Effect of nitrogen and potassium fertigation schedules on physiological parameters and soil available nutrient status

A field experiment was conducted at Water Technology Centre, College farm, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during rabi 2017-18. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with three replications and nine treatments; Basal dose of 90 kg P2O5 ha-1 through single super phosphate was applied to all the treatments by manual application. N fertilizer for (T2 and T9) were applied to soil in three equal splits at basal, 30 and 50 DAS and K fertilizer was applied to soil as basal at the time of sowing. Fertigation was imposed at 16 DAS to 88 DAS and completed in 19 and 10 splits in 4 and 8 days interval respectively. Drip irrigation was scheduled (T1 to T8, except T9) once in 2 days based on daily data of USWB class ‘A’ pan evaporimeter and furrow irrigation (T9) was at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio with 50 mm irrigation depth in furrows in between paired rows (80 cm/40 cm). The amount of total irrigation water applied was 3188 m3 and 4666 m3 in drip irrigation and furrow irrigation treatments, respectively. N and K with 4 days interval (T7) have recorded higher plant growth parameters and the lowest was recorded in control (T1). The available N and P content at final harvest was found to be not significantly influenced by different treatments but K content was significantly influenced by different treatments.