Potassium

Potassium (К2О) – is one of the three most important plant nutrients. Its content in them reaches 0.3-3.0%. The first assumption of the need for potassium presence in plants nutrition was made by the Swiss naturalist Saussure in the early 18th century, who found it in plant ashes. The need to use potassium fertilizers was substantiated somewhat later by Liebig. In plants, potassium is found in the exclusively ionic form K+. Low hydrolytic stability of K-N or K-C bonds leaves no chance of finding it as a part of any compound. In plant cells, potassium is present in the form of dissolved salts in the cell sap and partly in the form of weak adsorption complexes with cytoplasmic colloids. 75- 85% of potassium is found in young plant organs and parts. Potassium can be reused. In case of its deficiency in the nutrient medium, it flows out of old tissues to young ones.
• Potassium is very important for plants as it performs a number of important physiological functions in it.
• Activation and acceleration of assimilates outflow from leaves to storage organs.
• Activation of the process of photosynthesis and assimilation of CO2.
• Increasing nitrogen absorption and efficiency of nitrogen fertilizers.
• Contribution to preservation of enzyme activity.
• Promotion of formation of sound high-quality fruits (enhanced synthesis of carbohydrates – sugars, starch, cellulose, pectin substances).
• Participation in regulation of water metabolism.
Potassium has a positive effect on absorption of ammonium nitrogen, increasing protein accumulation. It takes part in carbohydrate metabolism. The ability of potassium to activate sugars outflow from leaves leads to increase of crop quality characteristics, which is especially noticeable in vegetable, berry and fruit crops. In addition, it affects biosynthesis of vitamins B and C. Potassium ion enhances hydration of biocolloids, which keeps the plant active. Decrease in water content of colloids (dehydration), due to the transition of sols to gel, leads to their aging and disruption of normal functioning. Plants provided with potassium tolerate heat and drought more easily. The effect of photosynthesis and assimilation processes activation is associated with the effect of potassium on such enzymes as amylase and invertase. This element has a significant impact on the crop structure (grain unit, ear grain content, etc.). Potassium is able to increase plant frost resistance due to accumulation of sugars (for example, in the tillering node in winter cereals) and increase in osmotic pressure in cells.