Potassium Releasing Bacteria (KRB) influence on nutrient uptake, soil nutrient status in cotton

A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lam during kharif, 2023 to study the effect of potassium fertilizer doses and potassium releasing bacteria (KRB) on growth and yield of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). The experiment was laidout in a randomized block design with ten treatments replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of T1: control; T2: RDF; T3: RDNP; T4: KRB (Potassium-Releasing Bacteria); T5: RDF +KRB; T6: RDF +KNO3 1% FA (Foliar Application) at 60 DAS; T7: 75% RDK +KRB; T8: 75% RDK +KRB +KNO3 @ 1% (FA) at 60 DAS; T9: 50% RDK +KRB; and T10: 50% RDK +KRB +KNO3 @ 1% (FA) at 60 DAS. The results revealed that the application of RDF +KRB+ KNO3 1% (FA) at 60 DAS (T8) significantly influenced the yield parameters and recorded the maximum seed cotton yield (3013 kg ha-1) and found at par with T5 (2977 kg ha-1), T7 (2879 kg ha-1), T6 (2827 kg ha-1) and T2 (2724 kg ha-1) and found significantly superior over T10 (2205 kg ha-1), T9 (2150 kg ha-1) and T3 (1799 kg ha1). The lowest seed cotton yield (951 kg ha-1) was registered by control plot (T1) and comparable with T4 (1189 kg ha-1). Similarly, the higher nutrient uptake (N, P and K) by the crop was also registered with the application of RDF +KRB+ KNO3 1% (FA) at 60 DAS (T8).