultivar. Plant height, days to heading, filled grains/panicle, panicle weight, 1000-grain weight and grain yield were higher as rice was planted earlier, in both seasons. The number of panicles per hill was highest at June 1^st planting. Also, fertility % was highest at June 1^st plantation, but lowest at May 1^st plantation. Values of all traits increased by the increase in nitrogen level, with the exception of fertility and 1000-grain weight. Rice leaf miner infestation increased gradually as the rice was planted later. The numbers of infested leaves were 21.80 and 23.42 per 100 rice leaves when planting on May 1^st. The infestation was highest with corresponding values of 44.45 and 46.00 per100 rice leaves in 2019 and 2020 seasons, respectively. Percentages of mines took the same trend. Also, the percentages of infested leaves and mines were higher by increasing the dose of nitrogen fertilization. Averages of dead hearts, caused by the rice stem borer were 7.2, 6.6 and 4.6 %, and those of whiteheads were 7.9, 6.6 and 4.8 % for May 1^st, June 1^st and July 1^st plantations, respectively. As for nitrogen levels, it was clear that the borer infestation gradually increased, as dead hearts and whiteheads, due to an increase in nitrogen level. Thus, it is recommended to sow rice early (during May) with moderate nitrogen levels (69 kg N/fed.) to avoid severe infestations by rice leaf miner and rice stem borer.

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