Potassium application in split can boost up the vegetative growth and economic productivity in direct seeded rice

Potassium (K) deficiency in direct seeded rice is very common occurrence and split application of K eventually leading the soil available K in economic output. The study investigated the effect of split application of K at basal and active tillering stage on direct seeded rice production. The experiment included ten treatments of K application doses in combination with vermicompost and potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB). The recommended dose of K was kept as 40 kg K2O ha−1 and increased up to 80 kg in two equal splits. The double split application of K resulted the higher yield over the single split against the 40, 60 and 80 kg K2O ha−1 through the continuous higher soil available K. In this study 60 kg K2O ha−1 in two equal split and the same amount in single split with KSB (Frateuria aurantia) inoculation of seedling recorded 17.14% and 17.29% more yield, respectively over the recommended dose of K management (40 kg K2O ha−1 in single split). Study confirmed that not only split application of K but also an increment of 50% higher dose of K over the standard recommendation can be benefited economically. The use of KSB as seed inoculation was also found useful to obtain the better growth and higher productivity in direct seeded rice.