As a result of high flooded rice yields obtained in more recent years and the high crop response to fertilization in southern Brazil, fertilizer recommendations were flexibilized to meet different yield expectations. As these recommendations were poorly supported by research results, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of these recommendations for the dry-seeded rice system in the rice cultivation regions of the State. Thirteen field experiments were conducted at nine locations: four in the 2004/2005 and nine in the 2005/2006 growing seasons with the following treatments: 1. Control (without fertilization); 2. Recommendation to acchieve yield up to 6.0 Mg ha-1; 3. For yields of 6.0-9.0 Mg ha-1; 4. For yields of 9.0-12.0 Mg ha-1 and 5. For yields of more than 12.0 Mg ha-1. Treatments 2, 3, and 4 represent the official regional fertilizer recommendations for flooded rice. The applied fertilizer rates were defined by the soil fertility status of each location, and treatments were distributed in randomized blocks. Fertilizer recommendations for dry-seeded flooded rice, in spite of resulting in relevant and consistent yield increases (average of 3.2 Mg ha-1), did not achieve the expected yields, which depend on the soil and climate conditions of each location.
nitrogen; phosphorus; potassium; dry-seeded rice
