EFFECT OF FOLIAR FERTILIZATION OF POTASSIUM ON GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRIENTS CONTENT OF BRRI dhan29 UNDER DIFFERENT SALINITY

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the net house and the Laboratory of Agro-Environmental Chemistry lab of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-[Iangla Agricultural University. Dhaka - 1207 during the Soro season (I)ecember-Junc) of the year 2014-15 to study the reclamation of salinity by potassium fertilization methods. The experiment was completed using 4 salinity levels (0.3.6 and 9 dS m4) and 5 potassium fertilization processes (Ko= no foliar application ofK , K.s = 0.5 mMK foliar application of K. K1 = 1 mMK foliar application of K, Ki.s = 1.5 mMK foliar application ofK, K2 = 2 mMK foliar application of K and 2/3 soil application oftotal Mo? fertilizer in all the treatments). BRRI dhan29 was used as variety. Salinity adversely affected all the growth and yield parameters of BRRI dhan29. Like most of the parameters, the highest 1000-grain weight (21.85 g) was recorded in 0 dS m 1, while highest grain yield (5.375 ton ha4) was recorded in control salinity treatment. The maximum grain yield (3.892 ton ha4) and straw yield (5.532 ton ha4) were recorded from Ko.s and K0 respectively whereas the minimum grain yield (3.357 ton ha4) and straw yield (4.566 ton ha') were found from Ki.s and Kiotreatnient respectively. Use of potassium alleviated the adverse effects of high salinity on rice plant. Most of the growth and yield attributes varied significantly due to the different fertilization processes of potassium. Among them 0.5 mMK. 1.5 mMK and 2.0 mMk foliar spray, 2/3 rd soil application of total Mo? fertilizer gave better perthrmances with the salinity levels of 3, 6. and 9 dS m'. S0K05 gave the highest grain yield (6.187 ton ha4) while ScK1 .s gave the lowest grain yield (1.157 ton haS') .Na content in straw and grain increased with the increase in the salinity level while K content decreased. In this case also, foliar spray along with soil application of Mo? fertilizer performed better while treated with salinity compared to sole foliar spray or soil applications.