Effects of Potassium Fertilizer Application on the Yield of Summer Maize and Soil Available K Balance in Sandy Soil

Field plot experiment was used to study the effect of potassium fertilizer application on the yield of summer maize and soil K balance in the sandy soil in Henan province, the result showed that the yield, the soil available K content and plant K accumulation increased as the potassium fertilizer rate were increased, to keep the soil available K balance, the potassium fertilizer rate must be above 150 kg/ha at least. Under condition of the same rate of potassium fertilizer, the regime with ratio of basal dressing of 5:5 showed better than that with total fertilizer as dressing at yield, profit and potassium fertilizer recovery. Took considering of the higher yield, profit, fertilizer recovery rate and soil K balance as a whole, the treatment with 225 kg/ha of K2O application in two times was optimal with total increment of 1 026 kg/ha with potassium fertilizer recovery rate of 45.9%, and with the soil available K balance.