RESPONSE OF RICE GROWTH AND YIELD UNDER DIFFERENT TIMING OF NPK-BASE FERTILIZERS APPLICATION IN THE SALIBU SYSTEM

In the Salibu system (SS), rice plants have a shorter growth cycle than their parent plants.Applying NPK-base fertilizer can promote optimal vegetative growth and yield.This study aimed to determine the optimal timing of NPK-base fertilizer application to enhance rice yield in the SS.The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, where each replication acted as a block.The timing of NPK-base fertilizers application included four treatments: no application (control), at harvest, stem cuttings (seven days after harvest, or 7 DAH), and seven days after stem cuttings (7 DAC).The results indicated that the application of NPK-base fertilizers could significantly increase the shoot dry weight clump -1 and 1000-filled grains.The Application of NPK-base fertilizer at stem cuttings enhanced plant height at 28 DAC, with no significant difference compared to harvest.Furthermore, this treatment resulted in a higher grains dry weight clump (15.3 g) than the control (13.2 g), and was not significantly different from the treatments at harvest (13.9 g) or 7 DAC (14.6 g).No significant differences were observed among the treatments at harvest, 7 DAC, and the control.The conclusion shows that applying NPK-base fertilizer at stem cuttings of the parent plants optimally enhances the rice yield in the SS.Future research should recommend determining the optimal dosage of NPK-base fertilizer to maximize rice growth and yield.