PLIT APPLICATION OF MURIATE OF POTASH AND SULPHATE OF POTASH ON GROWTH, YIELD ATTRIBUTES, UPTAKE AND AVAILABILITY OF NUTRIENTS IN LOWLAND RICE CV. PY-5

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in Typic Chromusterts of the experimental farm of the Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India to study the split application vis-a-vis customary full dose/basal application of different Potassic fertilizers viz: muriate of potash (MOP) and sulphate of potash (SOP) on rice. The soil was low in available N, medium in available P, high in available K and low in available S. Results showed that split application of potassium was found to be better than entire basal application. Application of 50 per cent K2O each at tillering and panicle initiation stages increased the growth and yield attributes of rice and N, P, K and S uptake. Similarly it has a positive impact on available potassium and sulphur. However, available nitrogen and phosphorus was higher in treatment where the entire application of K was done as basal. Among the sources tried, MOP was superior to SOP.