'K- fertilizer' is being applied in split doses in different ratios in different stages of paddy cultivation. Sometimes farmers applying 'K-fertilizer' as basal. I want to have your valuable suggestions in this regard.
Dear Manas
K is most important mainly
to impart pest and disease resistance,
to reduce lodging effect .
Application of fertilizer totally as basal dose leads to leaching. it leads to unavailability of potassium to crop plant at reproductive stage. Therefore it is best to apply it in 2 splits one as 50 per cent as basal dose and one more at panicle initiation. So if you apply at panicle initiation stage or at panicle emergence stage helps in translocation of sucrose (photosynthates) from source to sink.
Thank you
In dirct seeded rice crop it can be in three equal splits ie., at seedling, tillering and panicle initiatiion. Foliar application of nutrients (1-1.5 percent concentration) at 50 percent heading also gives positive response. The dose of application should be based on the soil nutrient status as straw incorporation can also contribute to K addition. In transplanted crop it is half requirement as basal/ seedling and one forth each in two equal splits at tillering and P.I.
Besides duration of crop, soil texture and soil type is also a important parameter for scheduling K fertilizer in rice. Usually losses of K through leaching is minimal, but in light textured soil especially sandy soil, splitting will be beneficial.