Method
of application
The proper placement of fertilizer has a great
influence on P and K utilization and subsequently their effect on fertilizer use
efficiency. Under rainfed conditions, the moisture stress at early growth stages
or excess rains after planting have a direct bearing on the utilization of
applied nutrients. This is true for K, a highly mobile nutrient prone to
leaching or it may be washed out as surface run off in hills.
P&K are invariably placed in bands near the seed tubers. This is because P is easily fixed and the more it comes in contact with the soil the greater is the fixation. Therefore, minimum contact with the soil is needed in this case. In the case of K also, it is placed since it also gets fixed though in this case it comes into the solution whenever needed. Because of its low mobility and P fixation in acidic and laterite soils, its placement near the active root zone or near the seed tuber is recommended. Therefore its furrow placement has been found more economical than broadcasting or band placement in acidic hill soils of Shimla and Shillong.