EFFECT OF FARMYARD MANURE AND WATER REGIME ON PRODUCTION OF RICE

Two field experiments were conducted at the Rice Research and Training Center. Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt to study the effect of irri­gation intervals and the application of farm yard manure alone or in com­bination with nitrogen fertilizer on Giza 176 rice variety in 1995 and 1996. Irrigation intervals were 3, 6, 9 and 12 days. Urea N/ha rates were zero, 55 and 110 kg and farm yard manure rates were 9.5, 19, 28.5 ton/ha. Dry matter yield, tillers/m2 and plant height were meas­ured at four growth stages namely; mid tillering, maximum tillering, pani­cle initiation and maturity. Irrigation water used was measured with a cal­ibrated water meter. Results showed that, growth measurments were significantly re­duced due to the increase of irrigation intervals up to 12 days. Rice was most sensitive to water deficit during the stages of maximum tillering and panicle initiation than at mid tillering or maturity. Grain yield did not significantly differ when rice was irrigated every 3 or 6 days. However, yield decreased by less than 5% with irrigation every 6 days but about 17% of water consumption was saved. Nitrogen uptake and content were significantly reduced as irrigation interval increased over 3 days. However, water use efficiency was greatest with irrigation every 6 days. The use of chemical nitrogen fertilizer eith alone or combined with farm yard manure was superior to the use of farm yard manure alone.