Effects of Zeolite Application on Seed Yield and Yield Component of Organic Upland Rice

Abstract

Effects of zeolite application on seed yield and yield component of organic upland rice was studied in a field experiment conducted at the King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Prince of Chumphon Campus from July to November, 2012. Our objective was to determine the effects of zeolite on seed yield and yield component of organic upland rice varieties: Dokkam and Nangchuan. The experimental design was Randomized Complete Block (RCB) with four replications and four treatments as follows: 1) chemical methods using fertilizer (15N-15P-15K) rated 4.80 kg/ha for control (T1), 2) cattle manure rated 160 kg/ha (T2), 3) zeolite rated 16 kg/ha (T3) and 4) zeolite rated 32 kg/ha (T4). The fertilizer was applied at the rate of 160 kg/ha of cow manure (T1 to T4) and zeolite was applied at the rate of 16 and 32 kg/ha (T3 and T4), respectively, (mixing into the soil before growing). The results showed that the applying T4 had number of seeds per panicle of Dokkam variety of 286 seeds which was not statistically different from the seed production using T1 and T2 of 272 and 263 seeds, respectively, but were statistically different from T3 which had number of seeds per panicle of 239 seeds. The Nangchuan variety had number of seeds per panicle ranged from of 280 to 294 seeds which was not statistically different among the treatments. Both varieties from the seed production among the treatments had perfect seeds per panicle ranged from of 216 to 264 seeds, imperfect seeds per panicle ranged from of 7 to 18 seeds, empty seeds per panicle ranged from of 8.50 to 36.75% which were not statistically different among them. The Dokkam variety from the production using T4 had seed yield of 222.35 kg/ha which was not statistically different from the production using T2 of 216.81 kg/ha, but was statistically different from T1 and T3 of 188.66 and 196.60 kg/ha, respectively. The Nangchuan variety from the seed production in all four treatments had seed yields ranged from of 149 to 176.19 kg/ha which was not different from those among the treatments. These results confirm that zeolite could replace the application of chemical fertilizers. That can be used to produce upland rice under organic farming system. Besides, it minimizes pollution of environment and economic costs