Sunil Kumar Dadhich, Shanti Kumar Sharma and G Ravindra Charry

Potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) are essential plant nutrients responsible for mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses as well as enhancement in yield of maize. Imbalanced use of fertilizers, erratic rainfall and periodic dry spells are major constraints of low productivity of maize under rainfed conditions. A field experiment was conducted at All India Coordinated Research Project on Dryland Agriculture, Dryland Farming Research Station, Bhilwara, (MPUAT, Udaipur) Rajasthan for continuous four years at fixed site during Kharif seasons of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The experiment comprised of 4 potassium levels; K0 (0 kg K₂O/ha), K20 (20 kg K₂O/ha), K40 (40 kg K₂O /ha) and K60 (60 kg K₂O/ha) and 4 magnesium levels; Mg0 (0 kg MgSO₄.7H₂O/ha), Mg1 (15 kg MgSO₄.7H₂O/ha), Mg² (30 kg MgSO₄.7H₂O/ha) and Mg³ (45 kg MgSO⁴.7H²O/ ha). Total 16 treatment combinations were tested in factorial randomized block design with three replications. Maize variety PM^-3 was taken as a test crop. Application of K and Mg exerted significant effect in increasing nutrients uptake by maize. The uptake of N, P, K and Mg by grain and stover of maize was observed to be highest with the application of K @ 60 kg K₂O/ha which was statistically at par with K application @ 40 kg K₂O/ha. Further, the uptake of N, P, K and Mg was recorded to be maximum under the treatment receiving Mg application @ 45 kg MgSO₄/ha standing statistically at par with that under Mg application @ 30 kg MgSO₄/ha. Therefore, application of 40 Kg K₂O and 30 Kg MgSO₄.7H2O/ha are found to be beneficial to get higher uptake of nutrients by maize.

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