Nutrient deficiencies in a crop can wreak havoc on the harvest and cause headaches for many growers. Today we are going to talk about one of the most important nutrients for crop ripening and fattening: potassium.
What is potassium?
Potassium (K) is one of the most important nutrientsfor crop growth, yield, quality and stress resistance. Perhaps the most significant role of potassium is in the process of photosynthesis, where contributes to the activation of enzymes.
Potassium fertiliser is also essential in the water-plant ratio so that the plant can maintain high turgor.
What is potassium for?
Potassium, also known as “the quality element”, contributes to a more optimal development of agricultural production. As we have already seen, a fertiliser rich in potassium is essential for photosynthesis and has several important functions for the crop:
- Enzyme activation
- Protein synthesis
- Photosynthesis
- Osmoregulation
- Stomatic activity
- Energy transfer
- Transport in the phloem
- Resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses
What are the benefits of potassium for the crop?
The application of potassium is highly convenient when it comes to obtaining the best results in the crop. Here are some examples of the benefits of applying a potassium-rich fertiliser:
- Increasing crop resistance to drought, frost and diseases
- Improved lignin synthesis, with a consequent increase in crop stiffness and structure
- It boosts the formation of carbohydrates in the leaves, while participating in the formation of proteins
- The correct potassium fertilisation of crops increases the vigour of cereal grains and tubers
- It is indispensable for the correct flowering of the crop
- It increases fruit and seed weightand participated in enzymatic processes and sugar formation
What causes potassium deficiency?
Potassium deficiency causes poor growth and increases the plant’s vulnerability to possible attacks by parasites.
On the other hand, it can also lead to chlorosis and, consequently, to the appearance of necrosis at the tips of the leaves and especially at the edges.
The symptoms of potassium deficiency vary from crop to crop. One of the most common visual symptoms of potassium deficiency is the burnt appearance and yellowing of the leaf margins, while the inner part of the leaf remains green. The edges of the leaves eventually turn brown and die.
EFFECTS OF POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY ON CROP QUALITY
The impact of potassium deficiency on crop yields is very large. These are some of the consequences:
- Smaller leaves.
- Poor performance.
- Low quality of the crop: size, uniformity, sugar content, protein content, etc., are poor.
- Shorter lifespan.
- The crop could be more susceptible to diseases.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE APPLICATION OF NUTRIENTS TO YOUR CROPS?
For all these reasons, it is very interesting to use and apply a balanced potassium fertiliser that allows you to get the maximum potential out of your crops at the right times of vegetative growth, fruiting and ripening needed for a good use of this macro.
HOW TO APPLY POTASSIUM FERTILISERS TO YOUR CROPS?
It is important to bear in mind that, in order to achieve a good yield, it is essential to apply high quality fertilisers with a suitable balance of nutrients that allows a uniform distribution and optimum results.
At DFGRUPO, we recommend our potassium range, whose formula guarantees the maximum quality and solubility of the nutrients.
DFGRUPO can provide these characteristics during the important periods of sowing, covering and continuity of corrective contributions of nutritional deficiencies, and ensure an adequate contribution of this essential element to obtain the maximum yield and quality in our crops.
CONVENTIONAL: (PURE)
- Potassium Chloride CLK
- Potassium Sulphate K2SO4
- POTASSIUM NITRATE KNO3
- CONVENTIONAL LINE NITROFOSKAS COMPLEXES
- FERTILPAK COMPACTED CONVENTIONAL PRODUCT
Remember that DFGRUPO can recommend the products that best meet the needs of your crops and answer any questions you may have. Get in touch, and we will be happy to discuss it with you!
