The Effect of potassium fertilization on growth and potassium recovery efficiency in soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Lattakia University during 2023\2024 using Triticum aestivum L. c.v. Sham 10, to study the effects of different potassium levels on growth and potassium recovery in wheat. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design replicated three times. The experiment included 7 levels of potassium fertilization 50% K2O (K0=0, K1=25, K2=50, K3=100, K4=150, K5=200, K6=250 mg K\ Kg soil) as potassium sulfate (50% K2O).

The increase in potassium fertilization led to an increase in straw yield which ranged between 12 to 16.2 ton/ha, the lowest yield was in the control treatment while the highest was in K250 treatment.

The results also showed a significant increase in grain yield with the increase of potassium fertilizer addition. The highest value found in K200 treatment (12.7 ton/ha), constitutes a rate of increase 38.7% compared to the control (9.2 ton/ha).

The calculation of potassium recovery efficiency (RE%) showed a high value of (183.4%) in the K25 treatment. This value decreased with increasing level of potassium fertilizer to reach its lowest value in K250 treatment (61.67%).