Effect of different sources of potassium fertilization on wheat production and fertility of calcareous soil [electronic resource].

Includes references.

Calcareous soil is relatively poor in plant nutrients and organic contents. Such great problem may be solved by applying organic manure and inorganic minerals. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted during (2007/2008- 2008/2009) to study the effect of different sources of K on soil fertility, chemical properties, wheat yield and quality at Al-galaa location, west of Nubaria (calcareous soil). Potassium sources were (K2S04 ) as a mineral source, Feldspar (F) as a natural source, K-humate (KH) as an organic source, Feldspar inoculated with potassium dissolving bacteria (FB) and Feldspar +K humate (FKH). The obtained results indicated that application of different source of potassium significantly decreased soil pH, EC and increased the organic matter content. Also, the role of potassium sources on K forms takes the following descending order: available > exchangeable > water soluble regardless of potassium treatments. Available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were increased significantly due to K sources compared the control treatment. The addition of feldspar enriched with potassium humate (FKH) increased both straw and grain yields and decreased the plant harvest index (HI). Protein (%) in wheat grains and protein yield (Kg / fed) were increased significantly as affected by sources in the descending order of: FKH > KH > FB > K> F. Also, there was positively clear superiority for all treatments over the control for K, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in both grains and straw yields. Relative agronomic efficiency (RAE) and apparent K recovery (AKR) were significantly enhanced by the application of FKH fertilizer treatments.

Summary in Arabic.

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