EFFECT OF NPK ON GROWTH AND NITROGEN-FIXATION OF SESBANIA-ROSTRATA AS A GREEN MANURE FOR LOWLAND RICE (ORYZA-SATIVA L)

The stem-nodulating tropical legume Sesbania rostrata is a promising green manure species for low input rice-farming systems in lowland areas. However, its success as biofertilizer depends on its biomass production and N2 fixation. Nutrient imbalances and soils low in available nutrients can considerably affect biofertilizer production. Use of mineral N, P, and K fertilizers in growing S. rostrata as biofertilizer for lowland rice was therefore evaluated in pot experiments, and in the fields in Central Luzon, Philippines. Two soils low in Olsen P (3-7.3 mg kg-1) and exchangeable K (0.05-0.08 meq 100 g-1) were used. Increasing amounts of N (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg kg-1), P (0, 50, and 100 mg kg-1), and K (0, 100, 200, and 300 mg kg-1) were applied to S. rostrata grown in the greenhouse, whereas small amounts of N, P, and K fertilizers (30, 15, and 33 kg ha-1, respectively) were applied in the field. Mineral N application depressed nodulation and N2 fixation in roots. It however, stimulated nodulation and N2 fixation in stems. Applying 30 kg N ha-1 as urea increased total N accumulation by S. rostrata and yield of the subsequent rice crop (IR64). Applied P and K both stimulated growth, nodulation, and N2 fixation of S. rostrata. Nitrogen accumulation in P- and K-fertilized S. rostrata was about 40% higher than that in nonfertilized green manure. Thus integration of mineral N, P, and K fertilizers in a green manure-based rice-farming system can considerably improve biofertilizer production and increase rice grain yield.