© Copyright 2007 Welcome Title Welcome to the International Potash Institute K gallery: Effect of Potassium (K) fertilization on growth, yields, appearance,

© Copyright 2007

WelcomeTitle Welcome to the International Potash Institute

K gallery: Effect of Potassium (K) fertilization on growth, yields, appearance, quality, stress tolerance of plants and nutritional symptoms

Policy We encourage you to use our pictures on this site. Recommended citation: www.ipipotash.org; International Potash Institute (IPI), Horgen, Switzerland.

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This section is frequently updated. Last update: April 2010. Contribution ofpictures is welcomed. Please send your pictures to the email listed below.

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International Potash InstituteBaumgärtlistrasse 17P.O. Box 569CH-8810 Horgen, SwitzerlandTel. +41 43 810 49 22Fax +41 43 810 49 [email protected]; www.ipipotash.org

Maize (Zea mays L.)

Maize grain from China

Effect of potassium (K) application on maize

Effect of K application on yield of maize in a Pea-Sunflower-Maize intensive cropping system. IPI-Punjab Agricultural University. Farmer's field at Majari dist., Nawanshehar, 2004. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Effect of potassium (K) on grain filling and ear size of maize

Application of K affected the grain filling and ear size. The picture was taken at IPI-SFI project in Jiajiang county, Chengdu, China, 2001. Source: IPI Coordination China.

Effect of potassium (K) on the size of cobs

120 kg ha-1 of K2OControl

Application of K affected the size of maize cobs. The picture was taken at IPI-EMBRAPA project in Luis Eduardo Magalhaes, Bahia, Brazil, 2006. Partners: EMBRAPA and local No-till NGO. Source: IPI Coordination L. America.

Effect of potassium (K) and phosphorous (P) on the size and grain

filling of maize cobs

Application of K (left) and P (center) increased the cob’s grain filling and size. PAU-IPI project at KVK Bahosal, Punjab, India, 9-2007. Source: Dr. M.S. Brar and IPI Coordination India.

Effect of potassium (K) on resistance of maize leaves to water stress

Application of K decreased the signs of wilting leaves. IPI-SFI Chengdu project; Jiajiang, Sichuan, China, 2000. Source: IPI Coordination China.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Hybrid rice from China

Effect of potassium (K) on rice plants

Effect of N, P and K on rice plant size. IPI-SWRI project in the Nile Delta, Egypt. 2006. Source: IPI Coordination WANA.

Effect of potassium (K) on rice panicle size of rice

Effect of K on panicle size of rice. IPI-PRII-PAU project in Gurdaspur, Punjab, India. 2004. Source: IPI Coordination India.

+K -K

Effect of potassium (K) on panicle size of rice

Effect of K on panicle size of rice. IPI-ISSAS project in Changsha, China. 9-2007. Source: IPI Coordination China.

+K

-K

+K-K

Effect of potassium (K) on panicle size and number of grains per panicle of

rice+K -K

Effect of K on panicle size and the number of grains per panicle (in the photo, the grain shown is from three panicles). IPI-ISSAS project in Changsha, China. 9-2007. Source: IPI Coordination China.

Typical deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in rice

Typical potassium deficiency symptoms on the leaves of rice plants (variety IR 26). Note the rusty-brown spots, yellowing of the leaf tips and marginal necrosis. Source: Bulletin 3, 1993, IPI, Horgen, Switzerland.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat field in Argentina

Effect of potassium (K) on ear size of wheat

Effect of K on ear size of wheat. Experiment at farmers’ fields. Grain yield was double with K application of 120 kg K2O/ha. IPI project in Bangladesh. 2005. Source: IPI Coordination India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

-K +K

Effect of potassium (K) on grain size of wheat

-K +K

Potassium had an effect on size and quality of wheat grain. The project was conducted by the Potash Research Institute of India (PRII) at farmer's field in the village of Hasanpur, Dist. Gurgaon (Haryana State). Soil is loamy sand having available K (NH4OAc extractable) about 30 mg/kg. The treatments were N120 P60 and N120P60K60. 2004. Source: PRII, India.

Effect of S, Cl and K on ear size of wheat

Effect of sulfur (S), chloride (Cl) and potassium (K) on the size of wheat ears. Experiment in Arrecifes, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Source: IPI-INTA Pergamino, IPI Coordination Latin America.

Typical deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in wheat

Typical potassium deficiency symptoms on the leaves of wheat plants. 2001. IPI-PRII project in Jurgaon, Haryana, India. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Soybean (Glycine max )

High yielding soybean variety, Indore, India

Effect of potassium (K) on soybean grain size

Effect of potassium on the number and size of soybean grain. IPI-NCSR project in the'soybean belt' of India, Simrol, Indore, Madhya Pradesh. 2004. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Effect of potassium (K) on pest infestation in soybean

Effect of K on pest infestation in soybean. The experiment conducted at farmers' fields showed how K affected plant's resistance to pest infestation. Photo was taken at IPI-PRII-Oilfed project in Sehore, Madhya Pradesh, India. Source: IPI Coordination India.

-K +K

Typical potassium (K) deficiency symptoms in soybean

Control = 0 KControl = 0 K

Different doses of KDifferent doses of K

Typical deficiency symptoms in K deficient soybean plants. Photo was taken at IPI-EMBRAPA project in Montividiu, Goias, Brazil, 2007. Source: IPI Coordination Latin America.

Peanut (Arachis hypogea )

Peanut plant grown on red soil in Sichuan, China

Effect of potassium (K) on growth of groundnut

Groundnut grown on poor in potassium red soil responded well to K application. The picture was taken at the IPI-SFI Chengdu project, Sichuan, China, 2004. Source: IPI Coordination China.

Effect of potassium (K) on growth of groundnut

The degree of chlorosis of groundnut plants grown on calcareous soil was much less in the +K plots. IPI-PRII-GAU project in Junagadh, Gujarat, India. 1997. Source: IPI Coordination India.

-K +K

Sugarcane (Saccharum L.)

Sugarcane in Brazil

Effect of potassium (K) on occurrence of disease in sugarcane

-K+K

Effect of K application on red rot disease in sugarcane (Colletotrichum falcatum ). Meerut, Utar Pradesh, India. 2002. Source: DSW.

Effect of N & K fertigation on the growth of sugarcane

Fertigated sugarcane demonstration plot at the field of Shri Babasaheb at Kande village, District Sangli (Maharashtra, India) 10-2007. Source: VSI-IPI project (2005-2008).

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Potato exhibition in Belarus

Effect of potassium (K) on the number and size

of potato tubers (4 plants)PRODUCE OF 4 PLANTSPRODUCE OF 4 PLANTS

N160+P100+KK7575N160+P100+KK

00

N160+P100+KK150150

Effect of potassium on number and size of potato tubers. IPI–PRII–CPRI project, Jalandhar, Punjab, 1997. Source: IPI Coordination India.

-K +K

Effect of potassium (K) on the number and size

of potato tubers (3 plants)

Effect of potassium on number and size of potato tubers. IPI project in Chhattisgarh, India, 2004. Source: IPI Coordination India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

-K +K

Effect of potassium (K) on infestation by

Late blight (Phytophtora infestans )

Effect of potassium on occurrence of Late Blight disease (Phytophtora infestans ). IPI–PRII–CPRI project, Jalandhar, Punjab, 1997. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Mild potassium (K) deficiency symptoms in potato leaves

+K-K

Typical symptoms of K deficiency in potato leaves. IPI–PRII–CPRI project, Jalandhar, Punjab, 1997. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Severe potassium (K) deficiency symptoms in potato leaves

Typical symptoms of K deficiency in potato leaves. IPI–PRII–CPRI project, Jalandhar, Punjab, 1997. Source: IPI Coordination India.

+K-K

Other crops

Effect of balanced fertilization (NPK) on yield and quality of onion

Effect of potassium on onion size and yield. IPI–MPKV project, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India. 2008-2009. Source: A.R. Dhage et al. IPI Coordination India.

0-0-0 100-50-125

Effect of potassium (K) on yield and quality of onion

Effect of potassium on onion size and yield. IPI–MPKV project, Rahuri, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India. 2008-2009. Source: A.R. Dhage et al. and IPI Coordination India.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Control NP (T9) NPK (T2)

Yiel

d (m

t ha-1

)

CD (5%) = 2.27

Effect of potassium (K) on onion size

N100P80 N100P80K90

Potassium effect on size of onion. IPI demonstration experiments Raipur District,Chattisgarh, India , 2006. Source: IPI Coordination East India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Potassium effect on Rabi linseed (flax). IPI-CSAU project on K requirement of major oil seeds and pulses in the Central plain zone, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, 2009. Source: D.D. Tiwari et al. and IPI Coordination India.

Effect of potassium (K) on linseed (flax) yield

2,5622,4752,381

1,537

2,162

K0 K20 K40 K60 K80K (kg ha-1 K2O)

Cd (5%) = 92

Yield (mt ha-1)

Effect of potassium (K) on head size and number of seeds in sunflower

Effect of K on sunflower heads / yields. The IPI-PAU Project is conducted at KVK, a farmers’ training center, Directorate of Extension Education of the PAU. This project has a specific extension character and includes demonstration plots, farmers’ field days and literature in local language (Punjabi).2004. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Effect of potassium (K) on yield of pearl millet

-K+K

Fertilizing pearl millet (bajra) with potash in Bawal, Haryana, India. IPI-HAU experiment at CCS HAU, Regional Research Station, Bawal. 2002. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Effect of potassium (K) on citrus fruit size

Long term fertilization experiment in citrus (5 years) showed significant difference in fruit size with K application. Picture was taken at the Volcani Center, Israel.

Effect of potassium (K) on papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit size and yield

N-P2O5-K2O = 750-750-0

Potassium effect on size of papaya fruit. IPI-TNAU project in Vadipatti, Theni Dist., Tamil Nadu, India , 2004. The +K treatment received N(750)P2O5(750)K2O(750). Source: IPI Coordination India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

-K +K

Effect of potassium (K) on papaya fruit size

N750P750 + K375 + K750 + K1125

Potassium effect on size of papaya fruit. IPI-TNAU project in Vadipatti, Theni Dist., Tamil Nadu, India , 2004. Source: IPI Coordination India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Effect of potassium (K) on eggplant size

Size of eggplants (and yield) increased with application of potassium. The picture was taken at a demonstration experiment in farmers’ field Bachhera village, Raipur District, Chhattisgarh, India. Season 2004-05. Treatments are: T1: N150P100 (yield 263 q/ha); T2: N150P100K50 (yield 327 q/ha) and T3: N150P100K75 (yield 493 q/ha). Source: IPI Coordination East India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

N150P100 N150P100K50 N150P100K75

Effect of potassium (K) on size and number of peas

Potassium affected the number and size of pea grains. Potash experiment in Punjab; Village of Nangal Khurad, Hoshiarpur Dist., Punjab, India. The IPI-PAU Project is conducted at KVK, a farmers’ training center, Directorate of Extension Education of the PAU. This project has a specific extension character and includes demonstration plots, farmers’ field days and literature in local language (Punjabi).2005. Source: IPI Coordination India.

-K +K

Effect of potassium (K) on cracking of watermelon

-K+K

Potassium application reduced cracking of watermelons. IPI-SFI Chengdu project, 2000-2003. The experiment was conducted at farmers’ fields in Pengshan, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Source: IPI Coordination China.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa )

Potassium application increased size of turmeric rhizome. IPI-Annamalai University project, 2006. The experiment was conducted in pots at a farmer’s field at Arachalur, Erode District, Tamil Nadu, India. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Mild K deficiency

Medium K deficiency Severe K deficiency

Deficiency symptoms of K in Banana leaves. Various degrees of K deficiency in Banana leaves are shown as ‘Mild’ (left), ‘Medium’ (middle) and ‘Severe’ (right). The picture was taken at IPI experiment in Tamil Nadu, India. 2004. Source: IPI Coordination India.

Various degrees of potassium (K) deficiency

in Banana leaves

Typical deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in oilseed rape

Typical potassium deficiency symptoms in oilseed rape leaves. Source: Bulletin 16, 2003, IPI, Horgen, Switzerland. Courtesy of K+S KALI.

Typical deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in sugar beet

Typical potassium deficiency symptoms in sugar beet leaves. Source: Bulletin 15, 1996, IPI, Horgen, Switzerland. Courtesy of K+S KALI.

Deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in oil palm

The most common symptom of potassium deficiency is “confluent orange spotting”, starting with small rectangular, pale green spots on pinnae of older leaves. These spots later turn orange and in severe cases the center of the spots and the tips and margins of affected pinnae will become necrotic. Source: Bulletin 12, 1991, IPI, Horgen, Switzerland.

Deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in sunflower

K deficient plants have restricted growth with a rosette-like arrangements of the younger leaves. Later the leaves develop dark brown necrotic patches. K deficient leaves loose their color from tip and margins; later on they turn brown and finally die (necrosis). Source: Bulletin 10, 1988, IPI, Horgen, Switzerland.

Deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in cauliflower

Deficiency symptom of K in cauliflower leaves. The IPI-SFI Chengdu project was conducted at farmers' fields near Chengdu. K+ and K omission plots received optimal (and same) N and P application. 2004. Source: IPI Coordination China.

Deficiency symptoms of potassium (K) in vine

Deficiency symptom of K in grape vine leaves. Source: IPI Coordination China.

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