Comparative Study on the Growth and Yield of NERICA Cultivated with Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers: Participatory On-Farm Research at Marakwet District in Kenya

A participatory field study was conducted in Tunyo division, Marakwet district, Kenya, to investigate whether there would be a significant response of New Rice for Africa (NERICA) cultivars 1 and 4 to farmyard manure and chemical fertilizers. Seeds were directly sown in 2 m X 5 m plots at a depth of 2-3 cm and a spacing of 30 em X 1.5 cm. The treatments included chemical fertilizer, organic fertilizer (farmyard manure), and control (no fertilizer). In the chemical fertilizer treatment, 2.5 g N m2 was applied as compound fertilizer N: P: K (20: 12: 12) as basal fertilizer at planting, and 2.5 g N m- 2 using urea (46: 0: 0) as topdressing at panicle initiation stage. In the organic fertilizer treatment, 10.6g N m2 from farmyard manure (N-0.53%, P-0.62%, K-1.35%) obtained from cattle droppings was applied at planting. The experiment was conducted in two farmers' fields using split plot design with two replicates. Data on days to seed emergence, panicle initiation, heading, flowering and maturity were collected. Plant height and tiller number data were recorded during vegetative growth stage. At harvest, panicle number, panicle length, grain number per panicle, weight of 1,000 grains and paddy yield were measured. Growth pattern, fertilizer response, and post harvest qualities of NEIRCA were evaluated by farmers by means of questionnaires and interviews. Focus group discussions to clarify on farmers' responses were held. Yield increased significantly with fertilizer application, and the yield of NERICA 4 was significantly higher than that of NERICA 1, irrespective of the treatment. Farmers evaluated NERICA 1 as having excellent tillering ability, excellent response to fertilizers, good growth vigor as measured by height and yield, excellent threshability and aroma, very good milling quality, and good eating qualities. Farmers also assessed NERICA 4 as having excellent tillering ability, excellent response to fertilizers, excellent growth vigor, excellent yield, excellent threshability and taste, very good milling properties, and good eating qualities. NERICA 4 performed as well as or better than NERICA 1 in most attributes evaluated in this research. NERICA 1 was preferred for its aroma, while NERICA 4 earned the overall preference by farmer for cultivation owing to its superior yield. This research showed that the participation of farmers in field research strengthens the research-extension-farmer linkage, which could be expected to lead to faster technology transfer and uptake of new farming practices in Kenya.