Comparative Analysis of Gross Margin for Three Varieties of Rice Grown under Two Planting Methods and Different Weed Control Measures

Field trials were conducted during the 2005, 2006 and 2007 rainy season at Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa situated in Sudan savannah agro – ecological zone, Kano state, Nigeria to compare the gross margin values obtained from rice production using three different varieties of rice and different weed control measures under two planting methods. The trials were laid out in split – plot design and replicated three times with factorial combination of two planting methods and three varieties in the main plots and weed control treatments in the subplots. The results revealed that transplanting gave better gross margin value with a mean value of 127,053 Naira for the three varieties of rice cultivated under different weed control methods compare to mean value of 113,303 Naira obtained in direct seeded of the same varieties cultivated under different weed control methods. The result of the BCR also showed that transplanting of rice yielded more profit with BCR value of 2.42 for the three varieties of rice cultivated under different weed control methods compared to BCR value of 2.33 for direct seeded rice. FARO 52 performed better among the three varieties of rice with higher mean gross margin values of 143,170 and 120,720 Naira, BCR of 2.60 and 2.42 for transplanting and direct seeded, respectively for the three years cropping season. Application of pre – emergence oxadiazon @ 1.0 Kgha-1 followed by post – emergence piperophos plus propanil @ 1.5 Kgha-1 applied at 5 WAS / T gave the highest gross margin of 166,770 Naira and BCR of 2.78 under transplanting for the three years which was closely followed by hand-pulling weed control measures with gross margin value of 165,720 Naira and BCR of 2.94 under direct seeding compared to the weedy check that gave the least gross margin and BCR in both methods of planting. The study therefore, concludes that transplanting of FARO 52 rice variety and combined pre-emergence application of oxadiazon @ 1.0 kg a.i.ha-1 followed by post-emergence piperophos plus propanil @1.5 kg a.i.ha-1 were the best and second suitable treatment interaction to obtain good profit. Therefore combination is recommended as the economically viable option for lowland rice production in the Sudan savanna agro-ecological zones.