Potassium for Yield and Quality of Soybean

Potassium, an essential plant nutrient, has major role in crop production. The field investigation entitled, ¿Response of potassium on yield and quality of soybean in Inceptisol¿ wasconductedat Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri during kharif, 2012. Soybean responded to potassium application @ 40 kg K2O ha-1 along with RD (50:75:00 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1) in Inceptisol resulting in increased yield attributing characters and yield upto 31.62 kg ha-1. Application of potassic fertilizers not only increased nutrient uptake of major nutrients but also protein, oil content and protein and oil yield in soybean.The highest B:C ratio (2.46) was recorded by cultivation of soybean in Inceptisol with application of RD + 50 kg K2O ha-1 while returns per rupees invested on potash fertilizer and potassium use efficiency were highest in the treatment receiving fertilizer dose RD + 40 kg K2O ha-1.Thus, from the above results it can be concluded that application of 40 kg K2O ha-1 along with recommended 50 kg N and 75 kg P2O5 is found most optimum dose of potash to soybean to harvest maximum economical yield and quality of soybean in Inceptisol.