EFFECT OF ORGANIC, INORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND STORAGE PERIODS ON GRAIN YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF TWO EGYPTIAN RICE CULTIVARS

To evaluate the impact of organic fertilizer (composted rice straw), chemical fertilizer and storage periods on grain yield and nutritional value of two Egyptian rice cultivars .i.e. hybrid1 (SK-2034H) and Sakha 105, two field experiments were carried out in Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC) farm during the two rice growing seasons 2009 and 2010. Four fertilizer treatments i.e, T1= 0 (untreated control), T2= 5 tons Composted rice straw /ha, T3= 165 kg N/ ha andT4= 5 tons Composted rice straw/ ha + 165 kg N /ha with five storage periods 0 (without storage), 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after harvest. Grain yield, protein percentage and concentration of some micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Zn) in grains of the two cultivars significantly increase with individual or in combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers treatments in both seasons. Data indicated that the grain yield, protein percentage and concentration of micronutrients in grain of hybrid 1 were higher than that of Sakha 105 rice cultivar at all treatments under this study. The highest values of protein percentage and concentrations of Fe, Mn and Zn in rice grain of two cultivars were recorded at the treatment of T4= 165 kg N + 5 tons composted rice straw /ha. On the other hand Protein (%) was not affected by storage period but concentration of Fe, Mn and Zn in grains of two rice varieties increased with increasing storage periods and the highest concentrations of micronutrients was found at the storage period of 12 months. From these results of this study, it could be recommended that the integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers management could increase micronutrient contents in grain and consequently, improve nutritional quality of two rice cultivars under study.