NITROGEN DOSES AND APPLICATION TIMES IN LOWLAND RICE

Abstract

The most outstanding crop, concerning agribusiness in the Roraima State, is lowland rice. Therefore, the recommendation of new cultivars, as well as the study of correct handling for nitrogen fertilizing, are important to maximize grain yield and reduce production costs and environmental impacts. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the nitrogen doses and application times most adjusted to the rice cultivar BRS Jaçanã, in Roraima lowlands. The experiment took place at the Santa Cecília Farm, a lowland area of the Rio Branco river, in Cantá, Roraima State, Brazil, from December (2007) to March (2008), on a tb distrophic haplic gleissol. The experiments were conducted under a split-plot scheme, with plots displayed under a randomized blocks design with four replicates. Treatments consisted of four N doses (50 kg ha^-1, 100 kg ha^-1, 150 kg ha^-1, and 200 kg ha^-1), combined with four application times: E1 - half dose at sowing and half 45 days after emergence (dae); E2 - half dose 15 days after emergence (dae) and half 45 days after emergence (dae); E3 - one application 15 days after emergence (dae); and E4 - one application 45 days after emergence (dae), totalizing 16 treatments and 64 experimental units. Concerning the BRS Jaçanã lowland rice cultivar, the best combination was the application of 118 kg ha^-1 of nitrogen, half at sowing and half 45 days after emergence.

KEY-WORDS: Oryza sativa L.; lowland rice; maximum economic yield.