Determination of Optimal Application Rates of Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizers for Paddy Rice

In order to establish environmentally friendly phosphorus(P) and potassium(K) fertilizer application rates for rice cultivation in Korea, a field experiment was conducted in two different characterized paddy soils, higher and lower P and K content in soil from 2005 to 2006 in Suwon, Korea. Chuchong which is typical rice variety in Korea, was selected for experiment. Rice yields in base P-K fertilizer level () and no P-K fertilizer level were 97~98% and 93~97% of standard P-K fertilizer level (), respectively. At the lower content of P and K in immatured paddy soil, the yield of no P plot was decreased by 7% compared to that of standard P-K plot. Significant difference in rice yield and yield characteristics was found neither in standard P-K fertilization plot nor in base P-K fertilization plot. There was no significant difference in P and K uptake at the harvest stage between standard P-K fertilizer plot and base P-K fertilizer plot. Phosphorus and K uptake was slightly decreased in no fertilizer plots compared to standard fertilizer plot. Phosphorus and K use efficiency of rice plant in base fertilizer plot was higher than that in standard fertilizer plot. Available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium content in soil at the harvest stage were increased in both standard and base fertilizer plot. But no significant difference of P and K content in ? was found between standard fertilizer plot and base fertilizer plot. Rice quality characteristics such as proportion of brewers rice, damaged kernel, broken rice, and content of amylose and protein were lowered in the base fertilizer plot than the standard fertilized plot, while the proportion of perfect kernel increased in the base fertilizer plot From the results, we generally recommend the base P-K fertilization () instead of standard P-K fertilization () for rice cultivation in Korea.