Dynamics of potassium concentration in paddy field water, soil and plant affected by potassium fertilizer levels
摘要
Potassium (K) is an indispensable nutrient for enhancing both the quality and yield of rice crops. Optimizing K management in paddy fields is crucial for boosting crop production, reducing K losses and improving K utilization. A 2 year field experiment with five K levels (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg ha–1, designated as K0, K50, K100, K150, and K200) was conducted to study the effects of K fertilization on K concentration in field ponding water (FPW), soil K content and K uptake by rice for maximizing K utilization. Results (average for 2 years) indicated that compared with K0, K fertilization increased rice yield and K uptake by 18–32% and 80–339%, respectively. Rapid K accumulation occurred 20–60 days after transplanting, accounting for 68–73% of maximum uptake across different application rates. The NH4OAc-extractable soil K content increased with K fertilization from 0 to 20 days after transplanting, and peaked at the prime tillering stage. Compared with K0, the NH4OAc-extractable soil K content increased by an average of 41–117% across all other K treatments. K fertilization increased K concentration in the FPW, peaking on the first day after application and gradually decreasing. The first 10 days post-fertilization were critical for controlling K losses through surface runoff. It is recommended to improve K utilization through optimizing K fertilizer application rates, timing of fertilizer application and water management in paddy fields.
Graphical abstract