Effect of Different Potassium Rates and Hybrid Maize Varieties on the Grain Yield Under Field Condition at South Sulawesi, Indonesia

The potential grain yield of different hybrid maize varieties has different. Nasa-29 variety has potential grain yield (13.5 t ha^-1), Bima-20 (12.8 t ha^-1) and Bima-4 (11.7 t ha^-1). These varieties have resistance to downy mildew, rust and leaf blight [1]. Hybrid maize has a potential high yielding, therefore require an adequate supply of potassium (K) after nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to meet production potential. The K uptake pattern of maize is distinctive in that K is taken up rapidly and early in the crop’s growth cycle, with some crops accumulating more than 5 kg K ha^-1 daily during the period between 4 to 7 weeks after planting [2].

Potassium is an essential nutrient that is crucial for healthy plant growth and is classified as a macronutrient due to large quantities of K being taken up by plants during their life cycle. Potassium availability, however, is often limited in agricultural fields and thus crop yields and quality are reduced. Therefore, improving the efficiency of potassium uptake and transport, as well as its utilization, in plants is important for agricultural sustainability [3]. Soils can supply some K for crop production, but when the supply from the soil is not adequate, K must be supplied in a fertilizer program. Potassium is necessary for plant health and it constitutes up to 10% of plant dry weight [4,5].

Potassium plays critical roles in controlling ion homeostasis, osmoregulation, protein metabolism, enzyme activity, membrane polarization, and various metabolic processes [6,7]. Additionally, fundamental physiological processes in plants, including photosynthesis, photorespiration, and growths are dramatically affected by K+ availability [8,9].

According to Shin [3], there are four strategies for improving potassium use efficiency in plants are proposed; 1) increased root volume, 2) increasing efficiency of potassium uptake from the soil and translocation in plant 3) increasing mobility of potassium in soil, and 4) molecular breeding new varieties with greater potassium efficiency through marker assisted selection which will require identification and utilization of potassium associated quantitative trait loci.

Several factors impact on the ability of a soil to meet the K demands of a growing maize crop, including: (1) The soil solution K concentration, (2) The capacity of the soil to buffer the soil solution K concentration (3) Soil moisture content (4) Soil texture and structure, and (5) The distribution of soil K reserves [10].

Potassium is taken up in large quantities by plants, is highly mobile within plant vascular systems and plays an essential role in a number of metabolic functions. Over 60 enzymes require K for catalytic activity, some of which play a role in protein synthesis and sugar degradation. Water relations of plant cells rely on the rapid movement of K ions in order to maintain and regulate turgidity and stomata control can be affected if K is deficient. The detrimental effect on stomata regulation can result in reduced photosynthetic capacity. Potassium also promotes the translocation of photosynthetic assimilates from leaves to grain through the phloem. Reduced stress resistance in plants has also been attributed to K deficiency. Pest and disease resistance can be improved by K application through several mechanisms including by: (1) Altering the metabolic compatibility of a host plant for the pest or pathogen, (2) Enhancing the accumulation of inhibitory chemicals in the plant (3) Hastening plant wound healing, (4) Improving the structural integrity of plant tissues, and (5) Stimulating healthy growth to avoid infection. Potassium fertilization has been shown to decrease the impact of several diseases of maize including boil smut, leaf blight and stalk rot.

Potassium is associated with movement of water, nutrients, and carbohydrates in plant tissue. Potassium is involved with enzyme activation within the plant which affects protein, starch and adenosine tri phosphate (ATP) production. The production of ATP can regulate the rate of photosynthesis. Potassium also helps to regulate the opening and closing of the stomata which regulates the exchange of water vapor, oxygen, and carbon dioxide [4,7,11- 15]. If K is deficient or not supplied in adequate amounts, growth is stunted, and yield is reduced. Other roles of K include, increased root growth and improves drought resistance, maintains turgor, reduces water loss and wilting, aids in photosynthesis and food formation, reduces respiration, preventing energy losses, enhances translocation of sugars and starch, produces grain rich in starch, increases protein content of plants, builds cellulose and reduces lodging, and helps retard crop diseases.

The experiment was conducted at the Bajeng Experimental Station, Indonesian Cereals Research Institute, Gowa, South Sulawesi, from May to September 2017. The level of K on site of the experiment is 0.26 me100 g^-1. The experiment was laid out in randomized split plot design with three replications. The main plot was provided with six levels of potassium i.e. 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg K2O ha^-1. The sub plot consisted of three hybrid maize varieties i.e. Nasa-29, Bima-20 and Bima-4.

The land was prepared with gramoxon herbicide sprayed a rate of 4 l ha^-1. The size of the plot is 9 m x 6 m with planting density 75 cm x 25cm. Before sowing, seeds were mixed with saromil fungicide to prevent downy mildew disease a rate of 2.5g kg^-1 seed. Pests were controlled with furadan 3 G, which is applied at the planting time in the hole of the seeds and 15 days after planting (dap), applied in the tops of the leaves of plants at 5 kg ha1, respectively. Irrigation was given at 10 days interval during crop growth. Irrigation was stopped two weeks prior to harvest of the crop.

Fertilizers at rate of 210kg N ha^-1 and 100kg P₂O₅ ha^-1 were applied. One-half of the nitrogen (source from urea) and potassium (source from KCl) and all phosphorus (source from SP 36) were applied at 7 dap. The remaining of N and K were applied at 37 dap.

Soil sample from location site was analyzed at soil laboratory, Maros. Soil sample for analysis was taken before starting the research to analysis of soil texture, pH, organic C, total of N content, available P, and available K. Data were collected includes: plant height (cm) and ear height (cm) at 75 dap, cob diameter, 1000 grain-weight (g) and grain yield (t ha-1) at 15% moisture content. Data were analyzed using standard Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) technique and means were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level [16].

Soil properties

Based on Land Resource Atlas of Exploration Indonesia made by Indonesian Center for Soil and Agroclimate Research (2000), the order of soil in Bajeng, Gowa, is Inceptisol. It is very potential for agricultural food crops such as maize [17-21]. Result of the physical analysis of soil indicates that the soil texture is silt loam. The chemical analysis indicates that the pH is 6,3 which is moderately acid. The organic matter content is 1.93% (low) and the total nitrogen content is 0.13 (low). The available phosphorus is 70mg kg-1 (very high). Its available potassium is 0.26mg kg-1 (low), available calcium is 13.72mg kg-1 (high) and available Mg is 3.57 (high) (Table 1).

Table 1: Some physical and chemical properties of soil in the experimental site.

Plant height

The analysis of variance on the plant height at 75 dap revealed that maize potassium level, maize varieties and their interaction were significant. The average plant heights at 75 dap ranged from 186.7cm to 210.9cm (Table 2). Data in Table 2 further showed that the average mean Nasa-29 (203.1cm) was taller than Bima-4 (198.4cm) and Bima-20 (194.1cm).

Table 2: Plant height (cm) at 75 dap of three varieties in different potassium rates. Gowa, South Sulawesi. 2017.

CV (a) = 7.3 %

CV (b) = 3.7 %?

Means in a column followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% level by DMRT.

Potassium at rate 80 kg K₂O ha^-1 for Nasa-29 had the tallest plants among all other potassium rate and maize varieties (210.9cm). The interaction effects showed that Nasa-29 applied with 80kg K₂O ha-1 was the tallest plant. This finding showed that in term of plant height at 75 dap, Nasa-29 was responses to potassium fertilizer, but Bima-20 and Bima-4 were not responses to potassium application. These plant height differences among the varieties in relation to the potassium fertilizer were attributed to genetic variability. Plant height strongly influenced by environmental condition during stem elongation as expected.

Cob diameter

The cob diameter revealed that the hybrid maize varieties different significantly. Bima-4 significantly produced the highest cob diameter (5.11cm), but Nasa-29 produced the lowest cob diameter (4.74cm) (Table 3).

Table 3: Cob diameter (cm) at 75 dap of three varieties in different potassium rates. Gowa, South Sulawesi. 2017.

Means in a column followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% level by DMRT

CV (a) = 7.9 %

CV (b) = 6.6 %

The cob diameter for Nasa-29 was not significantly different among potassium rate. The highest cob diameter (5.24cm) produced by Bima-4 at applied 100kg K₂O ha^-1. These cob diameter differences among the varieties in relation to the potassium fertilizer were attributed to genetic variability.

1000 grains weight

Potassium level, maize varieties and their interaction significantly influence 1000 grains weight (Table 4). The heavier mean of the weight 1000 grains was Bima-4 (351.1g followed by Nasa-29 (347.5g) and Bima-20 323.3g). The insignificant potassium rate values indicated that all potassium rates were comparable in term of weight 1000 grains. According to Yoshida (1981), grain weight is a stable varietal characteristic. The differences could be due to genetic variability in nature.

Table 4: 1000-grains weight (g) of three varieties at different potassium rates. Gowa, South Sulawesi. 2017.

Means in a column followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% level by DMRT

CV (a) = 9.7 %

CV (b) = 5.6 %

Grain yield:

Potassium level, maize varieties and their interaction significantly influenced grain yield. The higher mean of the grain yield was Nasa-29 (10.72t ha^-1) significantly different with Bima-4 (9.8t ha^-1) and Bima-20 (9.09t ha^-1) (Table 5).

Table 5: Grain yield (t ha^-1) of three varieties at different potassium rates. Gowa, South Sulawesi. 2017.

Means in a column followed by a common letter are not significantly different at the 5% level by DMRT

CV (a) = 8.7 %

CV (b) = 7.5 %

The significant potassium rate means for grain yield indicated that the application of potassium at 60kg K₂O ha^-1 for Nasa-29 showed that the highest grain yield (11.33 t ha^-1).

The interaction of different rates of potassium and hybrid maize varieties significantly affected to maize cob diameter, weight of 1000 grains, and grain yield. The application of potassium at the rate of 60 kg K₂O ha_-1 for Nasa-29 variety produced the highest grain yield (11.33 ha_-1) under field condition at the agro-ecological of Gowa, South Sulawesi.

We are thankful to the technician, Mr Rahman for the excellent helps and assistance in the field and Ms Murniati for statistical analysis.

No Conflict of Interest.

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