INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUsM SOLUBILISING BACTERIA ON POTASSIUM DYNAMICS AND YIELD OF SWEET CORN
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Date
2019
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ACHARYA N G RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, GUNTUR
Abstract
A field experiment entitled “Influence of potassium solubilising bacteria on potassium dynamics and yield of sweet corn” was conducted at Agricultural College Farm, Bapatla using sweet corn hybrid Sugar-75 as a test crop. The experiment comprised of 8 treatments viz., T1 : Control ( No K), T2 : 100% RDK, T3 : 75% RDK, T4 :50% RDK, T5: 100% RDK+KSB, T6 : 75% RDK+KSB , T7 : 50 % RDK+KSB, T8 : KSB (where N, P and FYM were applied to all the treatments as per recommended dose) laid out in completely randomized block design and replicated thrice.
The experimental soil was non saline and neutral in soil reaction, medium in organic carbon (0.51%), low in available nitrogen (158 kg ha-1) and high in available P2O5 (64 kg ha-1)and sufficient in sulphur and micronutrients. The soil was sandy loam in texture with a bulk density of 1.41 Mg m-3 and water holding capacity of 38.7 per cent. Along with inorganic potassium fertilizer levels KSB was also added to the soil.
The available nutrient status of soil under sweet corn cultivation showed improvement with level of potassium fertilizer in combination with KSB significantly with N, P, S and Fe but non-significantly with Zn, Cu and Mn.
The influence of K-Fertilization and KSB also showed remarkable effects on the potassium dynamics in the soil. The solution K and exchangeable K which is readily available in the soil varied significantly and more amount was
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present in treatment where K fertilizer and KSB was applied, the decrease in the WS-K was observed from kneehigh to harvest stage. The slowly available or non-exchangeable K also decreased with the stages of crop growth and highest was recorded in the treatment where more inorganic fertilizers (100% RDK) was applied. The total K content in the soil was not significantly affected with or without the application KSB. All the treatments are on par with each other, slight decreasing trend was observed with the age of the crop.
With respect to the biological properities (microbial count and enzymatic activity) it was clearly observed that with K-fertilization and KSB in combination significantly increased in all the treatments.
Due to increased K levels along with KSB in T5 (100%RDK+KSB) both concentration and uptake of nutrients in sweet corn were improved significantly among all the treatments at three different stages of crop growth.
The growth parameters (plant height and dry matter accumulation), yield (kernel and stover) and yield attributes (number of kernels per cob and 100 kernel weight) of sweet corn were better with increasing levels of potassium fertilizer and KSB. It is clear that combined application was effective than alone application.
The quality parameters (protein and starch content) in sweet corn was markedly and positively influenced by K and KSB treatments at all the three stages of the crop.
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D5951
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