Large Scale Demo Plot Trial Project of Potash Fertilization for Increased Yield and Profitability for Smallholder Soybean Fields in India

Joachim B. Nachmansohn, Patricia Imas, Surinder K. Bansal

Abstract


Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, in spite of concerned efforts towards industrialization in the last three decades. Therefore, the soil quality and fertility are the major factors in crop production. Declining soil fertility is one of the primary factors that directly affect crop productivity, and fertilizer-use is a key factor in order to keep soil fertility and productivity. A major factor in declining soil fertility is potassium (K) depletion, especially on smallholder farms where fertilization decisions are not based on regular soil testing. Most of the smallholder soybean producers do not have access and investment capacity to soil testing services. Therefore, there is a need to create K fertilizer recommendations based on empirically verified knowledge at India-specific scale. Such large-scale studies, in local filed conditions, are currently lacking. In order to bridge this gap, and generate proven set of directly applicable recommendations, a large-scale plot trial was launched; the Potash for Life (PFL) project. The study evaluated the K response in soybean when fertilizing with potash on K depleted soils in local variable field conditions. The aim was to (1) evaluate the effect and response consistency of K application on soybean yield, (2) to demonstrate to farmers the increased yield and profitability from K-inclusive fertilization regimes for this crop and give recommendations for transient yield increase, and (3) to raise the awareness among smallholder farmers about the importance of K fertilization. A comprehensive experiment was carried out in Madhya Pradesh (M.P.) and Maharashtra. The methodology was straight-forward; two identical plots side by side, with the only difference that one of them was fertilized with additional potash. The results showed a significant yield increase response from the potash application; the average yield increase was 244 kg ha-1 or 26 % in M.P., and 105 kg ha-1 or 36 % in Maharashtra. This entailed an average additional net profit of ₹ 6,681 INR ha-1 and ₹ 2,544 INR ha-1, in M.P. and Maharashtra respectively. It was concluded that the soil status of plant available K is significantly lower than the plant demand for soybean production in the two states, Consequently, K fertilization is necessary in order to improve agricultural practices and optimizing yields. Ultimately, following recommendations given in this study would allow farmers to generate additional profit, which could further allow them to invest in fine-tuning fertilizer practices through the means of soil testing.


Keywords


soil-fertility; potassium; fertilizer; yield increase; fertilizer-use; Madhya Pradesh; Maharashtra

References


Bhangoo, M.S., & Albritton, D.J. (1972). Effect of Fertilizer Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium on Yield and Nutrient Content of Lee Soybeans 1. Agronomy Journal, 64(6), 743-746.

https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1972.00021962006400060010x

Chand, R. (2007). Agro-industries characterization and appraisal: soybeans in India. AGSF Working Document (FAO).

Chen, F., Lu, J.W. & Wan, Y.F. (2000). Effect of Long-Term Potassium Application on Soil Potassium Content and Forms. Acta Pedologica Sinica 37(2), 233-241.

Dwivedi, A.K., Singh, M., Kauraw, D.L., Wanjari, R.H. & Chauhan, S.S. (2007). Research Bulletin on 'Impact of fertilizer and manure use for three decades on crop productivity and sustainability, and soil quality under Soybean - Wheat System on Vertisol in Central India'. p.1-51.

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2016). Empirics of soybeans stocks in India: Trade perspective. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/rap/files/meetings/2016/161109_AMIS_4.3-Empirics__of_Soybeans_Stocks_in__India_-_Trade_Perspective.pdf(accessed 12.12.2018).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2018). FAO in India.[WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/india/en/(accessed 04.01.2019).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2005). Fertilizer use by crops in India. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/009/a0257e/a0257e07.pdf(accessed 18.09.2018).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2004). The role of soybean in fighting world hunger. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/3/a-bs958e.pdf(accessed 12.12.2018).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2016). Empirics of soybeans stocks in India: Trade perspective. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/rap/files/meetings/2016/161109_AMIS_4.3-Empirics__of_Soybeans_Stocks_in__India_-_Trade_Perspective.pdf(accessed 12.12.2018).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2018). FAO in India. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/india/en/(accessed 04.01.2019).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2005). Fertilizer use by crops in India. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/tempref/docrep/fao/009/a0257e/a0257e07.pdf(accessed 18.09.2018).

Food and agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO), (2004). The role of soybean in fighting world hunger. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.fao.org/3/a-bs958e.pdf(accessed 12.12.2018).

Hasan, R. (2002). Potassium status of soils in India. Better Crops Int, 16(2), 3-5. Chand, R. (2007). Agro-industries characterization and appraisal: soybeans in India. AGSF Working Document (FAO).

Open Government Data (OGD) platform India. (2019). District-wise, season-wise crop production statistics. Available online: https://data.gov.in/resources/district-wise-season-wise-crop-production-statistics-1997 [Accessed 20/05/2019].

Pettigrew, W. T. (2008). Potassium influences on yield and quality production for maize, wheat, soybean and cotton. Physiologia plantarum, 133(4), 670-681.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3054.2008.01073.x

Prasad, R., Power, J. F. (1997). Soil Fertility Management for Sustainable Agriculture.CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida.

Prasad, R., Power, J. F. (1997). Soil Fertility Management for Sustainable Agriculture.CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Florida.

Singh, M., and Wanjari, R.H. (2012). Potassium responses and requirement of crops grown in Vertisols: Experiences from Long Term Fertilizer Experiment. Indian Journal of Fertilizers 8(3), 26-32.

The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), (2018). Soybean Production by State. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.sopa.org/statistics/soybean-production-by-state/(accessed 12.12.2018).

The Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA), (2018). Soybean Production by State. [WWW document]. URLhttp://www.sopa.org/statistics/soybean-production-by-state/(accessed 12.12.2018).

Ved, P., Kundu, S., Ghosh, B. N., Singh, R. D., Gupta, H. S., & Prakash, V. (2002). Yield response of soybean (Glycine max) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) to potassium and changes of potassium status in the soil after long-term sequential cropping (No. RESEARCH).

Wallace, A. (2008). Soil acidification from use of too much fertilizer. Com. Soil Sci. Plant Analysis. 25, 87-92.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00103629409369010

Wallace, A. (2008). Soil acidification from use of too much fertilizer. Com. Soil Sci. Plant Analysis. 25, 87-92.

https://doi.org/10.1080/00103629409369010

Yin, X., & Vyn, T. J. (2003). Potassium placement effects on yield and seed composition of no-till soybean seeded in alternate row widths. Agronomy Journal, 95(1), 126-132. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2003.0126


Full Text: PDF XPS

DOI: 10.33687/ijae.007.02.2844

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2019 Joachim B. Nachmansohn, Patricia Imas, Surinder K. Bansal

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.