Potassium Application Research Articles

Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed the key pathways and hub genes of potassium regulating cotton root adaptation to salt stress.

Soil salinization is one of the main abiotic stresses affecting cotton yield and planting area. Potassium application has been proven to be an important strategy to reduce salt damage in agricultural production. However, the mechanism of potassium regulating the salt adaptability of cotton has not been fully elucidated. In the present research, the appropriate potassium application rate for alleviating salt damage of cotton based on different K+/Na+ ratios we screened, and a gene co-expression network based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) using the transcriptome data sets treated with CK (0 mM NaCl), S (150 mM NaCl), and SK8 (150 mM NaCl + 9.38 mM K2SO4) was constructed. In this study, four key modules that are highly related to potassium regulation of cotton salt tolerance were identified, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and glutathione metabolism pathway were identified as the key biological processes and metabolic pathways for potassium to improve cotton root salt adaptability. In addition, 21 hub genes and 120 key candidate genes were identified in this study, suggesting that they may play an important role in the enhancement of salt adaptability of cotton by potassium. The key modules, key biological pathways and hub genes discovered in this study will provide a new understanding of the molecular mechanism of potassium enhancing salinity adaptability in cotton, and lay a theoretical foundation for the improvement and innovation of high-quality cotton germplasm.

Nutrient‐charged biochars increased nutrient‐use efficiency in a cotton–maize rotation in Burkina Faso

AbstractSoil nutrient depletion, low crop nutrient‐use efficiency, and limited access to fertilizers are serious issues leading to poor yield in agroecosystems of Burkina Faso. Blending biochars with organic or inorganic nutrients could slow down nutrient release, which can enhance fertilizer‐use efficiency. This study investigates whether charging biochar with nutrients and Acacia gum (Acacia senegal L.) coating can improve nutrient‐use efficiency in a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)–maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system using low application rates (<5 t ha−1). The experiment was conducted in western Burkina Faso during three cropping seasons (2018–2020) with five treatments: T0, control; T1, conventional practice with compost and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) application; T2, microdose (planting hole application) of NPK; T3. nutrient‐charged biochar activated with dissolved NPK; T4, nutrient‐charged biochar activated with dissolved NPK and coated with Acacia gum. Biochar‐based fertilizers significantly increased soil organic C content, as well as bioavailable P and calcium (Ca), without significantly improving crop yields, compared to conventional practice and microdose of NPK. When nutrient‐charged biochar was coated with Acacia gum, N‐use efficiency (NUE; N recovered in grain/N fertilized) was improved compared to uncoated nutrient‐charged biochar, although the difference was not significant. Despite no significant effects on crop yields during three cropping seasons, the use of coated biochar‐based fertilizer may be a technically effective solution to improve NUE in the long term in agroecosystems characterized by nutrient‐impoverished soils under a constraining South‐Sudanese climate.

Enhancing Drought Tolerance of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) Through Potassium and Boron Application

Aims: Pakistan is facing a severe water shortage and the situation is further aggravated due to elevated temperature, leading to drastic yield reduction of quinoa. Hence, there is a dire need to maintain or increase agricultural production by utilizing sustainable methods of production to tackle changing climate. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) is a crop, recognized by United Nations due to its nutritional and health benefits.
 Methodology: Therefore, a field study was carried out to evaluate the drought tolerance of quinoa through soil application of potassium (K) and boron (B) under Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with a split-split plot arrangement and three replications. The crop was sown on November 06, 2021, using a seed rate of 8 kg ha-1 on 75 cm apart ridges with hand dibbling maintaining plant to plant distance of 120 cm. The experiment contained the following treatments; soil application of K at 0, 50, and 75 kg K2O ha-1 and B (H3BO3) at 0, 6 kg ha-1 in well-watered and drought-induced experimental units.
 Results: Data related to crop physiological response and yield attributes were recorded using standard procedures and protocols. Quinoa performance decreased under drought stress but it was improved by potassium (K) supplementation at 75 kg K2O ha-1. Supplementation of K improved the seed yield of quinoa in drought-stressed conditions up to 41% and was also found economically viable because the value of benefit cost ratio was 2.2 in drought conditions as compared to the respective control (1.65).
 Conclusion: Drought is an environmental factor that negatively interferes with crop growth and yield. So application of potassium and boron can enhance drought tolerance of quinoa through soil application.

Effect of potassium fertilizer on tea yield and quality: A meta-analysis

The global tea (Camellia sinensis L.) output has been in decline despite the continued increases in global tea consumption amount and cultivation area. Application of potassium (K) fertilizer is a common way to enhance tea yield and quality, given the widespread deficiency of soil-available K in tea plantations. However, the specific effects of K fertilizer application upon tea yield and quality and its differential effects among varied K fertilizer application amount, soil-available K amount and tea types remain unknown. In this study, 518 pairwise comparisons between tea productivity after non-application and application of K fertilizers were obtained through a literature review, and then analyzed. The results showed that K application had a significant positive effect on tea yield and overall quality, enhancing the amount of tea yield, the content of amino acid, tea polyphenol, water extract, and catechin by 7.83 %, 7.84 %, 26.79 %, 1.57 % and 6.47 %, respectively. Furthermore, a K application rate of 90–120 kg ha−1 maximized the tea yield and quality. However, K application showed varied effects on tea yield and quality in soils with different available K levels. In terms of tea types, the yield and quality of black and green tea were enhanced under K application. The results of a mixed-effects model indicated that the main factors affecting tea quality were the amount of K fertilizer applied and the soil-available K content, whereas the variation in tea yield results mainly from the tea types. Therefore, to develop high-quality tea plantations and address the contradiction between low tea yield and high tea consumption, efforts should be made to enhance the soil-available K content by optimizing the amount of K applied on tea plantations.

Foliar application of potassium and restricted irrigation improved the growth and yield of wheat under rainfed condition of Bhal region

Foliar application of potassium increases the drought tolerance in the wheat crop with restricted irrigation, keeping in the view, a field experiment effect of foliar K application for improving wheat yield and water productivity under restricted irrigation condition was conducted at Agricultural Research station, Anand Agricultural University, Dhandhuka, Bhal region of Gujarat under conserved soil moisture condition with restricted irrigation in the Rabi season of 2021-22 with the objective to reduce moisture stress and to enhance the yield potential of wheat by using potash sprays. Inadequate moisture during the sensitive stages will cause substantial reduction in yield. The experiment was laid out in three replication with nine treatments in split plot design. They are (A). Irrigation levels, I1­: One irrigation at CRI stage, I2: Two Irrigation at CRI and flowering stage, I3: Three irrigation at CRI, late jointing and milking stage. (B). Foliar K application, F1: Control (Water spray), F2: 2% K foliar application at tillering (40-45) and jointing (60-65 DAS), and K3: 4% K foliar application at tillering (40-45) and jointing. The result indicated that due to irrigation management plant height at harvest (70.56 cm), length of ear (7.12), biological yield (7751 kg/ha) and grain yield (3367 kg/ha) was found significant with I3 treatment rest of parameters found non- significant with irrigation levels. Further data indicate from K foliar application, the plant height at harvest (71.51 cm), no of ear head sq. m. (295.44), length of ear (7.17), no, of grain per ear (32.68), test weight (44.03), biological yield (7112 kg/ha) and grain yield (3244 kg/ha) were recorded superior with K3 Treatment (4% K foliar application at tillering (40-45) and jointing) whereas, plant height, no of ear head (sq. m) no, of grain per ear, biological yield and grain yield found at par with F2 treatments Overall, it was observed that the foliar potassium fertilization and restricted irrigation increased the growth, yield attributes and grain yield.

Some Biochemical and Biomass Responses of Wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] to Suboptimal Water Supply and Different Potassium Rates

Nowadays, the most limited natural resource is water. Therefore, researchers have been searching for ways to enhance drought resistance as well as plant growth under limited water supply. In this study, the potassium application effect under water shortage on some biomass and biochemical parameters on the wheat (Hawler-2) genotype, was examined in 2021–2022. Irrigation levels were kept at 100% and 30% of field capacity and different doses (0, 150, and 300 kg ha-¹) of potassium were applied to the soil, arranged as a factorial experiment in CRD design with 4 repetitions. The results demonstrated that drought reduced biomass features such as (length of root and shoot, root shoot dry weight), increased proline, glycine betaine, soluble sugars, MDA, and H202, while application of potassium enhanced accumulation of the above mentioned osmoprotectants and improved root and shoot length along with root shoot dry weights and root shoot ratio and led to a reduction of lipid peroxidation and H202 content. Hence, it can be said that K might perform an effective role in dropping the undesirable effects of drought in wheat plants.

Current Phosphorus and Potassium Fertiliser Application Rates Do Not Limit Tuber Yield and Quality in Potato Production Systems in the Netherlands

Current ware potato yields in the Netherlands are approximately 70% of their potential. It is hypothesised by several stakeholders within the potato value chain that part of the potato yield gap is caused by a lack of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application. In this study, we analysed for 46 farmers’ fields if increasing P and K fertiliser application rates led to a higher yield and yield quality. We found that, on average, increased P and K fertiliser application did not result in a significantly higher yield for two currently cropped potato cultivars on two different soil types in the Netherlands (Innovator on clay soils and Fontane on sandy soils) and in two years (2019 and 2020). However, on sandy soils at relatively lower farmer K application rates, our K application led to a small positive yield response up to 5 t ha−1. On clay soils, there was an average positive yield response to our K application at lower yield levels of the control. For P, we did not find any correlation between yield response to P application and the amount of P applied by farmers or any of the measured soil parameters. In terms of yield quality, the K application led to a slight reduction in underwater weight on sandy soils in 2019 and a slight increase in the yield of large tubers in 2020. We conclude that, although in some fields there was a small positive yield effect of increased K application, increasing P and K application rates will not narrow the potato yield gap and improve potato yield quality in the Netherlands. Instead, increasing the P and K application will decrease P and K use efficiency and hence is not recommended from an environmental and economic perspective.

Potassium applications reduced cesium uptake and altered strontium translocation in soybean plants

ABSTRACT After the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011, radioactive cesium (RCs) was released in greater concentrations than radioactive strontium (RSr) in the surrounding environment. Most of the countermeasures were developed to mitigate the RCs transfer from the soil to plants. However, to avoid what has happened after the Chernobyl and Mayak accidents, preventing the transfer of RSr from soil to plants should be a priority. Although the application of potassium (K) fertilizers is the most effective method for preventing agricultural crops from absorbing RCs in contaminated fields, this implementation increases the cost and labor requirements. Considering the preparedness for nuclear accidents, it remains unclear how this countermeasure will be affected if RCs and RSr are released simultaneously. We aimed to explore the effect of K applications on cesium (Cs) and strontium (Sr) uptake and their interaction with and correlation to other elements in the soybean plants and soil. The field experiments were conducted in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, using different K applications (i.e., no, normal, and high K applications). The dry weight and mineral concentrations of K, Cs, Sr, calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and nitrogen (N) concentration in plants and exchangeable K (ExK), exchangeable Cs (ExCs), exchangeable Sr (ExSr), exchangeable Ca (ExCa), exchangeable Mg (ExMg), NH4+ (ammonium), and NO3- (nitrate) concentrations in the soils were evaluated. This study revealed that K application reduced Cs, Ca, and Mg uptake but did not affect the ExSr, ExCa, and ExMg concentrations in the soil and did not change the uptake of Sr. On the other hand, K concentration of the plant especially at later growth stage, which indicates re-translocation of Sr was negatively regulated by K concentration.

Identification of Key Genes Induced by Different Potassium Levels Provides Insight into the Formation of Fruit Quality in Grapes.

Inadequate potassium (K) availability is a common abiotic stress that limits the growth and quality of fruit trees. Few studies have investigated the physiological and molecular responses of grapes at different potassium levels. In this study, an integrated approach was developed for grapevines grown at four different potassium fertilization levels [0 (K0-CK), 150 (K150), 300 (K300), and 450 (K450) g/plant] in combination with metabolite measurements and transcript analysis. The results showed that different K levels affected the accumulation of sugars and anthocyanins in the fruit. At 78 days after bloom (DAB), the K150, K300, and K450 treatments increased soluble sugar content by 37.39%, 31.10% and 32.59%, respectively, and anthocyanin content by 49.78%, 24.10%, and 13.06%, respectively, compared to K0. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of DEGs identified a network of 11 grapevines involved. During fruit development, potassium application promoted the accumulation of anthocyanins and sugars in fruit by regulating the up-regulation of GST, AT, UFGT and SPS, HT, PK gene expressions. These results suggest that potassium deficiency inhibits anthocyanin and sugar metabolism. In addition, it promotes the up-regulation of KUP expression, which is the main cause of K accumulation in fruits. Together, our data revealed the molecular mechanism in response to different K levels during fruit quality formation and provides the scientific foundation for the improvement of fruit quality by adding K fertilizer.

Impact of long-term fertilization in no-till on the stratification of soil acidity and related parameters

The increasing cost of fuel and machinery used in conventional tillage systems makes no-till management (NT) an enticing alternative for small-grain producers. However, the application of fertilizers to the soil surface under NT has been shown to lead to the stratification of pH and other soil acidity parameters near the soil surface. Despite that, only a few works have reported the soil acidity stratification of the arable layer and were restricted to highly weathered acid soils of the tropics. Therefore, our objective was to quantify soil pH, exchangeable aluminum (AlKCl), aluminum saturation (Al%), soil organic carbon (OC), and cation exchange capacity (CEC) by depth in the topsoils across different levels of nutrient management in three long-term continuous NT wheat studies in the southern Plains of US. Plots were sampled after the winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) harvest in the summer of 2019 at sampling depths of 0–15 cm, and 0–2.5, 2.5–5, 5–7.5, 7.5–10, 10–12.5, and 12.5–15 cm. Treatments included an unfertilized check and a combination of increased rates of nitrogen (N) in addition to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) application across all study locations. It was found that stratification occurred for all soil acidity parameters tested in the study, with higher OC and AlKCl, and lower pH near the soil surface. Patterns of soil pH and OC stratification were generally related to the rate of annual N fertilization. The long-term N fertilization significantly reduced soil pH in the topsoil (0–15 cm) and stratified soil layers, especially at the higher application rates. Regardless of the soil sampling depth, pH decrease was significantly related to the amount of N applied. Also, N fertilization significantly increased AlKCl and Al% but decreased the sum of Ca2++Mg2++K++Na+ both in the whole topsoil or layers. AlKCl and Al% were increased exponentially and linearly with increasing N rate and were for 0–15 cm and stratified layers, respectively. AlKCl was exponentially (inversely) related to soil pH for both sampling methods. Nitrate (NO3) was inversely related to soil pH until up to 21.9 ± 2.6 mg NO3N kg−1. Although not at the same magnitude, non-fertilized plots were likewise stratified for the tested parameters, which indicates other effects of NT on the stratification rather than the fertilizer addition. Overall, the buffer index (BI) was lower if the soil is sampled from 0 to 2.5 cm than 0–15 cm. Attention regarding sampling depth in NT areas is essential for accurate soil attributes monitoring.

Comprehensive evaluation of the optimal rates of irrigation and potassium application for strawberry

Accurate and effective management of irrigation and fertilization is essential for efficient greenhouse strawberry production. Here, the effects of the combined application of water and potassium on strawberry growth were evaluated by experimenting with 12 treatments, including four transpiration (ETC)-based irrigation levels (W1: 100% ETC, W2: 85% ETC, W3: 70% ETC, and W4: 55% ETC) and three potassium levels according to the target yield (K1: 369.5 kg/hm2, K2: 307.9 kg/hm2, and K3: 246.3 kg/hm2). Various indexes of strawberry yield, fruit quality, water and fertilizer utilization efficiency, and soil nutrient residues were measured. Irrigation and potassium application had significant effects on strawberry production. Higher irrigation levels increased yield (Y), and moderate water and potassium application increased single fruit weight (SFW), water utilization efficiency (WUE), total soluble sugar (TSSC), and the sugar-acid ratio (SAR). While low-application of potassium increased the soluble protein content (SP), partial factor productivity of potassium (PFPK), and reduce nutrient residues in soil effectively. A comprehensive system for evaluating strawberry growth and its benefits to the soil environment was developed. The FAHP and CRITIC methods were used to calculate the subjective weight and objective weight of each index, respectively. The largest subjective weight was observed for Y (0.200), and the largest objective weight was observed for soil-available potassium (0.101). The final weight was determined using Game theory; Y had the highest weight (0.185), and free amino acids (FAA) had the lowest weight (0.047). Grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to evaluate the optimal irrigation and potassium scheme for accomplishing multiple objectives. The response of the comprehensive score of strawberries to irrigation and potassium exhibited a negative parabolic relationship, and the effect of irrigation was greater than the effect of potassium application. There was a significant interaction between irrigation and potassium application, and an irrigation amount of 2053-2525 m3/hm2 with a potassium application rate of 288.1-334.2 kg/hm2 was optimal for promoting strawberry yield, fruit quality, and efficiency and reducing soil nutrient residues. The results of this study provide new insights that could aid the development of sustainable approaches for enhancing agricultural production. Keywords: strawberry, irrigation, potassium, FAHP, CRITIC, nutrient residues DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20231602.7591 Citation: Yang X Q, Du R C, Zhang M C, Feng H W, Wang Z Q, Zhang Z. Comprehensive evaluation of the optimal rates of irrigation and potassium application for strawberry. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2023; 16(2): 65-72.

Эффективность возделывания гороха Премьер в зависимости от вносимых минеральных удобрений и норм посева

Purpose: to study the efficiency of cultivation of the variety Premier peas on ordinary chernozem, depending on mineral fertilizers and seed sowing rates. Materials and methods. The experience was laid on the fields of the Department of Agriculture and Crop Production of Federal Rostov Agricultural Research Centre. The objects of research are the elements of pea productivity, yield and protein content in grain, depending on the fertilizers applied and the seeding rate. Statistical analysis of data, records and observations were carried out according to the method of B. A. Dospekhov. Results. The sowing rate influences the el-ements of pea productivity. An increase in the rate to 1.2 million seeds/ha leads to a signifi-cant reduction in the number of formed beans, the number of seeds in a bean, and a decrease in grain weight. Fertilizers did not have a significant effect on the elements of productivity. The introduction of phosphorus and potash fertilizers leads to a significant increase in the yield of peas. The combined application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium leads to a sig-nificant increase in yield when sown 1.0 and 1.2 million seeds/ha. Nitrogen fertilizers do not have a significant impact on the yield of peas. The fertilizers application helps to increase the protein content in the grain. The maximum was obtained in the N₆₀ variant, amounting to 24.8 %. The responsiveness of peas to introduced fertilizers depends on the seeding rate. At the optimal rate of 1.2 million seeds/ha, the highest payback was obtained in the variant with the introduction of 20 kg of a. i. phosphorus and potassium, amounting to 7.7 kg/kg a. i. Conclusions. The best results were obtained when sowing 1.2 million seeds/ha, which pro-vides an opportunity to get the highest conditional net income with high profitability of pro-duction. The maximum conditional net income of 41.7 thousand rubles/ha was observed in the option P₄₀K₄₀, while the profitability of production was 139.39 %, the cost of production was 12.5 thousand rubles/t.

Yield and Forage Quality on Native Meadows as Affected by Burn and Fertilization Management

Native meadows are widely used by producers in southeast Kansas. However, there are few studies about management practices to improve agronomic performance in southeast Kansas. This study evaluated the spring burn effect combined with the application of lime, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on yield and forage quality in native meadows. Yield and forage quality on native meadows were not affected by lime application, or P and K fertilization in the first year of the study. However, N fertilization increased yield, crude protein, and total digestible nutrients when associated with spring burn.

Potassium ameliorates cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fiber length by regulating osmotic and K+ /Na+ homeostasis under salt stress.

Potassium (K) application can alleviate cotton salt stress, but the regulatory mechanisms affecting cotton fiber elongation and ion homeostasis are still unclear. A two-year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of K on the osmolyte contents (soluble sugar, K+ content, and malate) and related enzyme activities during the fiber elongation of two cotton cultivars with contrasting salt sensitivity (CCRI-79; salt tolerant cultivar, and Simian 3; salt-sensitive cultivar). Three K application treatments (0, 150, and 300 kg K2 O ha-1 ) were applied at three soil salinity levels (low salinity, EC=1.73 ± 0.05 dS m-1 ; medium salinity, EC=6.32 ± 0.10 dS m-1 ; high salinity, EC=10.84 ± 0.24 dS m-1 ). K application improved fiber length and alleviated salt stress by increasing the maximum velocity of fiber elongation (Vmax ). The increase rate of K on fiber length decreased with elevating salt stress, and the increase rate of K on Vmax of CCRI-79 was greater than that of Simian3. K application can increase the enzyme activities (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, PEPC, E.C. 4.1.1.31; pyrophosphatase, PPase, E.C. 3.6.1.1; and plasma membrane H+ -ATPase, PM H+ -ATPase, E.C. 3.6.3.14) as well as the content of osmolytes associated with the enzymes mentioned above. K increased the osmolyte contents under salt stress, and the increase in the K+ content of the fibers was much higher than that of soluble sugar and malate. The results of this study indicated K fertilizer application rates regulate the metabolism of osmolytes in cotton fiber development under salt stress, K+ is more critical to fiber elongation.

Agronomic Performances of a Rice Somaclone (RSC2018-1) with Potassium Split Applications

RSC2018-1 is a rice somaclonal line derived from the local aromatic rice cultivar 'Benapole' with a substantially smaller grain size than the mother cultivar. During final field preparation, potassium fertilizer is typically applied in a single dose; however, several scientists have found that split doses of potassium are beneficial for increasing rice grain yield. Thus, the current study aims to assess the impact of potassium split treatments on yield and yield attributes of the rice somaclone RSC2018-1. The experiment was conducted at the experimental Field of Agrotechnology Discipline Khulna University (Southwestern Bangladesh) using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1 ( K: 41 kg ha-1 basal, RDK) (control), T2 (K: 50% RDK, basal), T3 (K: 75% RDK basal and 25% RDK 45 DAT), T4 (K: 50% RDK basal and 50% RDK 45 DAT), T5 (K: 25% RDK basal and 75% RDK 45 DAT), T6 (K: 25% RDK basal, 25% RDK 15 DAT and 50% RDK 45 DAT), T7 (K: 50% RDK basal; 25% RDK 15 DAT and 25% RDK 45 DAT). Various data on growth and yield attributes were recorded and statistically analyzed for ANOVA and the means were compared by Tukey’s test with the software Statistix10. The experimental results revealed that the split application of potassium was not very helpful for most of the parameters studied including grain yield and half of the recommended dose of potassium (T2) showed similar results to the recommended dose (T1) and the other treatments except T5. Thus it is recommended to apply potassium @ 20.5 kg ha-1 (T2: 50% RDF, basal) at the final land preparation for the rice somaclone RSC2018-1.

Soil Potassium Effects on Cotton Lint Yield and Fiber Quality on the Texas High Plains

When comparing soil potassium (K) levels common in West Texas to the current Mehlich III-K critical levels for cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), fertilizer K applications are seldom recommended. However, when soil K is applied, positive responses in cotton yield have been reported. Studies were conducted in Lamesa and New Deal, TX to: 1) determine K effects on leaf K concentrations; 2) evaluate whether K application increases crop growth, yield, and fiber quality in sufficient K soils; and 3) evaluate whether K application under water deficit conditions also increases growth, yield, and fiber quality. In Lamesa, muriate of potash (KCl) was applied using two methods, knife-injected (0-0-15) and broadcast (0-0-60); and at New Deal, KCl was applied using knife injection. Potassium application rates included 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha-1 with both high (90% ET) and low (30% ET) irrigation levels. At Lamesa in 2016 at 90% ET irrigation, lint yield was greater when 90 kg K ha-1 was broadcast (2,153 kg ha-1 lint) compared to the 180 kg K ha-1 treatment, and all K treatments with 30% ET irrigation. There were no lint yield differences in 2017 at Lamesa. At New Deal, lint yield was similar amongst all K application rates in both years. Although K application increased yield with the 90% ET irrigation level with broadcast application, no differences were observed in water-deficit cotton suggesting further research is needed to better understand the dynamics of K on lint yield in semiarid cotton production systems.

Effect of potassium application rate on cotton growth and yield under irrigated and dryland conditions

AbstractPotassium (K) deficiency in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) grown on soils with adequate soil test K levels has become more prevalent. Field experiments were conducted with or without irrigation as the main plot and K fertilizer rates as subplot treatments. Granular K was applied preseason at rates of 0, 45, 90, 134, 179, and 224 kg K ha−1. Two in‐season foliar K programs applied a total of either 2.8 or 5.6 kg K ha−1 were included to compare against the check. Experiments were set up on two distinct soil mapping units (SMUs) in Starkville, MS, including a Leeper silty clay loam (LSCL; fine, smectitic, nonacid, thermic Vertic Epiaquepts) and a Marietta fine sandy loam (MFSL; fine‐loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Fluvaquentic Eutrudepts). Response variables collected include lint yield and fiber quality, leaf K concentrations, and cotton growth and development parameters. Across all years of the experiment, LSCL lint yields increased at a rate of 41 and 118 kg ha−1 per 45 kg K ha−1 under rainfed and irrigated conditions, respectively. On the MFSL, lint yield increase was not significant for either rainfed or irrigated conditions. Leaf K concentrations at first bloom and 4 weeks after first bloom responded quadratically to K rate, with peak leaf K concentrations occurring between 134 and 179 kg K ha−1. Differences in cotton growth parameters were observed; however, differences were likely physiologically insignificant. For all parameters, foliar K application programs did not differ from the untreated check. This investigation showed that foliar K application alone are insufficient, and responses to granular K and irrigation were dependent on SMUs.

Effect Of Nitrogen And Potassium On Pomegranate Cv. Bhagwa Under Red And Lateritic Zone Of West Bengal

The experiment was conducted with five levels of nitrogen and four levels of potassium per plant with twenty treatment combinations were applied to three years old pomegranate cv. Bhagwa trees at the Regional Research Sub-Station, Sekampur, Birbhum of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal. The highest yield was observed with N60 (4.103 kg/plant). In potassium application the yield /plant varied between 2.96 kg/plant (K0) to 3.664 kg/plant (K40). The combined application of N80K40 resulted in a 28.07 % (212.60g) increase in fruit weight compared to the control treatment (166.00g). The highest number of fruits/plants was recorded in treatment N60 (20.438) and lowest in control (13.688). Significantly maximum number of fruits /plants was noted in K40 (18.550). The highest increase in aril weight and juice weight could be observed with the application of N60K60 treatment. Quality analysis of the fruits showed maximum TSS with the 60 g/plant k. It is concluded that the combined application of N@60g and K@40 g per plant is beneficial in improving the yield and quality of three years old pomegranate plants under the red lateritic zone of West Bengal.

Growth, Productivity, and Quality Traits of Fodder Beet in Response to Potassium Applications and Drip Water Regimes

Growth, Productivity, and Quality Traits of Fodder Beet in Response to Potassium Applications and Drip Water Regimes

Effect of potassium application on yield and quality of green gram (<em>Vigna radiata L</em>.) on coarse textured soils of southern Haryana

Crops need large quantity of potassium for enhancing their yield as well as quality. Pulses are important crops grown in India but their productivity is low. Among production inputs, recommendations for N and P fertilizers are made in most states with no K application resulting in imbalanced nutrient supply and lower crop yields.To quantify optimum dose for green gram ( Vigna radiata L.), a series of field experiments were conducted at Regional Research Station, CCS HAU, Bawal, Haryana, to assess the response of green gram to fertilizer potassium on coarse textured (Typic Haplustepts) soils of southern Haryana. After completion of research trials, crop was tested on farmer’s field through demonstrations and on farm trials (OFTs) to evaluate the response and adoptability of green gram as per the fertilizer potassium doses concluded in research experiment. Five levels of fertilizer potassium (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O ha-1) were evaluated for the response of green gram in randomized block design replicated thrice. The results of research trials revealed that the yield, protein content and growth parameters of green gram increased significantly with the application of fertilizer potassium @20 kg K2O ha-1. Significantly higher yield of green gram was recorded (5.87, 16.29, 19.23 and 22.36 %) due to application of 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O ha-1, respectively over control. The total K uptake by green gram increased significantly with the incremental doses of potassium application which helped to prevent the depletion of available soil K and build-up its content in the soil. The mean K use efficiency varied from 38.30 to 54.15 and maximum (54.15 %) was recorded with the application of 20 kg K2O ha-1. The benefit cost ratio was also increased with the application of potassium and reflected in terms of additional returns per rupee (Rs. 10.94, 15.63, 12.17 and 10.72) invested on application of K @ 10, 20, 30 and 40 kg K2O ha-1, respectively. The farmer’s field trial results with 0 and 20 kg K2O ha-1 revealed that application of 20 kg K2O ha-1 increased the yield of green gram by 10.87% over control.