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Increasing Yield of Maize Through Potash Fertilizer Management in Saline Soil

Mohammad Asadul Haque
Department of Soil Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Soil salinity is a serious abiotic stress which restricts the crop growth in saline soil. In spite of having huge effort globally, still there is a limited success in developing technology for sustainable saline soil management. The present experiment aimed at reducing the detrimental effect of salt on crops by judicious use of K fertilizer in saline soils. The experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2017 in farmers’ field of Tajepara village of Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. It was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications, each plot size being 5 × 3 m. There were nine treatments, namely control or K omission (T1), next four treatments consisting of 100% recommended K fertilizer dose (RKFD) (T2), 125% RKFD (T3), 150% RKFD (T4) and 175% RKFD (T5) which were applied as basal; another four treatments having 100% RKFD (T6), 125% RKFD (T7), 150% RKFD (T8) and 175% RKFD (T9) applied in two equal splits- one half as basal and one half at 55 days after sowing. The test crop was maize and the variety was ACI Hybrid maize (Don 111). The results revealed that salinity mostly affected reproductive growth, not vegetative growth. Application of K fertilizer significantly reduced the deleterious effect of soil salinity. The K fertilizer
recommendation (100% RKFD) as outlined in FRG-2012 was found insufficient, a 25 % higher rate was found as the best for achieving higher yield of maize in saline soil. Split application (half basal+half at 55 DAS) of K was found better than single basal application. The 125% rate of K application is therefore recommended for growing maize in coastal saline soils of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Maize, Na-K ratio, Potash, Soil salinity

Location: The farmers’ field at Tajepara village of Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district, Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-01-2017

End Date: 00-12-2017

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Soil salinity, Maize, Fertilizer

Objectives:

To increase crop production through reduction of salt effect by application of K fertilizer and to develop K fertilizer management technologies for saline soils in southern coastal region of
Bangladesh.

Methodology:

The experiment was carried out during rabi season of 2017 in farmers’ field at Tajepara village of Kalapara upazila under Patuakhali district, Bangladesh. Experimental field was a medium high land under the AEZ 13 (Ganges Tidal Floodplain). Texturally the soil was loam having 26.9 % sand, 52.5 % silt and 20.6 % clay. The initial soil that collected in January 2017 contained 5.6 pH, 1.14 % organic matter, 0.09 % total N, 8.5 mg kg^-1 available P and 36.2 mg kg^-1 available S, and 30.5 and 25.8 mg kg^-1 exchangeable K and Na, respectively. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications, each plot size being 5 × 3 m. There were nine treatments: K control or K omission (T1), the next four treatments consisting of 100% recommended K fertilizer dose (RKFD) (T2), 125% RKFD (T3), 150% RKFD (T4) and 175% RKFD (T5) which was applied only as basal; another four treatments having 100% RKFD (T6), 125% RKFD (T7), 150% RKFD (T8) and 175% RKFD (T9) were applied in two equal splits- one half as basal and one half at 55 days after sowing. The test crop was maize and the variety was ACI Hybrid maize (Don 111). A blanket dose of N, P, S, Zn and B fertilizer were applied @ 200, 50, 45, 4 and 2 kg ha^-1, respectively for proper nutrition of the crop. The fertilizers used were urea (46% N), TSP (20% P), KCl (50% K), gypsum (18% S), zinc sulfate (23% Zn) and boric acid (17% B). In the experiment the 100 kg K/ha rate was regarded as 100% recommended K fertilizer dose (FRG, 2012). Basal application of P, S, Zn and B were made during final land preparation. Nitrogen was top dressed at 3 equal splits – during final land preparation and 30 and 55 days after sowing. Potassium fertilizer was applied according to the treatments and layout. The maize seeds were sown on 14 January 2017 maintaining a spacing of 60×25 cm. Seeds were sown following dibbling methods in line. Two weeding cum earthing-up followed by irrigation was made after urea fertilizer application. All crop protection measures were taken to prevent insect and disease. The yield and yield contributing data were recorded on 4 m²area of harvest in each plot. Observation was made in terms of growth, yield and yield components. Data recorded on crop characters were subjected to statistical analysis through computer based statistical program STAR (Statistical Tool for Agricultural Research, 2013) following the basic principles, as outlined by Gomez and Gomez (1984). Grain and straw samples were chemically analyzed for determination of K and Na content. The oven dry (65°C) plant samples were digested in nitric-perchloric acid solution (3:1) at 185°C. The K and Na concentrations in the acid digest were determined directly by flame photometer (Yoshida et al., 1976).

Source of Information: J Bangladesh Agril Univ 18(2): 362–366, 2020

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.5455/JBAU.76119

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Potassium fertilizer makes plants tolerant to salt stress. The recommendation (100% RKFD) as stated in FRG-2012 could be sufficient for vegetative growth, however 25% extra K application would help achieving higher grain yield of maize in saline soil. The two split application of K showed better performances than sole basal application.

Knowledge Management: Journal