Phenotypic characterization of two lowland Rice Genotypes Cultivated with Organic Fertilizer

Abstract

Rice farming in Liberia has long grappled with subpar yields, ranging from  0.5 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare (t/ha), attributed to outdated agronomic practices and the utilization of inferior inbred rice varieties. To alleviate the potential catastrophes and challenges of a changing climate and to improve rice production, we conducted a field experiment to determine the impact of organic fertilizer on the yield and growth attributes of two lowland rice genotypes (Nerica-L19 and the traditional landrace Bold Grain). The experimental layout was Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in split plot arrangement  with  the  main  plots  being  organic  fertilizer  at  a  rate  of  2.5  t/ha. Results revealed that there were significant differences between the landrace bold grain and the improved genotypes for all traits measured except for panicle length, seed length and stem diameter. Pearson coefficients of correlation analysis showed that days to 50 % flowering correlated significantly with plant height, number of tillers and number of panicles per plant. Nerica-19 exhibited the highest grain yield along with growth traits, suggesting its potential for smallholder farmers and warranting further evaluation across various environments.