The importance of Potassium (K) for the crops

Potassium (K) is one of the essential nutrients for plants and plays a fundamental role in the development of agricultural crops.

The potassium (K)

Potassium falls into the category of macronutrients: like nitrogen, it is more absorbed by plants both through the roots and from the soil. It is involved in numerous vital processes within plants and plays an irreplaceable role in activating numerous enzymes involved in just as many metabolic processes.

What is the use of potassium in fertilizer?

Adequate macronutrient intake improves crop quality in several ways:

1. Affects quantity and quality, improving flavour, colour and shelf life
2. It is essential for photosynthesis; in fact, it helps plants convert sunlight into usable energy
3. Adjusts the opening and closing of stomata, facilitating leaf transpiration
4. Promotes the strengthening of the stems, limiting episodes of lodging
5. Finally, it promotes resistance to diseases and environmental stresses, such as drought and cold. Plants well fed with potassium are able to better withstand adverse conditions, ensuring greater stability in agricultural production.

Deficiency and excess of potassium

The warning signs of a potassium deficiency are slowly manifested by the appearance of chlorosis along the edges and ends of the leaves, initially in the old ones.

In addition to the visible alteration of the state of the leaves, the plants lacking in potassium are weak and more sensitive to external stress.

On the contrary, an excess does not directly cause toxicity but adversely affects interactions with other nutrients.

Potassium plays a key role in the development of agricultural crops, ensuring healthy growth, better crop quality and greater resilience to adverse environmental conditions. Promoting awareness of the importance of potassium and adopting sustainable agricultural practices (such as optimized use of resources) are crucial steps towards a more prosperous and sustainable agricultural future.