Effect of potassium (K) and potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) growth, yield, quality parameters and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A field experiment entitled Effect of potassium and potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) on growth, yield, quality parameters and nutrient content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Var. GW 366 was conducted on clayey soils of Junagadh having status of low available nitrogen and medium available phosphorus and potassium during rabi season of 2017-18 at Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh. The experiment comprised of 16 treatments having four levels of potassium (K) (0, 30, 45 and 60 kg K2O ha-1) and four levels of potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 lit ha-1) carried out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) replicated at thrice. The experimental results revealed that application of 60 kg K2O ha-1 (K3) with KSB 1 lit ha-1 (KSB2) as soil application promoted growth parameters viz., grain & straw yield, number of effective tillers per meter row, total tillers per meter row, spikelet’s per spike, spike length and also quality parameter like test weight, protein content was found significant influenced by 60 kg K2O ha-1 with KSB 1 lit ha-1 (KSB2) recorded this treatment over the 0 kg K2O ha-1. Potassium content in straw and grain at all stages significantly affected by 60 kg K2O ha-1 with KSB 1 lit ha-1 (KSB2) over control.