EVALUATION OF 2 CONCEPTS OF FERTILIZATION FOR WHEAT IN A CALCAREOUS SOIL OF BANGLADESH

Two popular concepts of soil fertilization, basic cation saturation ra tio (BCSR) and sufficiency level of available nutrients (SLAN), were t ested on a calcareous soil (Aeric haplaquept) during 1995-1996 at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) Regional Station Rajshahi us ing wheat as a test crop. According to BCSR concept the soil was defic ient in potassium (K) and according to SLAN concept it was deficient i n phosphorus (P), respectively. Potassium dose of 120 kg ha(-1) [to at tain 2% saturation of total cation exchange capacity (CEC) according t o BCSR] along with other two doses (0 and 60 kg K ha(-1)) and P dose o f 50 kg ha(-1) (to attain available P at sufficiency level) along with other two doses (0 and 100 kg P ha(-1)) were compared in a randomized complete block design. The application of 50 kg P ha(-1) significantl y increased plant height, spikes m(-2), grains per spike, grain and st raw yields of wheat over 0 kg P ha(-1) with or without K but increasin g P dose from 50 to 100 kg P ha(-1) did not give additional yields. Th e agronomic parameters and yields were not affected significantly by K application. Similar results were also observed in nutrient content a nd nutrient uptake. Thus, SLAN concept appeared as an effective tool f or fertilizer recommendation for the calcareous soil while BCSR gave n o apparent result there.