Substitution Capacity of Potassium Chloride by Sodium Chloride on Forage Grasses Fertilization Technique

Abstract

The study was conducted with the aim to know the probability of sodium chloride as a partial substitution alternative of potassium chloride on forage grasses fertilization technique. Eigh varieties of grasses (Brachiaria brizantha, B.decumbens, Setaria splendida, S. sphacelata, Panicum maximum, P. muticum, Pennisetum purpureum, and King Grass) were subjected to K-Na fertilizers. A Series experiment were allotted to a completely randomized design with 4 replications. The treatments were: P1 = 100%K+0%Na; P2 = 80%K+20%Na; P3 = 60%K+40%Na; P4 = 40%K+60%Na; P5 = 20%K+80%Na; and P6 = 0%K+100%Na; while the series were a group of kind of species (Brachiria sp, Setaria sp, Panicum sp and Pennisetum sp). The parameters observed were growth of plants (plant height, canopy area, leaf number and tiller number), chlorophyll content, leaf nitrate reductase activity, and dry matter yield. The data were analyzed by variance analysis and Duncan's Multiple Range test. Results of the experiments indicated that substitution capacity of KCl by NaCl on forage grasses can be applied to: (1) Setaria sp till 60% Na (P4=40%K+60%Na); (2) Brachiaria sp and Panicum sp could be reached 80% Na (P5=20%K+80%Na), (3) Pennisetum sp up to 100% Na (P6=0%K+100%Na), and (4) forage grassess up to 80% Na (P5=20%K+80%Na). The differ-ence of response capacity of the grasses as a similar positive correlation as its tolerance to salt stress. Keywords: Substitution Capacity, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Choride, Grass