Potassium Scenario — A Case Study in the Kapurthala District of Punjab, India

Potassium scenario is changing day by day. Generally it is assumed that in the indo-gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana potassium is in ample amount but latest reports revealed that potassium status starts declining because of it’s excess removal in the exhaustic cropping patteren. At Kapurthala district of Punjab, we analyzed 2026 soil samples in the soil and water testing lab of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and it is reported around 65% of the samples falls in lower status (K<137.5 Kg/ha). In these fields, it is economical to go for Potash application @50 kg/ha. Thus, to demonstrate the effect of potash, we selected 19 fields where potash status is low and laid out our demonstration. The response of grain yield in the treated plots varied from 2.8 to 6.3% as compared to the control plots. Thus, it is strongly advised to apply potassium on the basis of the soil test reports to have the potential yield.