Publications
- Potash fertilization for enhancing the productivity of pearlmillet-safflower sequence under dryland condition
- Large-scale demo plot trial project of potash fertilization for increased yield and profitability for smallholder soybean fields in India
- Response in Maize to Applied Potassium: Results from Field Demonstrations in the States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra
- Effect of Potash Fertilization on Potato Yields in States of West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir
- Fertilizing Indian Rice Plots with Potash
- Assessing the Impact of Balanced Use of Inorganic Fertilizers in Rice-Wheat Cropping System in Bihar
- The Impact of Potassium Fertilization on Sugarcane Yields: A Comprehensive Experiment of Pairwise Demonstration Plots in Uttar Pradesh, India
- Benefits of Potash Fertilization in Rice in Six States of India – Results from Field Demonstrations
- Potash for Life – India, Since 2013
- Nutrition and Health – the Importance of Potassium (in Hindi)
- Potassium – a Nutrient Essential for Life (in Hindi)
- Potassium – the Quality Element in Crop Production (in Hindi)
- Deficiency Poster for Andhra Pradesh
- Tomato brochure for Maharashtra
- Sunflower brochure for Maharashtra
- Sugarcane brochure for Maharashtra
- Soyabean brochure for Maharashtra
- Sorghum brochure for Maharashtra
- Pomegranate brochure for Maharashtra
- Onion brochure for Maharashtra
- Maize brochure for Maharashtra
- Rice brochure for Karnataka
- Potash for Life infographic – results of the first season
- Potash for Life
- Balanced fertilization
- Potash for Life – first season summary
- Apple brochure
- Stone Fruit brochure
- Vegetables brochure
- Sunflower brochure
Effect of Potash Fertilization on Potato Yields in States of West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir
The paper, “Effect of Potash Fertilization on Potato Yields in States of West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir” was published in Indian Journal of Fertilisers 15 (5) : 578-583, May 2019. Authored by Surinder Kumar Bansal, Patricia Imas, Joachim Nachmansohn and Bhisham Pal, the research (part of the ‘Potash for Life’ project) summarizes the benefit to potatoes of applying potash fertilizer.
Abstract
Big plot trial project named ‘Potash for Life (PFL)’ was launched to evaluate the potassium (K) response in potato and demonstrate to the farmers the profitability of its application on the K-depleted soils. A comprehensive experimentation was carried out in West Bengal with 40 pair-wise (adjacent –K and +K) plot trials, and in Jammu & Kashmir with 5 pair-wise demonstration plot trials. Methodology used was simple and straight-forward. Two identical plots side by side (in pair) were selected. One was fertilized with K and other did not receive any K. As revealed by the results, there occurred significant yield increase due to K application in each and every plot-trial. Average yield increase was statistically significant and stable around 3385 kg ha-1 or 10.9 % higher over K control in West Bengal, and 1255 kg ha-1 or 7.2% higher in Jammu & Kashmir. This entailed an additional average profit of Rs. 24,530 and 17,378 ha-1 in West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir, respectively. It is concluded that the soil status of plant available K is sub-optimal in sustaining potato production in West Bengal. Consequentially, K fertilization is a requirement for harvesting optimum potato yields.
Keywords: Potash fertilization, potash for life (PFL), Potato yield, K dose