Agronomic Adaptability of Some Selected Nerica Rice Varieties in Response to Biofertilizer Application in Northern Cameroon

A field study was conducted in agro-ecological zone I (Yagoua) and II (Wakwa) in Cameroon during the 2008 and 2009 cropping seasons. The objective of this research was to evaluate the responses of four selected Nerica rice varieties to biofertilizer application on their growth and yield performances in the field. The experimental setup was a split-plot (4x5)x3, in which the type of fertilization was the main factor or treatments, each of which was replicated thrice, while the rice varieties (FKR56-N, FKR58-N FKR60-N, FKR62-N, DIR-95) were considered as the secondary factor or sub-treatment. Treatments were: T0, which received none of the fertilizers; TE, which was applied with only the chemical fertilizer NPK (14-24-14); TEM, which was applied with chemical fertilizer (NPK) and biofertilizer (mycorrhizae); TM, which was applied with only biofertilizer. Biofertilizer was revealed as effective as the chemical fertilizer on rice growth and yield, but at different ranges varying with rice varieties. Rice varieties FKR60-N and FKR62-N significantly expressed the highest degree of root colonization by biofertilizer at the range of respectively 62.96-77.23% at Yagoua and 59.29-69.05% at Wakwa compared to other varieties, and for the first and the second cropping seasons. Rice plants that were applied with each of the fertilizers showed an important height (103.88-112.80 cm) when compared to the control (96.04-104.06 cm). The number of tillers was significantly increased 1.5-2 folds by biofertilizer application at Yagoua and Wakwa during both cropping seasons. Nerica varieties FKR58-N, FKR60-N, as well as the local variety DIR-95 recorded higher seed yield, respectively (1.73-3.32; 2.27-4.42; 2.22-4.54) t/ha in studied agro-ecological zones. On the overall, there were significant varietal changes on growth parameters and grain yield/ha. Results revealed the contribution of this biofertilizer in sustaining the intensification of safe and environmentally friendly rice production in northern Cameroon.