Effect of zeolite and potassium application on nutrient uptake and potassium use efficiency of maize
K Navya, SR Shelke and S Gowtham
The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of zeolite and potassium application on nutrient uptake andpotassium use efficiency 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 Application of zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1 along with the RDF, that is treatment T10 showed significantly highest grain yield (83.22 q ha-1), stover yield (52.89 q ha-1), cob weight (84.22 q ha-1), seed index (38.28 gm) and number of grains per cob (722) over the rest of treatments except T9 i.e., zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1+ 75% K2O of RDF which was statistically at par.
The total uptake of N, P, K and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu) by maize was significantly influenced by the different levels of zeolite and potassium application after harvest of maize. Significantly, the highest uptake of N, P and K (213.30, 23.16 and 140.24 kg ha-1 respectively) and Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu (2548.83, 1210.53, 913.27 and 141.87 mg kg-1 respectively) was observed in the treatment T10 i.e., zeolite @ 600 +100% K2O of RDF (40 kg ha-1) over rest of treatments except T9 i.e., zeolite @ 600 kg ha-1+ 75% K2O of RDF which was statistically at par with T10 in respect to nitrogen and phosphorous but in case of potassium treatment T7 i.e., zeolite @400 kg ha-1 along with RDF is found to be statistically at par with treatment T10. Application of zeolite to hybrid maize found beneficial for increase in nutrient uptake of maize.
K Navya, SR Shelke, S Gowtham. Effect of zeolite and potassium application on nutrient uptake and potassium use efficiency of maize. Int J Res Agron 2024;7(3):101-105. DOI: 10.33545/2618060X.2024.v7.i3b.396
