Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India

Excessive application of high-analysis fertilizers disrupts ecosystem balance and raise environmental concerns. Potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are crucial nutrients for plants optimum growth and development. Potassium uptake exceeds nitrogen (N) by almost 1.5. Its deficiency diminishes yield (~ 20%)...

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Autores principales: Kumar, V., Shekhawat, K., Rathore, S.S., Upadhyay, P.K., Singh, R.K., Gairola, A., Sharma, D., Pandey, A., Roy, S.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2025
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178208
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author Kumar, V.
Shekhawat, K.
Rathore, S.S.
Upadhyay, P.K.
Singh, R.K.
Gairola, A.
Sharma, D.
Pandey, A.
Roy, S.
author_browse Gairola, A.
Kumar, V.
Pandey, A.
Rathore, S.S.
Roy, S.
Sharma, D.
Shekhawat, K.
Singh, R.K.
Upadhyay, P.K.
author_facet Kumar, V.
Shekhawat, K.
Rathore, S.S.
Upadhyay, P.K.
Singh, R.K.
Gairola, A.
Sharma, D.
Pandey, A.
Roy, S.
author_sort Kumar, V.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Excessive application of high-analysis fertilizers disrupts ecosystem balance and raise environmental concerns. Potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are crucial nutrients for plants optimum growth and development. Potassium uptake exceeds nitrogen (N) by almost 1.5. Its deficiency diminishes yield (~ 20%) and compromise stress resilience. Potassium application through MOP observes low recovery, poor nutrient equilibrium, suboptimal monetary returns, and environmental threats. In contrast, polyhalite, a natural multi-nutrient mineral containing K, magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and S, presents promising alternative for mitigating nutrient imbalances, enhancing soil health, and higher farm profitability. A field experiment at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, was conducted during rabi 2021–22 to evaluate K sources viz. polyhalite, bentonite, and MOP in optimizing plant growth and nutrient uptake. The grain N content under 100% K (polyhalite) was 4.36, and 1.89% higher over 100% K (MOP), and 100% K (MOP)+ bentonite-S equivalent, respectively. Potassium content in grain and straw was 30.3% and 10.38% higher, respectively, over K supply with sole MOP. The optimal K dose (polyhalite) registered 23% higher root length density, 2.64% higher root volume, and 1.28-folds higher root diameter over 100% (MOP). Polyhalite as a K source offered 1.83 and ~ 2-folds higher agronomic efficiency over 100% K (MOP) and 75% K (MOP), respectively. The greater actual net gain in soil K was observed and recorded with 100% K (polyhalite; 20.1 kg ha−1), followed by 100% K (MOP)+ S-equivalent to T8 (19.1 kg ha−1). A net gain of 2 kg ha−1 in Soil S was registered under polyhalite over MOP application. Across the treatments, 100% K (polyhalite) revealed 1.35 and 1.22-times higher net returns over conventional (100% K-MOP) and blend combination (50:50; MOP+ polyhalite), respectively.
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spelling CGSpace1782082025-12-08T09:54:28Z Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India Kumar, V. Shekhawat, K. Rathore, S.S. Upadhyay, P.K. Singh, R.K. Gairola, A. Sharma, D. Pandey, A. Roy, S. soil fertility nutrient balance rice Excessive application of high-analysis fertilizers disrupts ecosystem balance and raise environmental concerns. Potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are crucial nutrients for plants optimum growth and development. Potassium uptake exceeds nitrogen (N) by almost 1.5. Its deficiency diminishes yield (~ 20%) and compromise stress resilience. Potassium application through MOP observes low recovery, poor nutrient equilibrium, suboptimal monetary returns, and environmental threats. In contrast, polyhalite, a natural multi-nutrient mineral containing K, magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and S, presents promising alternative for mitigating nutrient imbalances, enhancing soil health, and higher farm profitability. A field experiment at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, was conducted during rabi 2021–22 to evaluate K sources viz. polyhalite, bentonite, and MOP in optimizing plant growth and nutrient uptake. The grain N content under 100% K (polyhalite) was 4.36, and 1.89% higher over 100% K (MOP), and 100% K (MOP)+ bentonite-S equivalent, respectively. Potassium content in grain and straw was 30.3% and 10.38% higher, respectively, over K supply with sole MOP. The optimal K dose (polyhalite) registered 23% higher root length density, 2.64% higher root volume, and 1.28-folds higher root diameter over 100% (MOP). Polyhalite as a K source offered 1.83 and ~ 2-folds higher agronomic efficiency over 100% K (MOP) and 75% K (MOP), respectively. The greater actual net gain in soil K was observed and recorded with 100% K (polyhalite; 20.1 kg ha−1), followed by 100% K (MOP)+ S-equivalent to T8 (19.1 kg ha−1). A net gain of 2 kg ha−1 in Soil S was registered under polyhalite over MOP application. Across the treatments, 100% K (polyhalite) revealed 1.35 and 1.22-times higher net returns over conventional (100% K-MOP) and blend combination (50:50; MOP+ polyhalite), respectively. 2025-11 2025-11-25T20:52:52Z 2025-11-25T20:52:52Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178208 en Open Access Kumar, V.; Shekhawat, K.; Rathore, S.S.; Upadhyay, P.K.; Singh, R.K.; Gairola, A.; Sharma, D.; Pandey, A.; Roy, S.; Sanketh, G.D.; Devi, K.; Babu, S. 2025. Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India. Scientific Reports. ISSN 2045-2322. 15, 33895. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08132-w
spellingShingle soil fertility
nutrient balance
rice
Kumar, V.
Shekhawat, K.
Rathore, S.S.
Upadhyay, P.K.
Singh, R.K.
Gairola, A.
Sharma, D.
Pandey, A.
Roy, S.
Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India
title Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India
title_full Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India
title_fullStr Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India
title_short Optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice–wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India
title_sort optimizing root physiology and soil nutrient balance in rice wheat sequence using polyhalite for enhanced profitability in the indo gangetic plains of india
topic soil fertility
nutrient balance
rice
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178208
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