By David Dunn and Gene Stevens, University of Missouri-Delta Center, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Dr David Dunn – scientist at the Delta Ag Center in Qulin, Missouri, USA -held this presentation at the 34thRice Technical Working Group Meeting in Hot Springs, Arkansas on February 29, 2012.

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By Tran Thuc Son, Le Xuan Anh, Yoav Ronen, and Harmen Tjalling Holwerda

Trials conducted in Vietnam with spring and summer rice grown on soils low in soil exchangeable K showed positive yield and net income responses from one to three foliar treatments with potassium nitrate. Grain yields and net income were improved when a portion of the basal KCl was replaced with the three foliar KNO₃ sprayings.

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...13% Increase in Farmers’ Net Income

Summary

In Vietnam, 4 trials in total on spring and summer rice, grown on a heavy and a sandy soil, were conducted with 1, 2 or 3 foliar applications each containing 9 kg KNO₃/ha/spray, applied at one or more growth stages (active tillering, panicle initiation and/or end of flowering), in order to test the effect on yield and farmers’ net income.

The highest increases in average yield (+15%; + 840 kg/ha) and average farmers’ net income (+13%; + 150 US$/ha) were obtained with 3 foliar sprays of 9 kg KNO₃/ha/spray each at the growth stages of active tillering, panicle initiation and end of flowering in combination with a standard base dressing, compared to the farmers’ standard practices.

Interestingly enough, 50% less KCl applied in the base dressing, in combination with 3 foliar sprays of 9 kg KNO₃/ha/spray each at active tillering, panicle initiation and end of flowering, resulted in 10% more yield and 12% more farmers’ net income, compared to the farmers’ standard practices.

Click here to open the complete trial report as pdf