Comparative effect of potassium chloride and potassium sulfate on the yield and protein content of wheat in three different rotations

Abstract

Comparative effects of potassium chloride and potassium sulfate at various levels of potassium on the performance of ARZ variety of wheat were studied at Agriculture Research Station Dera Ismail Khan, N.W.F.P., Pakistan. The experiment was laid out in three different rotations viz, rice-wheat, maize-wheat and fallow-wheat. Potassic fertilizers were applied at the rate of 0, 37, 74, 111 and 148 kg k/ha alongwith the basal dose of 135 kg N plus 44 kg P/ha.Wheat yield data showed that the application of 37 kg K/ha of potassium chloride was found better in case of rice-wheat and fallow-wheat rotation and 37 kg K/ha of potassium sulfate for maize-wheat rotation. On the average of the three rotations, potassium sulfate at the rate of 74 kg K/ha (90kg K20/ha ) was found better and economical. Both the sources were almost equally effective but potassium sulfate out-yielded potassium chloride. Protein content of grains was significantly increased due to K application irrespective of the source and potassium sulfate was found with significantly higher protein content than potassium chloride.

The potassium paradox: Implications for soil fertility, crop production and human health

“…These consequences are to be expected considering the ample evidence in Table S4 (for the online version of the paper) that KCl inputs are often ineffective for increasing yield, but will be more serious when yield is depressed. The latter effect has indeed been observed, and was significant in field studies with corn 38,144,148,192 , soybean 120,125,131,175 , wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) 186 , sugarbeet (Beta vulgaris L.) 139 , sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) 127 , alfalfa 145 , peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) 109,191 , rape (Brassica napus L.) 176 and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) 166 . In several of these studies, the loss of yield was intensified by increasing the rate of KCl application 38,109,120,125,175,192 , and in some cases the higher rate transformed significant yield gain to loss 127,186 .…”

“…4 Values take into account number of genotypes studied. with several other crops, including alfalfa 160 , soybean 266 and wheat 186,267 . Tables 4 and 5 (see also Tables S4 and S5 for the online version of the paper) provide little agronomic justification for the buildup-maintenance philosophy that for several decades has intensified the input of fertilizer K, often in conjunction with direct or indirect subsidies at considerable public expense 268,269 (see also supplemental references [60][61][62] for the online version of the paper).…”

The influence of different forms and concentrations of potassium nutrition on growth and alkaloid metabolism in Catharanthus roseus seedlings

“…But researches had shown that K was essential for many physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, translocation of photosynthates into sink organs, maintenance of turgescence, enzymatic activation, or decreasing excess ingestion of ions like Na and Fe in saline and flooded soils (Ashraf et al 2011). It also had been reported that additional phosphorus and K had become essential now for getting profitable yields of cereals (Bakhsh et al 1986).…”

Split Application of Potassium Improves Yield and End‐Use Quality of Winter Wheat

“…Under K‐limiting soil conditions, the application of K fertilizer is known to increase the grain yield of wheat (Chapman and Mason, 1969; Sweeney et al, 2000; Singh and Sharma, 2001). Studies have also reported on wheat responding to K fertilization when the content of available K in soils is high (Bakhsh et al, 1986; Li et al, 2005; Yu et al, 2007). This yield improvement with K fertilization generally occurs due to increased kernel weight (Haeder and Beringer, 1981; Sweeney et al, 2000; Sharma et al, 2005).…”