Drying of tips and along leaf edges (oldest leaves affected first)
Interveinal chlorosis along leaf margins
Ragged appearance (dried leaf tissue falls from leaflet edges)
Delayed maturity and poor yields
Uneven ripening of fruits
Potassium is one of the three primary macronutrients required in high amounts by all plants. Potassium is what the “K” stands for in “N. P. K.” fertilizers. K+ is the most abundant cation found in plants cells.
Potassium plays many important regulatory roles in plant development processes; it affects osmotic regulation and is involved in the opening and closing of stomata. Therefore, it affects photosynthesis and water regime in plants.
When potassium uptake is inadequate, the stomata responds slowly. This results in less water circulation in plants, making them more susceptible to drought and temperature changes.
A produção agrícola pesada esgota rapidamente o potássio no solo. Normalmente, os fertilizantes potássicos são aplicados durante o plantio. Ao lidar com solo arenoso ou quando o solo contém grandes quantidades de minerais fixadores de potássio, são necessárias várias aplicações de fertilizantes potássicos. Cloreto de potássio (KCl) ou muriato de potássio (MOP) são fertilizantes de potássio amplamente utilizados. Nitrato de potássio (KNO3) é conhecido por ser usado em pulverizações foliares ou fertirrigação devido às suas caraterísticas de elevada solubilidade em água.
*Names marked in red are considered to be highly poisonous to beneficial insects.
*Names marked in green are considered to be organic and IPM (integrated pest management) compatible.