Effects of Time of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application on the Growth and Productivity of Rice ( Oryza Sativa L) in Fogera Plain, North Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most important food security crop for about half of the world’s population (Brohi et al., 1998) and ranks third in area after wheat and maize and second both in production and productivity after maize worldwide (FAOSTAT, 2012). The total world rice production has risen steadily from about 200 million tons (1960) to over 678 million tons (2009) (USDA, 2012). In the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, the world paddy productions were estimated at 691.3 and 713.8 million tons, respectively. Globally, 158.9 million hectare of rice was harvested during the 2011/2012 (USDA, 2012). Rice represents 29% of the total output of grain crops worldwide (Xu et. al., 2003).These yields are compared with the world average of about 3.8 tones/ha; it is evident that there is a lot of potential to improve rice yields worldwide. Over 90% of the world’s total rice crop is produced in South and East Asia. In area and production, China is the leading country in the world (EUCORD, 2012).