Build up and depletion of soil phosphorus and potassium and their uptake by rice and wheat in a long-term field experiment

Summary

In a field experiment initiated at the Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal in 1974 involving rice wheat cropping sequence and NPK fertilizer use on sodic soil (pH 9.2, ESP 32.0), an attempt was made to evaluate the available P and K status of the soil and their uptake by the crops during 1982–83 and 83–84.

Application of P to either or both the crops significantly enhanced the yields of rice and improved available P status of the soil. Wheat yields remained unaffected. Fertilizer N reduced P content in rice but increased P uptake in crops and considerably brought down available P to a level (4.5 ppm) where rice plants showed reduced tillering and phosphorus deficiency. Application of K did not affect the yield of either crop but enhanced its available status in soil and uptake by the crops. Contribution of the non-exchangeable K towards total potassium removal was about 93% in the absence of applied K which decreased to 87% with the use of K. Application of K to both crops resulted in lesser uptake from non-exchangeable form as compared to its application to either crop. Laboratory studies carried out on soils of the experimental plots showed that cumulative K release measured after five successive extractions was higher in K-treated soils as compared to untreated ones. The major difference was only in the first extraction representing the exchangeable K after which release became independent of the available K of the soil.