Date of Graduation

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Crop, Soil & Environmental Sciences

Advisor/Mentor

Hardke, Jarrod

Committee Member

Trenton Roberts

Second Committee Member

Drescher, Gerson

Third Committee Member

Bateman, Nate

Keywords

Rice Tissue Sampling; In-Season Nutrient Management; Nitrogen; Phosphorus; Potassium

Abstract

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the 3 most important nutrients involved in rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and development. Tissue sampling has been proven to be a potential tool to provide inseason information about plant nutrient concentrations at specified timings and growth stages. With increased interest in tissue sampling and improving nutrient management effectiveness, more information is needed to validate plant tissue concentrations at which additional fertilizer inputs may be warranted. Experiments were conducted in 2024 and 2025 at the Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) near Stuttgart, Ark.; Pine Tree Research Station (PTRS) near Colt, Ark.; and Northeast Research and Extension Center (NEREC) near Keiser, Ark. to evaluate the tissue concentration trends for N, P, and K during reproductive growth stages and the tissue and yield response to additional fertilization. Treatments included an unfertilized control, a soil test recommended P and K rate, and weekly tissue collection and fertilization timings from panicle initiation (PI) to PI plus 28 days. Final tissue samples were collected from all fertilized plots at 50% heading. A split plot arrangement in a randomized complete block design was utilized. Plots were split to allow for one fertilized (additional 51 kg N, 22 kg P, 56 kg K ha-1) and one unfertilized plot at each timing. Final tissue-N values were significantly higher than the unfertilized control at PI+14 and PI+21 timings. At NEREC, significant grain yield responses to N fertilizer were observed at PI and PI+14. No significant tissue-P or K timing differences were observed across unfertilized and fertilized plots for final tissue-P or K concentrations or grain yields. Overall, additional N fertilizer inputs during reproductive growth stages do significantly increase tissue-N concentrations and yields of the rice crop, while P and K fertilizer inputs do not. Tissue sampling can serve as a tool to determine at which timings additional fertilizer inputs are warranted.

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