Studies on the use of Spentwash as A Source of Potassium on Maiza Productivity and Soil Properties
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Date
2013
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Publisher
UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A field investigation on “Studies on the use of spentwash as a source of potassium on
maize productivity and soil properties” was conducted in sandy clay loam soil in the farmer’s
field at Sameerwadi during kharif 2012. The experiment was laid out in randomized block
design with seven treatments replicated four times. The recommended dose of potassium
(RDK) to maize was substituted with spentwash at 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 and 200 per cent
levels.
The bio-methanated spentwash used for the study was neutral in reaction with high
soluble salts content. Application of spentwash to maize to substitute 50 per cent RDK
significantly improved growth and yield attributing characters when compared to its
application at higher levels but was on par with application of only chemical fertilizer.
Application of spentwash in conjunction with potassic fertilizer at 50 per cent level produced
7.3 t ha-1 of grain yield and it was on par with the treatment receiving RDK only through
chemical fertilizer and the treatment with 25 per cent substitution of RDK with spentwash but
significantly superior to the treatments receiving higher levels of spentwash. The uptake of
nutrients by the crop was significantly increased with the use of two sources of potassium
each at 50 per cent level when compared to the treatments receiving 100, 150 and 200 per
cent RDK only with spentwash but it was on par with the treatment receiving only chemical
fertilizer and the treatment with 25 per cent substitution of RDK with spentwash. Application
of distillery spentwash at different levels caused improvement in soil physical environment,
organic carbon, available nutrients status and dehydrogenase enzyme activity in the soil.
However, its addition to soil also resulted in build up of total soluble salts content in soil
which is undesirable. Combined application of spentwash and potassic fertilizer in 1:1 ratio
was better as indicated by higher B:C ratio than the treatment receiving only potassic
fertilizer.