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Crop fertilization with potassium in rainfed agriculture in India is altogether missing merely on the assumption that Indian soils are rich in potassium and crops do not need external potassium supply. However, under continuous cropping in rainfed regions, most of the crops essentially deplete soil potassium reserves. Balanced fertilization is essential for maximum yields and maintenance of soil fertility. The maximum benefit due to application of N, P, K fertilizers and even secondary nutrients is not obtained in absence of adequate quantities of available micronutrients in the soil. Foliar feeding is often effective when roots are unable to absorb sufficient nutrients from the soil. Such a condition could arise from an infertile soil, a high degree of soil fixation, losses from leaching, cold soil temperatures, a lack of soil moisture, or a restricted, injured, or diseased root system. Foliar feeding has proven of great benefit with new improved selections of some crops in which the roots have lost their inherent capacity to absorb sufficient amounts of some nutrients.

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Mr. Hiren N. Der did M.Sc. (Agri.) in Agronomy discipline in 2013 under the guidance of Dr. P.M. Vaghasia, Assistant Research Scientist, Main Oilseeds Research Station, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat, India).

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