EFFECT OF SPLIT APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM ON GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF FCV TOBACCO GROWN UNDER KARNATAKA LIGHT SOILS

Abstract

Among the major plant nutrients, potassium plays a fundamental role in increasing the leaf size, colour, yield and quality of FCV tobacco. The field experiments was conducted at ICAR-CTRI Research station, Hunsur farm on sandy loam soils during the kharif crop seasons of 2014-15 to 2016-17 to evaluate two levels of K application (90 kg and 120 kg/ha) with 4 split applications (10, 25, 40 and 55 Days after transplanting (DAT)). All the K applied treatments (90 or 120 kg/ha) with more than one split application of K recorded higher productivity of both cured leaf yield (CLY) and top grade equivalent (TGE) compared to single split application of K. The increase in the cured leaf yield and top grade equivalent due to maximum no. of splits application (4 times) ranged from 5.0-7.0% and 9.0-14.0% respectively in different years over the presently recommended K application with only two splits. The maximum yield was recorded at 120 kg /ha applied in 4 splits (10, 25, 40 and 55 DAT) and was comparable with 4 split applications of K @ 90kg /ha. The K content increased by more than 30% by K application in 4 splits over no K (control) and by 10% over single split application and by 7% over the recommended 2 split application of K indicating the improvement in the leaf K content which will play a greater role in enhancement of leaf quality both physically and chemically. The study has revealed enhanced bright grade production and increased leaf K of FCV tobacco by applying the recommended quantity of potassium in 3-4 splits with the scope to further economize the total quantity of potassium to an extent of 25% under sandy loam conditions of KLS.