Alleviation of waterlogging stress in soybean through application of potassium fertilizer

Alleviation of moisture stress in soybean through K application

Abstract

Waterlogging (WL) causes a detrimental effect on soybean, and applicationof potassium (K) is presumed to ameliorate from the damage. An experimentwas conducted to determine the effect of WL on the morpho-physiology ofsoybean, and to assess the role of K in ameliorating the adverse effects onthe crop. Soybean genotype BD2334 was grown under control (withoutWL) and WL in the field. The K fertilizer was applied as K: no K fertilizer,KB: full dose of K as basal, KB+BF0: 50% of K as basal + 50% before WL,K: 50% of K as basal + 50% after the termination of WL. The WLcondition was imposed for 7 days at the flowering stage of soybean. TheWL exerted a detrimental effect on morpho-physiological parameters,yield and yield attributes, and nutrient uptake in soybean. The plants of KB+AFB+AF treatment quickly recovered from the effects of WL stress, had improved photosynthesis (29.38 µ mol m-2 s-1), higher pods plant (27.67),number of seeds plant (51.67) and healthier seeds (27.39 g per 100seed)compared to the control treatment. UnderWL conditions, BD2334produced1.06 t grain ha-1 with basal K application and the yield rose to1.45 t ha-1 -1in the treatment K as 50% basal + 50% after WL termination(K). Additionally, the grain nutrient absorption was enhanced by K asKB+AF under WL conditions. The relative contribution of K managementon grain yield was 17.62%, which reveals that it is possible to increasesoybean yield by modifying K management under WL conditions.

Ann. Bangladesh Agric. 29(2): 1-23