Performance of Potassium Levels and Foliar Application on Soil Properties, Yield and Quality of Cluster Bean

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2021 at CCS HAU, Regional Research Station, Bawal on loamy sand soil to study the performance of potassium levels and foliar applications on soil properties yield and quality of cluster bean. Integrating soil potassium fertilization with foliar nutrient applications can enhance soil status in cluster bean cultivation. The treatment involving 30 kg K2O ha-1 with foliar sprays of 2% urea and 2% multiplex nutrient at pre-flowering and pod formation stages (T9) resulted in the highest availability of nitrogen (146.7 kg ha-1), phosphorus (15.9 kg ha-1) and potassium (188.7 kg ha-1) in the soil after post-harvest of the crop. Crop yield, both seed (17.9 q ha-1) and stover (45.8 q ha-1) along with yield attributes, increased significantly with higher potassium levels and foliar application of 2% urea plus 2% Multiplex nutrient (a water-soluble micronutrient fertilizer that corrects deficiencies and enhances plant growth, flowering, quality, and yield). The highest values were recorded under the T9 treatment (30 kg K2O ha-1 + 2% urea spray + 2% Multiplex nutrient spray), outperforming both the control and sole potassium application. Also, significantly maximum numbers of nodules and their fresh weight per plant (18.9 and 0.06 g at 40 DAS and 20.92 and 0.070 g at 60 DAS) were recorded under T9. The highest protein content and gum content (23.9 and 28.9%) were observed under treatment T9 (30 kg K2O ha-1 + 2% urea spray + 2% multiplex nutrient spray) followed by T7 (30 kg K2O ha-1 + 2% multiplex nutrient spray). Higher net monetary returns (Rs. 102240 ha-1) with B:C (1.82) obtained under T9. The present study concludes that application of 30 kg K2O ha-1 at sowing time and foliar spraying of 2% urea along with 2% multiplex at pre-flowering and pod formation stage proved to be economically beneficial while achieving optimum nutrient status and yield under clusterbean cultivation.