Assessment of Fertiliser Use Practices Among Rice Farmers in Rivers State

This study assesses fertiliser use practices among rice farmers in Rivers State, South South Nigeria, examining the types, rates, and methods of fertiliser application and their relationship to rice yield performance. Fertiliser management is a critical agronomic determinant of rice productivity, and understanding current farmer practices is essential for identifying the agronomic extension gaps that limit production in Rivers State's lowland rice farming communities. This study uses a descriptive survey design, collecting data from 200 rice farmers in Eleme, Khana, and Omuma local government areas through structured questionnaires supplemented by soil and plant tissue sampling on a subset of 30 farms. Fertiliser type, rate, timing, application method, and source are documented. Nutrient use efficiency is estimated by comparing applied nutrient amounts against rice yield responses. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis are applied. Findings reveal that 74 percent of sampled rice farmers use urea as their primary nitrogen source, with application rates varying widely from 40 to 180 kilograms per hectare. Split nitrogen application is practiced by only 22 percent of farmers, resulting in low nitrogen use efficiency and significant losses through denitrification and ammonia volatilisation in flooded rice paddies. Potassium deficiency is identified as an emerging nutrient constraint, with 68 percent of farms showing suboptimal potassium status. The study concludes that nitrogen timing and potassium management are priority agronomic extension targets for Rivers State rice farmers. It recommends split application training and complete NPK fertiliser use promotion.

Keywords: fertiliser use, rice farming, Rivers State, nitrogen use efficiency, nutrient management.