Polysulphate Alfalfa Trial in France

12

Yield increase
Polysulphate increased alfalfa yield, improved alfalfa quality parameters, and reduced the carbon footprint of the crop.

Vésigneul-sur-Marne, France
2020

Trail

12

Yield increase

Key Conclusions

Throughout the experiment, the Polysulphate fertilizer alfalfa yielded more than the control plot, increasing alfalfa yield by 12%.

Objective

To evaluate Polysulphate, in combination with KCl, as a K and secondary macronutrients source for rainfed alfalfa, and to examine the response of both yield and quality to increasing proportions of Polysulphate.

Trial Details

Trial station

Vésigneul-sur-Marne, France

Crop

Alfalfa

Product

Granular Polysulphate

Assessments

Yield, feed quality parameters, and carbon footprint

Treatments

  • This alfalfa trial consisted of 3 replications, on a randomized complete block design.
  • Four different treatments were established with combinations of 2 different sources of potassium, potassium chloride (KCl) and Polysulphate, at a similar K dose of 300 kg K2O/ha, with 4 different proportions: all K from KCl, and 10%, 20% and 40% of the K from Polysulphate.
  • A control was established which received no additional nutrient supply.
  • The alfalfa was harvest in 6 cuts: 25 May 2019, 1 July 2019, 23 August 2019, 13 May 2020, 3 July 2020, and 20 August 2020.

 

TreatmentFertilizer rateNutrient rate
MOP (KCl)PolyhaliteK2OMgOSO3CaO
kg/hakg/hakg/hakg/hakg/hakg/ha
Control000000
KCl5000300000
Polysulphate 200450200 (granular)300129632
Polysulphate 405405405 (granular)3002419465
Polysulphate 800310800 (powder)30048384128

Treatments

  • This alfalfa trial consisted of 3 replications, on a randomized complete block design.
  • Four different treatments were established with combinations of 2 different sources of potassium, potassium chloride (KCl) and Polysulphate, at a similar K dose of 300 kg K2O/ha, with 4 different proportions: all K from KCl, and 10%, 20% and 40% of the K from Polysulphate.
  • A control was established which received no additional nutrient supply.
  • The alfalfa was harvest in 6 cuts: 25 May 2019, 1 July 2019, 23 August 2019, 13 May 2020, 3 July 2020, and 20 August 2020.

 

TreatmentFertilizer rateNutrient rate
MOP (KCl)PolyhaliteK2OMgOSO3CaO
kg/hakg/hakg/hakg/hakg/hakg/ha
Control000000
KCl5000300000
Polysulphate 200450200 (granular)300129632
Polysulphate 405405405 (granular)3002419465
Polysulphate 800310800 (powder)30048384128

Results

  • Over the whole duration of the experiment, the alfalfa fertilized with Polysulphate and KCl yielded 1.6 ton/ha more than the crop fertilized only with MOP, and 3.1 ton/ha more than the Kcontrol.
  • A clear trend was observed in all cuts – especially in the second year – with improvements in the quality parameters (protein contents) of the alfalfa fertilized with Polysulphate.
  • Polysulphate slightly reduced the carbon footprint of the crop (CO2 emissions calculated with the Cool Farm Tool).
Polysulphate fertilizer increased alfalfa yield by 12% compared to the control.

Polysulphate fertilizer increased alfalfa yield by 12% compared to the control.
Different letters indicate significant differences at p < 0.05. Error bars are SD.

 

 

* From research funded by the International Potash Institute www.ipipotash.org

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