Influence of polyhalite on nutrient content and uptake of rice (Oryza sativa var. (ADT43) grown in alluvial soils of Tamil Nadu, India

Rice (Oryza sativa) cultivation plays a crucial role in India’s economy and food security, with the country ranking second only to China in annual production. Despite notable advancements in recent decades, rice yields still fall short of their maximum potential. Utilizing precise and advanced mineral nutrition methods holds promise for boosting rice productivity. Polyhalite, a naturally occurring mineral containing potassium, magnesium, sulfur, and calcium, has garnered attention for its potential to enhance crop growth and uptake. In this study, we investigate the impact of polyhalite application on the growth and yield of rice in alluvial soil.A pot experiment was carried out in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu during kharif of 2022-2023 and included ten treatments viz., T1 - Control, T2 -NP + K (0), T3 -NP + 50% K as MOP, T4 -NP +50% K as Polyhalite, T5 -NP + 100% K as MOP, T6 -NP + 100% K as Polyhalite, T7 -NP + 150% K as MOP, T8 -NP +150% K as Polyhalite, T9 -NP +200% K as MOP, T10- NP + 200% K as Polyhalite. The highest N content in grain is 0.96% and in straw is 0.58%, P content in grain is 0.34% and in straw is 0.26% and K content in grain is 0.45% and in straw is 1.18% was obtained under treatment T10(NP + K 200% as Polyhalite). The highest N uptake in grain is 809.6mg/pot and in straw is 610.7mg/pot, P uptake in grain is 286.7mg/pot and in straw is 273.8mg/pot and K uptake in grain is 379.5mg/pot and in straw is 1242.5mg/pot.