Effects of chloride fertilization on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity in the sandy Pampas region, Argentina

The soils from the sandy Pampas region (Argentina) are coarse-textured Mollisols with high to very high extractable K levels. However, in several KCl fertilization field trials, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) dry matter production increments have been repor...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agronomy journal 2004-05, Vol.96 (3), p.839-844
Main Authors: Diaz-Zorita, M, Duarte, G.A, Barraco, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
application rate
Biological and medical sciences
chlorides
dry matter accumulation
dryland farming
fertilizer application
fertilizers
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
fungicides
grain yield
pampas soils
pesticide application
potassium chloride
soil fertility
spring wheat
Triticum aestivum
Wheat
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The soils from the sandy Pampas region (Argentina) are coarse-textured Mollisols with high to very high extractable K levels. However, in several KCl fertilization field trials, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield and alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) dry matter production increments have been reported. Our objective was to determine the contribution of Cl(-) fertilization on dryland spring wheat productivity. The study was performed during the 2001 and the 2002 growing seasons on 10 experimental sites establishing 14 treatments in completely randomized blocks with four replications: Cl(-) fertilization rates (0, 23, 46, and 69 kg ha(-1)), Cl(-) fertilizer sources (KCl and NH4Cl), and crop disease control (with and without fungicide applications during stem elongation). Chloride fertilization increased grain yields in 50% of the sites independently of the fertilizer source and the fungicide treatments. Averaged over the 10 locations, the grain yield response to Cl(-) fertilization was of 253 kg ha(-1), and it was mostly explained by a greater number of grains per square meter. Soil Cl(-) levels >13.2 mg kg(-1) (0.0 to 0.2 m) were adequate for maximum grain yields. Foliar fungicide application also improved wheat grain production, enlarging the single weight of the grains. In the absence of water, N, P, and S deficiencies, the fertilization with 23 to 46 kg ha(-1) of Cl(-)-containing fertilizers after the emergence of wheat crops is a recommended practice for achieving high-yielding crops in the sandy Pampas region of Argentina.
ISSN:0002-1962
1435-0645
DOI:10.2134/agronj2004.0839