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.
Heavy crop production rapidly depletes the soil of potassium. This can be remedied by applying agricultural fertilizers that contain potassium.
Usually, potassium fertilizers are applied during the planting stage. Although in some cases, as when dealing with sandy soil or when soil contain high amounts of potassium-fixing minerals, several applications of potassium fertilizers are needed.
Potassium chloride (KCl) or muriate of potash (MOP) are widely used potassium fertilizers.
Potassium nitrate (KNO3) is known to be used in foliar sprays or fertigation due to its high water solubility characteristics.
*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.