Impact of Split Nitrogen and Potassium Applications on Nutrient Content and Uptake in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

An experiment was conducted during the winter (rabi) seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22 at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Budgam- Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir, to evaluate the Nutrient Content (Nitrogen and Potassium) and their uptake by Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as influenced by split application of Potassium and Nitrogen. The experiment was set up in a split-plot design replicated thrice with Potassium splits as main plot factor and nitrogen splits as sub plot factor which resulted in 15 treatment combinations, viz. of potassium @ 30 kg/ha [K1: 100% as basal dose-(RFP); K2: 50% as basal dose + 50% at active tillering; K3: 25 % as basal dose + 75% at active tillering] and 5 treatments of nitrogen @ 120 kg/ha in split ratios of [N1 : 50% as basal + 25% at jointing + 25% at booting stage (RFP); N2:25% as basal dose + 75% at active tillering; N3 : 25% as basal dose +50% at active tillering + 25% at booting; N4 : 50% as basal + 50% at active tillering; N5 : 0% as basal + 75% at active tillering + 25% at booting]. The results of pooled data (2 yrs.) revealed that nutrient content and uptake (nitrogen and potassium) of wheat crop at various phenological stages were significantly more with the application of Potassium in two equal splits in the ratio of 50:50 as compared to the treatment where potassium was applied in one split as 100% basal dose. With the application of potassium in two equal splits (50:50), increase in Nitrogen, Potassium content(%) their uptake and dry matter accumulation by wheat crop was significantly higher as compared to recommended fertilizer application (K1). Application of nitrogen in three splits with reduced basal dose in the ratio of 25:50:25 resulted in an increase of Nitrogen, Potassium content (%), their uptake and dry matter accumulation at all phenological stages by wheat crop and at physiological maturity there was an increase by 2.40%, 7.4%, 10.17 %, 8.83% in Nitrogen, Potassium content (%), their uptake and dry matter accumulation respectively, as compared to recommended practice.