THE INFLUENCE OFAPPLICATION METHODS OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION ON GROWTH, PODS YIELD AND ITS QUALITY OF PEA PLANTS

Two field trails were conducted out during the season of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 to study the influence of soil dressing of potassium fertilizer at rates of 100, 200 and 300 kgs./fed. as potassium sulphate (48.5 % K₂O) as well as foliar application of liquid potassium contained K₂O 36.5 % and sulphure 26.0 % as twice and/or 3 times) on growth, yield and its quality of pea plant.
The important findings are as follows:
1. All plant growth parameters recorded their highest values when pea plants received 300 kgs. /of potassium sulphate. The increments in fresh and dry weight of whole plant over that plants which supplied 100 kgs/fed. amounted by 34.9 and 56.9 respectively in 1^st season and by 48.6 and 49.3 % for the same respective in 2^nd season. Also that pea plants which received liquid potassium 3 time by 10 day intervals gained the vigor plant growth.
2. Pea plants which fertilized by the highest rate of  K (300 kgs./fed.) recorded an increase in total and early pods yield over than that plants received medium and low potassium level. The enhancement in total pods weight amounted by 10.01, 34.4 % in 1^st season and by 16.1 and 31.1 in 2^nd one respectively.
3. The best physical quality of pea pods expressed as average number/plant length and diameter recorded their highest significant values when soil was dressed by 300 kgs./fed. Of potassium sulphate. Moreover, foliar application of pea plant by liquid potassium 3 times gained the heaviest total and early pods yield as well as its best physical quality of pods.
4. With increasing potassium fertilizer of soil dressing and/or the numbers of liquid spraying gained an increase in the nutritional values of pea pods as expressed by protein and carbohydrate content as well as N, P and K.