Effect of Plant Densities on Yield Potential of Nerica 10 Rice Variety (Oryza sativa L.) In Taita Taveta County

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), is an important cereal crop grown within central, western and coast region of Kenya. Despite annual rice consumption being higher than maize (Kenya’s staple food), the country is unable to meet an annual demand of 0.55 million tons and depends on imports to fill a 73% deficit. In order to contribute to reducing the deficit gap, a field experiment was conducted at Dembwa and Kipusi, Taita Taveta County in Kenya during the 2019 long rain season to find out the effect of spacing and seeding rate on performance of New Rice for Africa (Nerica) 10 rice variety. Three spacings 30 cm x 15 cm (control), 20 cm x 15 cm and 20 cm x 10 cm and four seedrates drill (random seed placement in small groove/line), 1, 2, or 3 seedling(qs) per hill were used. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, factorial arrangement with three replications. Results showed that the interaction between 20 cm x 10 cm spacing at single seedling per hill significantly (p ≤ 0.05) increased grain yield by 58%, dry biomass by 33% and harvest index by 45% compared to 20 cm x 15 cm and 30 cm x 15cm (control). These results suggest that interaction between 20 cm x 10 cm spacing at 1(one) seedling per hill is the best for Nerica 10 grain yield maximization in Taita Taveta County. The current investigation is among preliminary studies on Nerica 10 rice variety in the county. Therefore, there is need for long term trials in various agro environments in the County.