EFFECT OF SPLIT APPLICATION OF POTASH FERTILIZER ON MAIZE AND SORGHUM IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study was conducted in National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad during autumn 2007. In this study Maize hybrid (Pioneer 3062) and sorghum hybrid (Pioneer MR-Buster) were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications having a plot size of 5m x 3m. Plant to plant dis- tance was 25 cm and row to row was 75 cm. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of split doses of potash fertilizer on maize and sorghum. Potash fertilizer was applied @ 0, 60 and 120 kgha -1 K 2 O as single, two split and three split doses at planting, after one month and after two months of planting. The experiment consisted of seven levels (0, 60, 30 + 30, 20 + 20 +20, 120, 60 +60 and 40 + 40 + 40 kgha -1 ). Grain yield in maize and sorghum showed positive rela- tionship with increase in potash levels and increase in its number of split appli- cations. The highest maize grain yield of 8014 kgha -1 was observed in plots where 120 kgha -1 of Potash was used in three splits. While minimum grain yield was recorded in control. In sorghum, maximum grain yield (4356 kgha -1 ) and stalk yield (13422 kgha -1 ) was recorded with the application of 120 kgha -1 of Potash with three splits. All the parameters except plant height had significant effect in both maize and sorghum. Days to 50% silk in maize are significantly affected by potash when compared with control treatment, but there was no significant effect be- tween single, two and three splits. The grain yields of these two crops increased significantly at K 2 O level of 120 kgha -1 with three splits. Level of 120 kgha -1 with