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POTASSIUM FOR CROP PRODUCTIONIN

LIGHT TEXTURED SOILSOF

SOUTHERN HARYANA

SSSSSatatatatatyavir Syavir Syavir Syavir Syavir Singh ingh ingh ingh ingh YYYYYadavadavadavadavadavSultan SinghSultan SinghSultan SinghSultan SinghSultan SinghAbAbAbAbAbha ha ha ha ha TTTTTikkooikkooikkooikkooikkoo

Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural UniversityRegional Research Station

Bawal (Distt- Rewari) - 123501Haryana, India

2008

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We wish to avail this opportunity to express our gratitude toInternational potash Instiute, IPI , Switzerland for sponsoring the AdhocResearch Project on “Studies on Potash responses to field Crops in lighttextured soils of southern Haryana” and publication of this bulletins entitled “Potassium for crop Production is light textured soils of Southern Haryana.”

We also express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Patricia Imass , Co-coordinator India, IPI, Switzerland and Dr . S.K . Bansal , Director, PRII ,Gurgaon for their keen interest in the implementation of the research projectand publication of this bulletin.

The information contained in the bulletins is based on scientific datagenerated in above mentioned project and will be useful to farmers,researchers, extension workers, students and to all agriculturists.

We express our sincere thanks to Professor and Head Departmentof Soil Science ,CCSHAU, Hisar and Regional Director , RRS, Bawal fortheir coopration and support. We Sincerely acknowledge assistance ofour laboratory and field staff for carrying out the research work.

.

Satyavir Singh Yadav

Sultan Singh

Abha Tikkoo

RRS, BawalDecember, 2008

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CONTENTS

Sl. No. Particulars Page

1. Introduction 1

2. Potassium content of Soil 1-2

3. Role of potassium 3

4. Symptoms of potassium deficiency 4-5

5. Potassium need of crop and cropping systems 5-6

6. Site Characteristics 6-7

7. Potassium responses in cropping systems 7-23

8. Experiments at farmers field 24-27

9. Conclusions 28

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Introduction

Potassium (K) is one of the seventeen elements which are essential for growth

and development of plants. It is a major (micro, primary) plant nutrient because

of large amount in which it is absorbed by plant. The quantity of potassium

absorbed by roots is second to that of nitrogen for most of the cultivated plants.

Potassium in soil is viewed in terms of forms such as structural, non-exchange-

able, exchangeable and water soluble. Also, potassium is readily soluble in

nature. Potassium in soil can move with relative ease to various positions such as

exchange sites on clay colloid, in soil solution, diffuse out toward plant roots to

be absorbed, move up in the plant system or move out of plants tops and roots

back into the soil, be converted into non-exchangeable form or leach out the soil

with drain water.

Potassium content of soilsPotassium content of soilsPotassium content of soilsPotassium content of soilsPotassium content of soils

The potassium content of soil varies depending upon the composition of

parent rocks and minerals from which they are formed, degree of weathering,

climatic conditions and cropping pattern. It has been estimated that in 1980, the

available K status of 82 percent soils of Haryana was high and the remaining

18 percent were medium. But due to intensive cropping, continuous mining and

limited use of K fertilizer the available K status of Haryana soils has decreased.

At present, 7.8, 42.2 and 50 percent of the soils of the state are low, medium

and high in available K status respectively (Fig.1)

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Fig.1: Available Potash Status in Soil of Haryana (2004)

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Role of PotassiumRole of PotassiumRole of PotassiumRole of PotassiumRole of Potassium

The major functions of potassium can be stated briefly as :

· Activation of about 60 enzymes, involved in photosynthesis, metabo-lism of carbohydrates and protein.

· Assistance in the synthesis and translocation of carbohydrates, protein

synthesis, membrane permeability, stomatal regulation and water utili-

zation.

· Improves utilization of nitrogen.

· Improves utilization of sunlight during cool and cloudy period.

· Enhances resistance of plants in many cases to with stand pest, diseases

and stresses as created by drought, frost, salinity, sodicity etc.

· Improves crop quality characteristics in a number of crops, in addition

to final yield increase.

· In cereal, it stimulates growth due to its effect on cell extension as K is

the most important in organic osmatic component. Larger cells as a

result of adequate K nutrition imply more synthesis of cell wall material.

The thick cell wall provides more tissue stability and improves the resis-

tance of crops against lodging, pest and diseases. In wheat and other

crops, the potassium also influences growth through the formation of

leaf surface which improves the relative growth rate, assimilation rate

of photosynthesis and final yield.

· In coconut, potassium reduces prebearing age of plants and increases

fruit set, nut weight and copra production while in coffee and tea, it

helps to develop a strong frame.

· In banana, it stimulates early shooting, shortens the time of maturity,

increases the number of bunch, finger size, quality flavour, keeping

quality and reduces water uptake.

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Symptoms of potassium deficiencySymptoms of potassium deficiencySymptoms of potassium deficiencySymptoms of potassium deficiencySymptoms of potassium deficiency

The general symptoms of potassium deficiency in plants are as follow-

ing:

· Chlorosis along leaf margins followed by scorching and browning of

tips of older leaves which gradually progress inward.

· Slow and stunted growth.

· Week stalks and susceptibility to lodging, pest, disease, frost etc.

· Low yields.

· Shrivelled grain and in general poor crop quality.

Potassium deficiency in pearlmillet (Bawal, Haryana, India 2005)

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Potassium deficiency in Mustard (Ludhiana, Punjab, India 2006)

Potassium deficiency in Cabbage (Delhi India 1990)

PPPPPotassium need of crops and cropping systemotassium need of crops and cropping systemotassium need of crops and cropping systemotassium need of crops and cropping systemotassium need of crops and cropping system

Earlier, potassium did not receive much attention because of the believe that

our soils were well supplied with potassium. Infact, crop removal of potassium

often equals or exceed that of nitrogen. Upon intensive cropping and continu-

ous cropping with high yielding varieties and with higher dose of N and P

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application with practically very little or no K application, the soils which were

considered to be sufficient in available potash, are developing potassium defi-

ciency in soil. As we know that intensive cropping with high yielding varieties

make considerable demand on the soil nutrient resources, it is, therefore, quite

likely for soils not able to maintain sufficiency in available potash. Hence, the

soils which were rated sufficient in available K have begin to show responses to

K under intensive use of N and P fertilizer. Field crops generally absorb potas-

sium faster than they absorb N or P. Where farmers do not apply potash, the

crops withdraw it entirely from soil reserve. The rate at which soil potassium is

depleted and crop responses to potassium is not the same with different crops

and cropping systems.

The farmers of South-West zone of Haryana are generally not using potassic

fertilizer in field crops. Therefore, to educate the farmers about the importance

of potash application in crop, to study the potash responses in different crop

rotation and to study the potassium uptake by crops and its buildup and deple-

tion in soil, field studies are being conducted since 2002 at farmer's field as well

as the Research Farm of CCS HAU, Regional Research Station, Bawal (Rewari)

- Haryana (India) under IPI Coordination Adhoc Research Project.

Site CharacteristicsSite CharacteristicsSite CharacteristicsSite CharacteristicsSite Characteristics

The South Western part of Haryana consists of arid tracks of the state. Major

part of the zone is receiving rainfall about 300-550mm per annum with less

than 25 rainy days and coefficient of variation is more than 45percent. Tem-

perature variations are quite high touching 48 degree Celsius during summer

and a low as around 0 degree Celsius during winter. Annual potential evapo-

transpiration of 1600 to 1700mm exits and water deficiency of 1200 to 1400mm

is experienced.

The soil of experimental field at RSS, Bawal was loamy sand in texture (Typic

Ustochrept ) and the initial (Kharif 2002) pH2 was 8.56, EC

2 0.21 dS/m,

organic carbon 0.20%, available P 13.34 kg/ha and available K2O 160 kg/

ha.

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POTASSIUM

RESPONSE IN

CROPPING SYSTEMS

POPOPOPOPOTTTTTASSIUM RESPONSE IN CROPPING SYSTEMSASSIUM RESPONSE IN CROPPING SYSTEMSASSIUM RESPONSE IN CROPPING SYSTEMSASSIUM RESPONSE IN CROPPING SYSTEMSASSIUM RESPONSE IN CROPPING SYSTEMS

CLCLCLCLCLUSTERBEAN-MUSTUSTERBEAN-MUSTUSTERBEAN-MUSTUSTERBEAN-MUSTUSTERBEAN-MUSTARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCE

Experimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental Setup

The field experiment was carried out at RRS, Bawal with following treat-

ments in clusterbean (HG-365) and mustard (RH-30) cropping sequence.

Treatments (kg/ha) Clusterbean Mustard

T1 N20

P40

K0

N80

P40

K0

T2 N20

P40

K20

N80

P40

K0

T3 N20

P40

K40

N80

P40

K0

T4 N20

P40

K60

N80

P40

K0

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Results obtainedResults obtainedResults obtainedResults obtainedResults obtained

Result of three years field study indicated that clusterbean and mustard

responded to potassium application. The clusterbean crop responded signifi-

cantly upto 20 kg K2O ha-1 and its residual effect in mustard was significant at

40 kg K2O ha-1 (Fig 2). The seed yield of clusterbean increased by 10.66

percent at 20kg K2O ha-1 whereas increase in mustard seed yield was 7.5

percent at 40 K2O ha-1. The seed potassium uptake in clusterbean-mustard

cropping system also increased with increasing dose of K application (Fig 3).

While studying the K response, it was also evident that available K decreased

from 160 to 153 kg K2O ha-1 under clusterbean-mustard rotation in control (K

0)

after three years of rotation. However, K fertilization increased or maintained the

available K status of soil (Fig 4).

Fig 2 : Effect of potash on seed yield of clusterbean and mustard

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Fig 3 : Effect of potash on seed K uptake of cluster bean and mustard

Fig 4 : Effect of potash on Available K content of soil in cluster bean -

mustard rotation

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PEARLMILLETPEARLMILLETPEARLMILLETPEARLMILLETPEARLMILLET-----WHEAWHEAWHEAWHEAWHEAT CROPPING SEQUENCET CROPPING SEQUENCET CROPPING SEQUENCET CROPPING SEQUENCET CROPPING SEQUENCE

Experimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental Setup

The field experiment was laid out with following treatments with pearlmillet

(HHB-117) and wheat (PBW-343) crop rotation.

Treatments (kg/ha) Pearlmillet Wheat

T1 N90

P60

K0

N120

P60

K0

T2 N90

P60

K30

N120

P60

K0

T3 N90

P60

K60

N120

P60

K0

T4 N120

P60

K0

N150

P60

K0

T5 N120

P60

K30

N150

P60

K0

T6 N120

P60

K60

N150

P60

K0

Information GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation Generated

The five year field study revealed that pearlmillet and wheat crops responded

to potassium application.The pearlmillet crop responded significantly upto 30

kg K2O ha-1 with both levels of N. The increase in grain yield of pearlmillet was

11.61 and 16.65 percent with 90 kg N/ha whereas this increase was 11.67 to

17.46 percent with 120 kg N/ha at 30 and 60 kg K ha-1, respectively over

control (Fig 5). The residual effect of K was also observed in wheat but its effect

was significant at 60 kg K2O ha-1 with 120 and 150 kg N ha-1, respectively.

The increase in wheat grain yield was 7.60 and 7.92 percent with 60 kg K2O/ha

at lower and higher level of nitrogen applied, respectively. The potassium ap-

plication also increased K-uptake by pearlmillet and wheat crops (Fig 6). The

initial mean available potassium status of soil was 160.3 kg K2O/ha which

decreased to 125.9, 141.1 and 151.0 kg K2O/ha with lower N level and to

124.6, 138.3 and 149.7 kg K2O/ha with high N levels, respectively after the

harvest of continuous five years of pearlmillet-wheat crop rotation (Fig 7).

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Fig 5 : Effect of potash on seed yield of pearlmillet and wheat

Fig 6 : Effect of potash on seed K uptake of pearimillet and wheat

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Response of potash in Pearlmillet

K60

Response of potash in wheat

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PEARLMILLETPEARLMILLETPEARLMILLETPEARLMILLETPEARLMILLET-MUST-MUST-MUST-MUST-MUSTARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCEARD CROPPING SEQUENCE

Experimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental Setup

The field experiment was carried out with following treatments in pearlmillet

(HHB-117) - mustard (RH-8812) cropping sequence.

Treatments (kg/ha) Pearlmillet Mustard

T1 N120

P60

K0

N80

P30

K0

T2 N120

P60

K20

N80

P30

K0

T3 N120

P60

K40

N80

P30

K0

T4 N120

P60

K60

N80

P30

K0

Information GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation Generated

The three years field study revealed that pearlmillet-mustard crop rotation re-

sponded to potassium application. The increase in pearlmillet grain yield was

4.80, 9.48 and 14.14 percent 20, 40 and 60 kg kg K2O/ha, respectively over

Fig7 : Effect of potash on available K content in soil in pearimillet - wheat rotation

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control. The residual effect of K on mustard was significant only at 60 kg K2O/

ha . The increase in mustard seed yield was 2.94, 5.18 and 8.30 percent at 20,

40 and 60 kg K2O/ha respectively over control (Fig 8). The potassium applica-

tion also increased the K-uptake by seed of both crops (Fig 9).

Continuous cropping of pearlmillet-mustard crop rotation caused depletion in

soil K in control. However, application of potassium maintained the available K

status of soil (Fig 10).

Fig 8 : Effect of potash on seed yield of pearlmillet and mustard

Fig 9 : Effect of potash on seed K uptake by pearlmillet and mustard

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K60

K0

Response of Potash in mustard

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Fig 10 : Effect of potash on available K content in soil after pearlmillet-

mustard rotation.

WHEAWHEAWHEAWHEAWHEATTTTT-PEARLMILLET CROPPING SEQUENCE-PEARLMILLET CROPPING SEQUENCE-PEARLMILLET CROPPING SEQUENCE-PEARLMILLET CROPPING SEQUENCE-PEARLMILLET CROPPING SEQUENCE

Experimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental SetupExperimental Setup

The field experiment was carried with following treatments in wheat (PBW-

343) - pearlmillet (HHB-117) crop rotation.

Treatments (kg/ha) Wheat Pearlmillet

T1 N120

P60

K0

N90

P60

K0

T2 N120

P60

K30

N90

P60

K0

T3 N120

P60

K60

N90

P60

K0

T4 N150

P60

K0

N120

P60

K0

T5 N150

P60

K30

N120

P60

K0

T6 N150

P60

K60

N120

P60

K0

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Information GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation GeneratedInformation Generated

A five year long experiment on wheat-pearlmillet cropping sequence indicated

that application of K increased the yield of both crops. However the increase in

seed yield of wheat was significant upto 30 K2O kg/ha whereas its residual

effect in pearlmillet was significant at 60 K2O/ha. Addition of 30 K

2O/ha in-

creased the wheat grain by 6.39 and 6.62 percent with 120 and 150 kg N/ha

and pearlmillet grain yield by 6.49 and 5.54 percent with 90 and 120 kg N/ha,

respectively (Fig 11). The results further indicated that K application also in-

creased the K-uptake by both crops (Fig 12). The study on K buildup and deple-

tion revealed that after harvest of five years of wheat-pearlmillet rotation, the

available K status of soil decreased from 158.0 kg K2O/ha to 124.1, 141.7

and 150.9 kg K2O/ha with application of 0, 30 and 60 kg K

2O/ha, respectively

(Fig 13).

Fig 11 : Effect of potash on grain yield of wheat and pearlmillet

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K0

K30

Response of Potash in Wheat

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Fig 12 : Effect of potash on seed K uptake by wheat and pearlmillet.

Fig 13 : Effect of potash on avaliable K content of soil in wheat-pearlmiller

rotation

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Effect of K fertilization on protein content in grain/seed of cropsEffect of K fertilization on protein content in grain/seed of cropsEffect of K fertilization on protein content in grain/seed of cropsEffect of K fertilization on protein content in grain/seed of cropsEffect of K fertilization on protein content in grain/seed of crops

Potassium is known as the 'quality nutrient' because of its important effect

on quality factor like size, shape, colour, taste, shelf life, fiber quality, protein

content. It indirectly improves utilization of N which in turn improves protein

formation. Application of K in clusterbean-mustard, pearlmillet-wheat, wheat-

pearlmillet and pearlmillet-mustard cropping sequence increased the grain /

seed protein content over control. The significant increase in protein content in

clusterbean-mustard was observed at 40 kg K2O/ha; in pearlmillet-wheat at 60

kg K2O/ha; in wheat-pearlmillet at 60 kg K

2O/ha and in pearlmillet-mustard at

40 kg K2O/ha (Table 1).

Table 1.Direct and residual effect of potassium on protein content in

grain/ seed of crop

Crop rotation CD (05%)K0 K30 K60 K0 K30 K60

Pearlmillet (Direct) 9.85 10.75 11.29 10.01 10.93 11.51 0.79Wheat (Residual) 10.62 11.13 11.74 10.86 11.45 11.87 0.81

K0 K30 K60 K0 K30 K60

Wheat (Direct) 10.76 11.3 11.79 10.91 11.56 11.96 0.8Pearlmilllet (Residual) 9.81 10.34 10.95 9.93 10.41 11.07 0.76

K0 K20 K40 K60

Clusterbean (Direct) 27.95 29.2 30.41 31.8 - - 2.41Mustard (Residual) 19.05 19.38 19.79 20.1 - - 0.97

K0 K20 K40 K60

Pearlmillet (Direct) 9.89 10.51 10.95 11.61 - - 0.81Mustard (Residual) 18.96 19.33 19.66 20.11 - - 1.00

Protein content %

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TreatmentK2O (kg/ ha)

Clusterbean Mustard Clusterbean Mustard Clusterbean Mustard0 7.71 13.35 8.13 7.52 172.6 170.620 9.26 15.47 10.82 10.34 174 172.440 18.29 41.73 11.93 11.65 175.8 174

Yield (q/ ha) K-uptake in seed (kg/ ha) Available K2O (kg/ ha)

Experiments at farmer's fieldExperiments at farmer's fieldExperiments at farmer's fieldExperiments at farmer's fieldExperiments at farmer's field

Field experiments were also conducted from 2002 to 2007 at farmer's field in

light textured soils of villages viz. Kosli, Bhurthla, Zahidpur and Karnawas with

medium K fertility status. There were ten field experiments in each of the

clusterbean-mustard, pearlmillet-mustard and wheat-pearlmillet rotations. The

mean values of grain yield, K-uptake and K-fertility status for different treatments

in above mentioned cropping sequence are given in Table 2 to Table 4 .

Table 2. Direct and residual effect of potash on yield, K-uptake and

available K status of soil in clusterbean-mustard rotation (pooled data)

Mean Initial available K2O (kg/ha) = 172.6

Potash application increased mean seed yield, K-uptake and available potash

status. The potash applied at 40 kg K2O/ha was found to be optimum for

clusterbean-mustard rotation.

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TreatmentK2O (kg/ ha)

Wheat Pearlmillet Wheat Pearlmillet Wheat Pearlmillet0 43.25 19.26 21.28 8.30 172.70 166.39

30 46.22 20.14 26.29 9.24 174.00 168.7560 48.12 21.35 32.45 30.33 175.20 170.90

Yield (q/ ha)K-uptake in seed

(kg/ ha)Available K2O (kg/ ha)

TreatmentK2O (kg/ ha)

Pearlmillet Mustard Pearlmillet Mustard Pearlmillet Mustard0 18.28 17.89 7.89 8.83 136.3 133.4

20 19.65 18.33 9.15 11.06 137.3 135.540 20.72 18.7 10.52 12.51 139 137.8

Yield (q/ ha) K-uptake in seed (kg/ ha) Available K2O (kg/ ha)

Table 3. Direct and residual effect of potash on yield, K-uptake and

available K status of soil in pearlmillet-mustard rotation ( pooled

data)

Mean Initial available K2O (kg/ha) = 139.4

The result indicated that potash application @ 20 and 40 kg K2O/ha increase

the mean seed yield, mean K-uptake and mean available potash status. The

potash application @ 40 kg K2O/ha was optimum for pearlmillet-mustard

rotation in medium K status light textured soil (Table 3).

Table 4. Direct and residual effect of potash on yield, K-uptake and

available K status of soil in wheat-pearlmillet rotation (pooled data)

Mean Initial available K2O (kg/ha) = 174.0

In light textured medium in K status, application of 60 kg K2O/ha was found to

be optimum for wheat-pearlmillet rotation in terms of yield, K-uptake and main-

tenance of K fertility in soil. (Table 4)

Potash Gyan Diwas were also organised in Kharif during each year of study in

above mentioned villages to demonstrate the importance and response of pot-

ash in to farmers.

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CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

In light textured, low to medium potash status soils of South Western

Haryana.

" Application of 40 kg K2O/ha was found to be optimum for clusterbean-

mustard crop rotation.

" Application of 60 kg K2O/ha was found to be optimum for pearlmillet-

wheat, peralmillet-mustard and wheat-pearlmillet crop rotations.

" The available K status of soils having medium potash, declined slowly

initially but then drastically with successive year of cultivation/ crop-

ping.

" In coarse textured soils of arid zone which are low to medium in avail-

able potash status, application of potash helped to maintain or im-

prove the soil K fertility status.

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CCS HARYANA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITYRegional Research StationBawal - 123 501, Haryana, India

POTASSIUM FOR CROP PRODUCTIONIN

LIGHT TEXTURED SOILSOF

SOUTHERN HARYANA

INTERNATIONAL POTASH INSTITUTE,Switzerland

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For more information :

International Potash Institute (IPI)Baumgärtlistrasse 17, P.O. Box 569CH-8810 Horgen, SwitzerlandTel: +41 43 810 49 22Fax: +41 43 810 49 25Email: ipi@ipipotash.orgWebsite: www.ipipotash.org

Regional Research Station (RRS)CCS Haryana Agricultural UniversityBawal-123501, HaryanaTelefax: 01284-260507