Organic and Inorganic Integrated Fertilization Improves Non-exchangeable Potassium Release and Potassium Availability in Soil

Potassium (K) plays several key roles in plant metabolism and crop productivity. Non-exchangeable K (NEK) makes K available in soil and to the crops. Impact of integrated use of organic and inorganic fertilizers on NEK release was studied in an ongoing long-term fertilizer experiment (LTFE) under rice-wheat cropping system. The experimental plots in the field were laid out following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with eight treatments and three replications. Addition of K increased the release of NEK, but integrated use of manure with fertilizers increased K release of NEK from soils than the use of inorganic K alone. The maximum NEK (102 x 10(-2) cmol kg(-1) of soil) was released under 100% NPK with Farm Yard Manure (FYM) treatment and the minimum (93.9 x 10(-2) cmol kg(-1) of soil) under 100% NP-treated soils. Four kinetic models, parabolic diffusion, first order, power function, and Elovich, were tested for characterizing K release data and Elovich model provided the best fit (R-2 = 0.96-0.97). Available K status in soils, rice yield, and plant K uptake increased significantly with the increase in NEK release rate. Our research outcomes suggest that the addition of K through integrated fertilization is needed to improve plant nutrition and productivity of the intensive rice-wheat cropping systems.