BIOMASS RESIDUE /WOOD ASH AS POTENTIAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR POTASSIUM NUTRITION, YIELD AND QUALITY OF FCV TOBACCO IN KLS

Abstract

Flue Cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco is an important commercial crop grown under rainfed situation during Kharif (May-Sept) season in the Karnataka light soil (KLS) region of southern Transitional Zone in the Indian Peninsular Zone. Among the major plant nutrients, potassium is considered to be of considerable importance in influencing not only crop yields but more importantly the leaf quality and the bright grade production which influences the net reruns and profitability. The field experiments were conducted to assess the possibility of using various crop biomass residue/ wood ashes for supplementation of potassium in FCV tobacco cultivation in red sandy loam soils of KLS during 2013-14 to 2015-16. The various crop residues/wood ashes like Tobacco Stem Ash (TSA), Cotton Stem Ash (CSA), Pigeon Pea Stem Ash (PSA), and Eucalyptus Wood Ash (EWA) alone and in combination with SOP Fertilizer were evaluated for potassium supply, productivity, leaf quality and K uptake in FCV tobacco variety Kanchan. All the treatments supplied with ash or in combination with SOP produced significantly higher dry matter production compared to control (no K application), leaf productivity and the top grade equivalent. The application of various ashes alone or in combination with SOP did not markedly alter the cured leaf quality characters and were in the normal acceptable range. The cured leaf K content showed markedly significant higher K content in all the ash applied treatments. The post harvest soil analysis indicated higher available soil K status in the ash + SOP treatments compared to no K application or ash alone treatments. There is an ample scope for economizing the potassium cost input by integrating the various locally available crop residue/ wood/ barn ash along with SOP for sustaining the tobacco productivity and quality in the light soils of Karnataka.