Comparative rice yield and economic advantage of foliar KNO3 over soil applied K2SO4.

-1 (T 1), foliar application of KNO 3 @ 0.5% solution (T 2), foliar application of KNO 3 @1% solution (T 3), foliar application of KNO 3 @ 1.5% solution (T 4) and foliar application of KNO 3 @ 2% solution (T 5). Foliar KNO 3 application @ 1.5% and 2% solutions increased paddy yield by 5.74% (4.97 t ha -1 ) and 10.85% (5.27 t ha -1 ) against that of soil incorporated K 2SO 4 (4.7 t ha -1 ). Significant increase in number of tillers (m -2 ), thousand grain weight, biological and paddy yield was recorded with foliar KNO 3 @ 1.5% and 2% over soil applied K 2SO 4; however, non-significant differences were found on plant height, panicle length, and grains panicle -1 . Foliar KNO 3 @ 1.5% and 2% solutions resulted in net returns of Rs. 14,828 and Rs. 23,804 ha -1 , respectively.