Influence of potassium management on yield, nutrients uptake of finger millet and potassium dynamics in Alfisols
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Date
2009-08-26
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University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to study the influence of potassium
management on yield, uptake of nutrients and potassium dynamics in alfisols at GKVK,
Bangalore. Finger millet variety GPU 28 was raised as a test crop. Available potassium
content of soil was estimated at different growth period of the crop. Depth wise
distribution of different forms of potassium was also studied. Soils after harvest were
subjected to characterize potassium releasing power of soil. Among the treatments
studied, the splits of potassium (100% NP + 2 splits of 100% K) followed by the
application of super optimal dose of potassium (100% NP + 200 % K) significantly
increased both biometrical parameters and yield of finger millet. Imbalanced application
of fertilizers recorded significantly very low yield as well as content of all the nutrients.
Application of potassium in splits and super optimal dose of potassium recorded
significantly high content of all the nutrients expect Ca and Mg. The uptake of all the
nutrients was in accordance with the yield levels. Application of lime along with the
fertilizers increased the calcium content in finger millet. Sulphur content in finger millet
was significantly lower in case of farmer’s practice, which includes sulphur free source
(Urea+DAP), than corresponding P applied as Single Super Phosphate (SSP).
Application of lime without potassium reduced the content of all the micro nutrients.
Water soluble and exchangeable potassium decreased with increase in depth, whereas
non exchangeable potassium increased with increase in depth. The available potassium in
soil decreased as the growth of the crop attained towards physiological maturity.
Application of potassium in splits recorded highest available potassium at all the periods
of observation. Liming and subsoiling (100% NP + subsoiling) was found to be better
than the treatments receiving NP alone in yield, uptake of nutrients and increased the
availability of potassium also. The maximum cumulative potassium release and highest
step K was recorded in treatments where split and super optimal level of potassium was
applied and the lowest in treatments which were not treated with potassic fertilizers,
whereas constant rate- K did not show any significant difference among the treatment
combinations.
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