Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lime application and phosphorus (P) fertilizer coated with dicarboxylic acid polymer (DCAP) on soil pH, available P (AP), rice growth, yield, and PUE. A pot experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with two factors: lime (0 and 1.5 t CaO ha−1) and P fertilizer (kg ha−1) (0; 20 P2O5; 20 P2O5–DCAP; 40 P2O5; and 40 P2O5–DCAP), with four replicates per treatment in a greenhouse at the College of Agriculture, Can Tho University, from March to June 2025. The results showed that lime application increased soil pH and AP, thereby improving rice growth and yield. P fertilization significantly enhanced plant height, tiller number, biomass, yield components, and total P uptake. The treatment with 40 kg P2O5–DCAP ha−1 resulted in the highest soil AP, total P uptake, and grain yield. In addition, soil AP showed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.73−0.92) with rice yield and total P uptake. The combination of 1.5 t CaO ha−1 and 40 kg P2O5–DCAP ha−1 produced the highest rice yield.