DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

Pottasium, K

Deena Roslee

Suhanah Jaabi

AGR 251

Prepared by :

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

INTRODUCTION• Potassium (Potash) deficiency, is a

plant disorder that is most common on sandy soils, because potassium ions (K+) are highly soluble and will easily leach from soils without colloids.

• Potassium deficiency is also common in chalky or peaty soils with a low clay content. It is also found on heavy clays with a poor structure.:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_deficiency_(plants)

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

SYMPTOMS OF K DEFFICIENCY• First appear on older (lower) leaves because potassium is a

mobile nutrient, meaning that a plant can allocate potassium to younger leaves when it is K deficient. Deficient plants may lead to disease, and their symptoms can often be confused with wind scorch or drought.

• Brown scorching and curling of leaf tips as well as chlorosis between leaf veins.

• Purple spots may also appear on the leaf undersides. • Plant growth, root development, and seed and fruit

development are usually reduced in potassium-deficient plants.

• The deficiency is most common in several important fruit and vegetable crops; potatoes, tomatoes, apples, berries, also cereals.

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

Potassium deficiencysymptoms : -The margins of the leaflets turn light green to yellow.

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

- chlorosis (loss of green colour) or yellowing along the leaf.

- the leaves appear dry and scorched at the edges and the surfaces are irregularly chlorotic. - wilted appearance and may not stand up straight - plant develops fruit, it develops smaller and fewer fruits

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

PREVENTION & CURE• Wood ash has high potassium content, but

should be composted first as it is highly soluble form.

• Adequate moisture is necessary for effective potassium uptake; low soil water reduces K

uptake by plant roots. • Liming acidic soils will also increase K retention

in the soil by reducing leaching. • In the longer term the soil structure should be

improved by adding plenty of well rotted compost or manure.

• Improving soil structure will help reduce leaching.

DEENA ROSLEE & SUHANAH JAABI

SOURCES K

KCl, muriate of potash - 0-0-60 K2SO4, potassium sulfate - 0-0-50 KNO3, potassium nitrate - 13-0-44

Sulfur coated potassium Polymer coated potassium

Rock Potash