Abstract:

Potassium (K) is an essential plant nutrient. Several research studies are available on the basal application of K concerned with yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Conversely, very limited studies are available on the split application of K. During 2018-2019, a field experiment was performed at the Southern Wheat Research Station, Agriculture Research Institute, Tandojam, Pakistan to determine the importance of the right time for K fertilization in wheat. The experiment included 18 plots, each having an area of 12m2 (4m × 3m) involving two cultivars of winter wheat, viz. Benazir and Sindhu, sown in two-factor Randomized Complete Block Design, arranged in a split pattern (main plots = varieties, sub plots = treatments). Three K fertilization levels were tested, i.e. T1 = No K fertilization, T2 = 50 kg K2O ha-1 applied at the time of sowing, T3 = two splits of K, i.e. 25 kg K2O ha-1 applied at sowing and 25 kg K2O ha-1 applied at grain filling stage (top dressing). According to results, the yield components showed a positive enhancement upon split application of K as compared to basal application in terms of significantly higher (p<0.05) number of tillers (10.1 against 8.18), number of grains per plant (548.0 against 374.2), 1000 grain weight (44.7 against 41.9 g), grain yield (4.5 against 4.2 Mg ha-1) and straw yield (8.5 and 8.3 Mg ha-1), and K concentration in grain (0.38 against 0.32%) and straw (0.44 against 0.40%) was recorded for Sindhu and Benazir, respectively. The varietal interaction revealed that Sindhu was significantly different as compared to Benazir. These results advocate that the split application of K is better for obtaining the higher yield of wheat, especially Sindhu.

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