"Effect of potassium element on plants and soil"

Potassium in plants:

Potassium is one of the essential plant nutrients and large amounts of it are needed for plant growth and reproduction. The effect of potassium is considered as the second nutrient after nitrogen, the deficiency of potassium as one of the most important nutrients required by plants is usually considered as "quality nutrients". Potassium affects the shape, size, color, taste and other parameters related to healthy products. Potassium deficiency can cause disorders in plants. Usually, its deficiency symptoms are related to plant growth.

The role of potassium in plants:

Potassium has different roles in the plant:
1. In photosynthesis, it causes the opening and closing of the stomata and therefore regulates CO2 absorption.
2. It activates enzymes and is necessary for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is an important source of energy for many chemical processes that occur in plants.
3. It plays an important role in water regulation in plants (osmosis regulation). Water absorption through plant roots and its loss through stomata are affected by potassium.
4. Water absorption through plant roots and its loss through stomata are affected by potassium.
5. The synthesis of protein and starch in plants requires the presence of potassium.

6. Potassium is essential in almost every step of protein synthesis. In starch synthesis, the enzyme responsible for protein is activated by potassium.
7. Potassium plays an important role in the activation of growth-related enzymes in plants.

Symptoms of potassium deficiency:

Chlorosis - burning of plant leaves with yellowing of the leaf margin. This is one of the first signs of potassium deficiency. Symptoms appear on middle and lower leaves.
Slow growth or dwarfism – Since potassium is an important growth catalyst in plants, plants that are deficient in potassium grow less.
Low resistance to temperature changes and drought - weak absorption of potassium reduces water circulation in the plant. Potassium deficiency makes the plant more sensitive to drought and temperature changes.
Leaf drop - A lack of potassium in plants causes plants to lose their leaves. If the plant is exposed to drought or high temperatures, this process may be even faster. The leaves turn yellow, then brown and finally fall one by one.
Symptoms of potassium deficiency in plants include brown burns and twisting of leaf tips, as well as chlorosis (yellowing) between leaf veins. Purple spots may appear on the undersides of the leaves. Plant growth, root development, and seed and fruit development are usually reduced in potassium deficient plants. Symptoms of potassium deficiency often appear in older (lower) leaves because potassium is a mobile nutrient, meaning the plant can allocate potassium to younger leaves if it is deficient. Deficient plants may be more susceptible to frost and frost damage, and their symptoms are often mistaken for wind or drought. Potassium deficiency is common in many important fruit and vegetable crops; Especially potatoes, cruciferous vegetables (cabbage), tomatoes, apples, currants, gooseberries and raspberries. Sugar beets, cereals and clover are also commonly affected. Specific symptoms for each of these plants are as follows:
In potato, tuber size is greatly reduced and yield is reduced. The leaves of the plant are retarded and often turn blue-green with alternating chlorosis. The leaves are also small, with dark brown spots on the underside and a tan appearance on the upper surfaces.
In cruciferous plants, the leaves are blue-green in color and a small degree of intermittent chlorosis may be seen. Burns along the outer edges of the leaves are common and the texture of the leaves is often hard due to slow growth.
In tomato, the stem is woody and slow growing. The leaves are blue-green in color, and the interveinal area is often pale gray. Leaves may also have a bronze appearance, and yellow and orange spots may develop on some leaflets. Fruits often ripen misplaced and sometimes green spots are seen near the stems.
In apple, leaves are burnt around the edges and intraveinal chlorosis is common. Apple fruits usually have a slightly acidic or woody taste.
In seedless grapes, grapevines and raspberries, wilting (drying of the plant from the tip of the branches towards the root), branching is common, and although the plant may produce many buds in the early stages of deficiency, the fruit yield is reduced and the fruits are of poor quality. .
Other symptoms of potassium deficiency:

Poor resistance to pests
Weak and unhealthy roots
Awkward ripening of fruits

Proper fertilizer management can prevent potassium deficiency and crop damage.

Potassium in the soil:

Potassium in soil is generally divided into four categories:

Potassium out of reach
Fixed potassium or low potassium
Exchangeable potassium or available potassium
Soluble potassium in the soil

The basis of the above classification is the availability of potassium to plants. Depending on the type of soil and environmental conditions, the availability of potassium may be different.
Unavailable potassium - found in the crystalline structure of feldspars, clay minerals and mica found in soil. Plants cannot use this potassium in these insoluble forms. However, over time, these minerals eventually break down and a small amount of potassium is released as a solution in the soil.
Fixed potassium - potassium that reaches plants slowly throughout the growing season. Clay minerals have the ability to stabilize potassium. During wetting and drying of the soil, potassium is trapped between the mineral layers (clay minerals have a layered structure). When the soil becomes wet, some of the trapped potassium ions are transferred into the soil solution. Low available potassium is usually not routinely measured in soil tests.
Exchangeable potassium – Potassium is readily available, which plants can easily absorb. This category of potassium is stored on the surface of clay particles and organic matter in the soil. This potassium is found in balance with the soil solution and is released when the plant absorbs potassium from the soil solution. Exchangeable potassium is measured in most soil tests.
Soluble potassium in the soil - Soluble potassium dissolves in the soil and is easily available to plants. It is the smallest potassium reservoir. Therefore, testing only potassium in the soil solution does not indicate the total amount of potassium in the plant.

Factors affecting the absorption of potassium by plants:

Several factors can affect the plant's ability to absorb potassium from the soil:
Oxygen levels : Oxygen is essential for proper root function, including potassium uptake
Moisture : More moisture in the soil makes it easier for plants to absorb potassium.
Tilling : Research has shown that tilling the soil regularly increases the absorption of potassium.
Soil Temperature : 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit is the appropriate soil temperature range for root activity and most physiological processes in plants. The lower the temperature, the slower the absorption.