Abstract
Fertilizers constitute an integral part of improved crop production technology. In countries like Pakistan, the nutrient use is imbalanced, particularly for potash, which is requirement of Pakistan soils, as increasing cropping intensity is continuously exhausting soils of the K reserves. Therefore a field experiment was conducted at Soil Salinity Research Institute, Pindi Bhattian during (2000-2001) in salt-affected (pH 8.6, EC 5.2 dS m" SAR, 24.6 and Kext 86 mg kg") sandy loam soil on wheat to observe its response to applied K-fertilizer. Five treatments (0, 75, 150,225,300 kg KzO ha") were tested in the presence of 140 kg ha"N and 110 kg ha" PzOs. The crop was irrigated with tube well water and all the cultural practices were kept uniform for each treatment. The results indicated that 225 kg ha" KzO application increased significantly number of tillers plant", number of grains spike", 1000-grain weight, grain and straw yield. The highest yield was recorded at 225 kg ha" of potash application. Increase in rate from 225 kg KzO ha' decreased all the growth parameters studied. Potassium application significantly affected uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus in straw as well as grain of wheat. Similarly Application of . potassium significantly affected sodium concentration in both grain and straw of wheat, maximum concentration being at control. Potassium concentration increased by increasing rate of potash application up to 225 kg KzO ha". Post harvest soil tests indicated that there was a build up of K with increasing dose of K fertilizer. Keywords: Wheat, growth, yield, potassium, field condition
