Effect of potassium thiosulphate on changes in soil properties after harvest of cauliflower

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect potassium thiosulphate on chemical properties of alkaline soil classified as a fine montmorillonite hyperthermic family of Vertic haplustepts. The field experiment was conducted at Post Graduate Institute, Research Farm, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, MPKV, Rahuri, during rabi 2019. Experimental soil showed slightly alkaline in reaction, low in bulk density, normal in electric conductivity, medium in organic carbon, normal in calcium carbonate, very low in available nitrogen, low in available phosphorous, very high in available potassium, sufficient in available S and B, sufficient in DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replication and eight treatments The treatment comprised of T1: 100% RDF (100% K2O through MOP as basal) + 0 L ha-1 KTS, T2: 100% RDF (92.67% K2O through MOP as basal) + 15 L ha-1 KTS (7.33%), T3: 100% RDF (85.33% K2O through MOP as basal) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%), T4: 100% RDF (70.67% K2O through MOP as basal) + 60 L ha-1 KTS (29.33%), T5: 100% RDF (85.33% K2O through SOP as basal) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%), T6: 100% RDF (64% K2O through MOP as basal + 21.33% K2O through SOP as top dressing) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%), T7: 100% RDF (42.67% K2O through MOP as basal + 42.67% K2O through SOP as top dressing) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%) and T8: 150% RDF (135.33% K2O through MOP as basal) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%). The KTS was applied through drenching at flower head initiation stage and 10 days later. FYM was added equally to all the treatments @ 10 t ha-1. The results of investigation revealed that, the application of potassium thiosulphate in alkaline soil influenced the soil chemical characteristics. The pH, EC and available S in soil after harvest of cauliflower were significantly affected by the treatment T5 - 100% RDF (85.33% K2O through SOP as basal) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%) after harvest of cauliflower. The result in respect of soil available N, P and K were significantly highest in treatment T8 - 150% RDF (135.33% K2O through MOP as basal) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%) at harvest of cauliflower. The soil available micronutrients (Mn, Zn and Cu) significantly influenced by treatment T8 - 150% RDF (135.33% K2O through MOP as basal) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%) except Fe by treatment T7 - 100% RDF (42.67% K2O through MOP as basal + 42.67% K2O through SOP as top dressing) + 30 L ha-1 KTS (14.67%) at harvest of cauliflower. Application of potassium thiosulphate influenced the soil chemical properties of cauliflower in inceptisol.