The experiment was carried out at two locations; the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) farm at Samaru (latitude 11°18' 16"N, longitude 07°62' 34"E and 686m above sea level) and at Giwa (latitude 11º 12' 42"N, longitude 7º 33' 14"E and 691m above sea level) during 2011 rainy season. Treatments evaluated consisted of three rates of nitrogen (0, 65 and 130 kg N ha-1), three seed rates (30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1) and two rice varieties (NERICA 4 and 8). The treatments were factorially combined and laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Gross and net plot sizes were 12m2and 7m2 respectively. Result obtained shows that 65 kg N ha-1 and 60 kg ha-1 seed rate gave the highest leaf area index, total dry matter, relative growth rate, panicle weight, paddy yield and protein content. Regression analysis carried out for NERICA 4 and 8 gave the following optimum values of 83kg N ha-1 at 66kg ha-1 of seed and 83kg N ha-1 using 63kg ha-1 of seed in Samaru. In Giwa, 80 kg N ha-1 at 66 kg ha-1 of seed or 80 kg N ha-1 at 63 kg ha-1 of seed for NERICA 4 and 8 respectively. NERICA 8 is however recommended for adoption in the Northern Guinea Savannah as it proved more adapted with high yields of 3449.4 and 1379.8 kg ha-1 in Samaru and Giwa respectively.
Key words: NERICA, Nitrogen, Seed rate
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