Field experiment was conducted in three factorial strip split plot design to evaluate the effect of two establishment methods (EM) i.e. transplanted in puddled soil (Pu-TPR) and direct seeded in zero tillage (ZT-DSR), two residue levels i.e. residue kept at 3 t ha -1 (RK) and no residue (RR) with two nitrogen doses i.e. recommended dose (100 kg N ha -1) (RD) and farmers' dose (50 kg N ha-1) (FD) with six replications with individual plot size of 5.4 m × 6.3 m on rice variety Ram-Dhan during the year 2016. Nitrogen uptake, nitrogen use efficiencies and yield of rice were recorded. Straw nitrogen uptake was significantly higher in ZT-DSR than Pu-TPR. Similarly, grain straw and total nitrogen uptake were significantly higher in residue applied and recommended dose of nitrogen than no-residue applied and farmers-nitrogen dose treatments respectively. Nitrogen efficiency ratio and physiological efficiency index were significantly higher in Pu-TPR and no-residue applied treatments while partial factor productivity was higher in residue applied treatment. All nitrogen use efficiencies like partial factor productivity, nitrogen efficiency ratio and physiological efficiency index were significantly influenced by nitrogen dose and seen higher in recommended dose of nitrogen. Establishment methods had no significant effect on grain yield but straw yield was significantly higher in ZT-DSR but harvest index was seen higher in Pu-TPR. Grain yield and straw yield were significantly higher in residue applied treatment and recommended nitrogen but harvest index was higher in farmers-nitrogen dose.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the influence of tillage techniques on depth, furrow slice and water retention in Maugo Smallholder Rice Scheme in Kenya. Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Four tillage treatments were used. The first one was conventional ox plough practiced by farmers where they first flood the field with water before ploughing. The other three treatments were ox plough, hand hoe and tractor ploughing all with no flooding before ploughing. Data collected included depth of ploughing and harrowing during land preparation. Furrow slices during ploughing and harrowing as well as water retention were recorded. Tractor ploughing had the highest mean depth of ploughing of 42.00 ± 0.81 cm followed by conventional ox ploughing with 17.75 ± 0.75 cm, ox ploughing15.75 ± 0.62 cm and hand hoe ploughing had the lowest mean depth 15.50 ± 0.28 cm. Tractor ploughing had the largest mean furrow size of 62.00 ± 0.91cm followed by conventional ox ploughing 32.25 ± 0.85 cm, ox ploughing 30.25 ± 0.85 cm while hand hoe ploughing had the smallest mean furrow slice of 16.5 ± 0.50 cm. Highest mean of retained water was recorded in week 4 in paddy rice fields prepared using conventional ox ploughing (10.5 cm), ox ploughing (10 cm), hand hoe ploughing (11.5 cm) and tractor ploughing (11.5 cm) while the lowest was recorded in week 15 for conventional plots. There were significant differences in mean depths during both ploughing and harrowing. Tractor ploughing mean depths were significantly different from the other treatments. The weekly mean water depths retained in the plots were more than 6 cm for the entire growing period of rice.