Application of seed-row potash to spring wheat grown on soils with high available potassium levels

Abstract

Karamanos, R., Flore, N. A. and Harapiak, J. T. 2013. Application of seed-row potash to spring wheat grown on soils with high available potassium levels. Can. J. Plant Sci. 93: 271–277. Two experiments were conducted at numerous locations across western Canada from 1990 to 1994 to ascertain the response of hard red spring (CWRS) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to seed-row applied K fertilizers. Soil test K levels at all sites (location×year combinations) exceeded the critical level for western Canada of 125 mg NH4OAc-extractable K kg−1, the concentration below which the probability of a K deficiency is high. In the first experiment, days to maturity and yield for wheat were statistically similar whether or not KCl was applied in the seed row. When the cultivar Roblin was grown significant (P<0.05) yield reductions as a result of seedrow placing low rates of potassium fertilizers were obtained. The second experiment showed that maturity and yield did not respond to treatments including KCl, K2SO4, or CaCl2 fertilizer applied in seed row. Furthermore, spring wheat responses for any of the preceding treatments were not different relative to the control (no K fertilizer applied). These findings bring into question the benefit of seed-row K fertilizer application to hard red spring (CWRS) wheat production on K-sufficient soils in western Canada.