Effects of Potassium Nutrition on Corn ( Zea mays L.) Physiology and Growth for Modeling

Naflath Thenveettil, Krishna N. Reddy and Kambham Raja Reddy ()
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Naflath Thenveettil: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, 117 Dorman Hall, P.O. Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Krishna N. Reddy: Crop Production Systems Research Unit, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, 141 Experimental Station Road, P.O. Box 350, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA
Kambham Raja Reddy: Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, 117 Dorman Hall, P.O. Box 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Potassium (K) deficiency in corn is an emerging concern, especially when the crop is exposed to stress conditions. The insufficient replenishment of K in soil heightens the severity. A good K management requires adequate knowledge of its effect on plant growth and physiology. A sunlit growth chamber study was conducted under five levels of potassium concentrations, 100% (control; 193 ppm), 40%, 20%, 5%, and 0%, using modified Hoagland’s nutrient solution applied at first leaf stage and continued until tasseling. The plant growth and development were monitored at different growth stages. Physiological parameters were measured at the tasseling stage. Significant differences ( p < 0.05 to 0.001) in plant growth and physiological parameters were recorded in response to potassium rates. The 0% K treatment reduced the leaf K content and addition of leaf area day −1 by 85% and 8%, respectively, compared to the control. The rate of total biomass accumulation reduced to 5.4 g day −1 under 0% K compared to 7.7 g day −1 under the control. The root-to-shoot ratio increased to 0.33 at 5% K compared to 0.16 at the control treatment. The photosynthetic rate was reduced by 30% and 35% under 5% and 0% potassium concentrations, respectively, compared to the control. The 0% K deficiency decreased the stomatal conductance by 60% over control, lowering the internal CO 2 level and transpiration. Linear and quadratic relationships were observed between leaf K content and electron transport rate (R 2 = 0.98) and transpiration rate (R 2 = 0.96), respectively. The functional relationships generated from this study will help improve corn models for field applications.

Keywords: environmental productivity index; functional relationship; macronutrient; micronutrient; plant biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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