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Soil Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium Status: Concern for Rice Production in Bangladesh Under Unfavorable Ecosystems

Jatish C. Biswas
Soil Science division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

Md Mozammel Haque*
Soil Science division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

P. K. Saha
Soil Science division, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Unfavorable ecosystems in Bangladesh are under intense pressure of crop production and climate change impact; although the relationships of indigenous soil nutrients ratios with crop performance are yet to be fully explored. Experiments were conducted under submergence and cold prone areas (agricultural ecological zone, AEZ-3), drought and cold prone areas (AEZ-26), non-saline tidal flood ecosystem (AEZ-13), char and saline prone ecosystem (AEZ-18) and haor ecosystem (AEZ-21) for evaluating rice grain yield with native nutrients ratios. Synergistic and antagonistic relationships were observed in different AEZ depending on indigenous nutrient ratios. The K:Ca and K:Mg ratios were playing significant negative role in AEZ-18 for wet season rice yield; but K:Ca played synergistic role in AEZ-3 and AEZ-26. In dry season, K:Ca ratio was acting antagonistically in AEZ-3 and AEZ-13 and K:Mg in AEZ-13. The ratio of K to Ca was acted positively for dry season Boro rice production in AEZ18 and AEZ-26. Similarly, K:Mg ratio was playing synergistic role for Boro rice yield in AEZ-3, AEZ-18 and AEZ-26. Application of fertilizers improved dry season rice yield significantly in all AEZ except AEZ-18 compared to indigenous soil fertility. It is concluded that indigenous soil nutrient ratios play a vital role in improving rice yield under unfavorable ecosystems in which more K fertilizer need to be applied for satisfactory rice yield in dry season.

Keywords: Agricultural ecological zone; Native nutrient ratio; Rice yield.

Location:

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Fertilizer, Rice

Objectives:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of native soil nutrient concentrations and ratios on rice yield under unfavorable ecosystems in Bangladesh for sustainable use of those ecosystems.

Methodology:

2.1 Site Description: 2.1.1 Char and saline prone ecosystem (AEZ-18) About 1.0 million hectares (M ha) land of Bangladesh is affected by varying degrees of salinity, which is increasing because of sea level rise and reduced upstream flow. Crop production in this area is dominated by local wet season rice and farmers generally harvest 2 t ha-1 grain yield. In dry season, land remains mostly fallow. Lack of adequate salinity tolerant varieties as well as lack of appropriate fertilizer management technologies hinders total land productivity. 2.1.2 Submergence and cold prone area (AEZ-3) It covers about 2.6 million hectares of land area. The devastating flood causes considerable loss of rice crop. The average yield of rice under flood-prone ecosystem is very low (2.5 t ha-1 ) due to lack of technologies on flood tolerant rice varieties and their appropriate fertilizer management packages, etc. Sometimes cold spell damages dry season irrigated rice crop. 2.1.3 Drought and cold prone area (AEZ-26) It is situated in the north-west part of Bangladesh. Drought is very common in this part of the country having 1200-1400 mm mean annual rainfall from June to October. Drought affected area is nearly 2.5 M ha in Kharif (pre-monsoon and monsoon) and 1.2 M ha in dry season. Rice yield is poor due to lack of sufficient water and nutrition management. 2.1.4 Non-saline tidal flood ecosystem (AEZ-13) This ecosystem covers about 1.9 M ha and the average yield of rice under non-saline tidal flood ecosystem is not more than 3.0 t ha-1 due to lack of technologies on appropriate fertilizer management packages, varieties, etc. 2.1.5 Haor ecosystem (AEZ-21) A haor is a wetland ecosystem in the north-east part of Bangladesh. The total area in this ecosystem is 80,000 square kilometers. Most of this area remains under water for 5-7 months of the year. In dry season, most of the water drains out leavin small shallow lakes completely dry out by the end of dry season. This exposes rich alluvial soil, extensively cultivated for rice. 2.3 Fertilizer Application One-third N and all other inorganic fertilizers were applied at final land preparation. The first top dress (One-third N) was applied at 20 DAT. The rest 1/3 N was applied at 5-7 days before panicle initiation stage after drainage out of flood water. Necessary intercultural operations were done as and when ever required. At maturity, the crop was harvested from 5 m2 area at the center of each plot and grain yield was adjusted to 14% moisture. The grain and straw yields were recorded. Nutrient contents (N, P and K) from plant samples of the cropping pattern were determined by standard laboratory procedure. 2.3.1 Soil sample collection, analyses and interpretation A total of 125 composite soil samples (10 samples/spot) were collected from the surface layer (0-20 cm depth) from five AEZs (3, 13, 18, 21 & 26). Soil samples were collected from 25 farmers’ fields at each location. Land type, soil series and land use were recorded. Soil samples were analyzed for exchangeable Ca, Mg and K following standard methodology. Optimum limits of nutrients were determined according to Ahmed et al.. Desirable and minimum levels of studied nutrients were determined based on existing literatures [15, 16]. Ratios of studied nutrients were found out and their relationships were established with grain yields. 2.4 Statistical Analysis Means for rice yield and soil properties were compared by using Tukey’s HSD method. Fisher’s protected least significant difference (LSD) was calculated at the 0.05 probability level for making treatment mean comparisons.

Source of Information: New Perspectives in International Plant and Soil Research Vol. 1 Chapter 4; Print ISBN: 978-81-940613-9-7, eBook ISBN: 978-93-89246-29-2

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.9734/bpi/npipsr/v1

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Nutrient management requires understanding of soil nutrients behavior for optimizing rice yield through the adoption of fertilizer and other management practices. We have observed very much unfavorable K:Ca, K:Mg and Mg:K ratios in all tested locations of Bangladesh that were playing a pivotal role in rice production. Although it is not possible to maintain ideal cation ratios in soils, it is necessary to amend soils with chemical or organic nutrient sources in such a way that it creates a synergistic soil-plant environment for profitable crop production in unfavorable ecosystem of Bangladesh.

Knowledge Management: Journal, Book