Effect of zeolite and potassium application on changes in soil properties after harvest of maize
K Navya, SR Shelke and S Gowtham
The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of zeolite and potassium application on Changes in soil properties after harvest of maize. The field experiment was conducted at Post Graduate Institute, Research Farm, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, M.P.K.V., Rahuri, during of summer 2022. The experimental site was medium deep black, clayey in texture, having a bulk density of 1.35 Mg m-3, particle density of 2.65 Mg m-3, slightly alkaline in reaction, low in electrical conductivity and medium in organic carbon and calcium carbonate content. The soil was low in available nitrogen, medium in phosphorus and very high in potassium content. However, soils were sufficient in available micronutrients viz., Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu.
The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments were T1: Absolute control, T2: GRDF 120:60:40 N, P2O5, K2O + 10 t FYM ha-1, T3: Zeolite @ 400 kg ha-1, T4: Zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1, T5: Zeolite @ 400 kg ha-1 + 50% K2O of RDF (20 kg ha-1), T6: Zeolite @ 400 kg ha-1 + 75% K2O of RDF (30 kg ha-1), T7: Zeolite @ 400 kg ha-1 + 100% K2O of RDF (40 kg ha-1), T8: Zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1 + 50% K2O of RDF (20 kg ha-1), T9: Zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1 + 75% K2O of RDF (30 kg ha-1), T10: Zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1 + 100% K2O of RDF (40 kg ha-1). The recommended doses of N and P2O5 and FYM @ 10 t ha-1 are the same for all treatments as per RDF except T1.
The soil physical properties viz., bulk density, porosity and hydraulic conductivity and chemical properties viz.,OC, CaCO3 and CEC were significantly influenced by the application of different levels of zeolite and potassium after harvest of maize.
The soil available nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium (N, P, K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu) were significantly influenced by the application of different levels of zeolite and potassium after harvest of maize. Significantly, the highest available N, P, K (216.77, 16.04 and 436.40 kg ha-1 respectively) and DTPA extractable micronutrients Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu (4.26, 6.95, 0.49 and 1.59 mg kg-1 respectively) were observed in treatment T10 i.e., zeolite @ 600 +100% K2O of RDF (40 kg ha-1) over the rest of treatments except T9 i.e., zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1+ 75% K2O of RDF which was statistically at par. Application of zeolite and potassium influenced the soil properties and availability of nutrients in Inceptisol.
K Navya, SR Shelke, S Gowtham. Effect of zeolite and potassium application on changes in soil properties after harvest of maize. Int J Res Agron 2024;7(3):95-100. DOI: 10.33545/2618060X.2024.v7.i3b.391
