Soil nutrient balance under influence of differential placement of fertilizer doses and potassium splitting in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

Nutrient management of crops influences the nutrient balance of soil. A faulty nutrient management strategy leading to imbalance in soil nutrient status could adversely affect the crop yields in long term. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different nutrient management strategies on nutrient balance of soil. Nutrient management strategies included K application methods (100% K as basal and 50% K as basal+ 50% split at earthing up), NPK doses (eight doses with each nutrient at 75 and 100% of recommended level) in differential fertilizer placement method (50% fertilizers at 5cm depth in seed furrows and 50% at 10-12 cm depth) along with a farmers’ practice (fertilizer application in seed furrows at 5 cm depth with whole K as basal). Apparent loss of N and P was found higher in whole basal K application treatment while net loss was higher in K split application. But split application of K resulted in higher apparent and net nutrient balance in soil. Among the fertilizer doses 100% NPK dose exhibited the highest net balance of N,P and K. Differential placement of fertilizers with and without K split application resulted in higher apparent and net balance of nutrients in soil. Therefore, split application of K and 100% NPK dose at two different depths (50% at 5 cm in seed zone and 50% at 10-12 cm) can minimize nutrient losses from soil.