Phosphorus dipping treatment of rice seedlings increases yield and avoids cold damage
―Towards stable rice production in Africa with minimal fertilizer input ―

A joint research collaboration of JIRCAS and the National Center for Applied Research on Rural Development (FOFIFA) of Madagascar has shown that phosphorus dipping treatment of seedlings, so-called “P-dipping”, can significantly improve the fertilizer use efficiency and yield of rice. In this technology, the rice seedlings are dipped in a mud-like mixture of phosphorus fertilizer and paddy soil before transplanting. On-farm field trials in Madagascar have clarified that the P-dipping shortened days from transplanting to maturity and avoided cold stress during the reproductive stage. In addition, the P-dipping also increased the yield by 9~35% as compared to the conventional method of fertilizer broadcasting. In the sub-Saharan Africa including Madagascar, the productivity of rice is severely limited due to the poor supply of nutrients such as phosphorus, and the unstable production environment due to water shortage, low temperature and high temperature stress during the growing season. The dissemination of this technology is expected to contribute to stable rice production in the sub-Saharan region, and to further enhance food security.

Authors

Rakotoarisoa, N. M., Tsujimoto, Y., Oo, A. Z.

Title

Dipping rice seedlings in P-enriched slurry increases grain yield and shortens days to heading on P-deficient lowlands in the central highlands of Madagascar

Journal

Field Crops Research (2020) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107806

JIRCAS President: Dr. IWANAGA Masa
Program Director: Dr. NAKASHIMA Kazuo
Research in charge: Dr. TSUJIMOTO Yasuhiro
Press Coordinator: Dr. NAKAMOTO Kazuo (Head, Information and Public Relations Office)
E-mail : koho-jircas@ml.affrc.go.jp