1. Purpose of potassium within the plant
To begin the process, potassium is a vital nutrient to productively grow many plants, although potassium isn’t an active ingredient of the chemical structure it still plays several significantly high roles in the development. There are several roles potassium does such as enzyme activation, photosynthesis, stomatal activity, transportation of sugars, water and nutrient transportation, starch synthesis, and improving the quality of the desired crop.
2. How much potassium will be lost at harvest
The amount of potassium lost at harvest will vary from each crop type, moisture available, and plenty other variables assuring minimum losses. With this being said, these losses are higher with crops such as: alfalfa, forages and corn silage. Likewise grain and seed harvests have much less potassium loss. According to Iowa State University Extension, the values of lost Potassium are 3.5 lbs P2O5 per ton on a 65% moisture base on corn silage.
3. In what chemical form is potassium placed in the soil as
Potassium’s role to the plant is indirect, meaning it acts as a catalyst regulating enzymatic processes within the plant for necessary plant growth. It is important for a plant to have high enough levels of potassium to withstand extremely cold or hot temperatures. The form of which Potassium is most commonly applied is potassium chloride also known as (0-60-0).
4. Can potassium be applied as a liquid, dry or both
Potassium can be applied both as liquid and dry fertilizer. It can be applied as potassium nitrate 13-0-46 otherwise known as water soluble dry fertilizer, which are known as prills or granular form. The liquid is known as potassium sulfate 0-0-50, which is a very important product in a conven...
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...oss of potassium thought the plant.
8. Additional information regarding potassium
A. Potassium has been known to be highly mobile with a plant, this means a crop moves potassium from old leaves to new plant parts. With this being said a plant may have the ability to overcome an early K deficiency if the roots encounter better soil or a supply of K is applied during the growing season. The deficiency symptoms first appear on older leaves and work their way up to the upper parts of the plant.
B. Factors that interfere with crop intake of potassium include: free lime in the rooting zone, cool soil temperatures, shallow rooting, poor drainage, and soil compaction.
C. Pounds of potassium needed to grow one bushel of corn is roughly 12, with corn needing 12 lbs of nitrogen and 4 lbs of phosphorus.
D. Potassium ranks seventh in order of abundance in the earth’s crust.
Together extra-renal factors (insulin, epinephrine, aldosterone) and renal factors maintain a normal potassium plasma concentration in the body. The extra-renal mechanisms are responsible for moving potassium into the intracellular compartment. The renal mechanisms are responsible for chronic maintenance of body potassium content. When these mechanisms are functioning correctly, large intake of potassium has a minor and insignificant effect on the potassium concentration in the plasma. [5&6]
Carter, E., Theodorou, M., and Morris, P. 1997. Responses of lotus corniculatus to environmental Change I. effects of elevated CO2, temperature and drought on growth and plant development. New Phytologist. 136: 245-253.
Next, the kukui tree’s physical features have all contributed, in some way, to its adaptation here in Hawaii. The kukui tree is such a resilient and adaptive species because it can be commonly found in various parts of Hawaii. It is able to grow in a variety of conditions such as different types of soils, a pH of 5-8, being able...
Common fertilizers contain high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which is what a plant needs to produce mo...
To make sure that my test is fair I will make sure to keep all the
Given the amount of resources that the world as a whole has access to why use corn as a source of fuel? Some would say that countries, such as the United States have an overabundance of food produce. Logically, those countries that have an over surplus of food MUST have enough to put a dent into the rapidly increasing costs of oil and gasoline. Unfortunately, that is a misconception. In order to produce enough corn to fuel the global economy it is important to analyze what that actually means for farmers and the government, not to mention the actual food supply. In order to produce corn ethanol, we must first grow an abundance of corn. Simple right? Wrong, corn is very draining on the soil it is grown, which, in short, means that whomever is growing the corn would have to rotate the corn plantation with something that will restore the nutrients of the soil. Unfortunately, that takes both time and money to do. The task would cal...
Potassium is an element on the periodic table that is symbolized by the letter K. The atomic number of this element is 19. At room temperature this element is a solid. Potassium can be found in two forms: either pure or compounds. Pure potassium is described as a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive in water However, Potassium forms many compounds such as Potassium chloride, which is the most common potassium compound (Gagnon, 1). This form of Potassium is especially used in fertilizers as a salt substitute. Another potassium compound is Potassium hydroxide, which is used to make soap, detergents and drain cleaners. Potassium carbonate is used to make some types of glass and soaps. This is also obtained as a byproduct of ammonia. Lastly, Potassium superoxide can create oxygen from water vapor and carbon dioxide. An example of this reaction is “2KO2 + H2O + 2CO2 => 2KHCO3 + O2” (Gagnon, 1). Gagnon also says, “it is used in respiratory equipment and is produced by burning potassium metal in dry air. Potassium nitrate (KNO3), also known as saltpeter or nitre, is used in fertilizers, match heads and pyrotechnics” (Gagnon, 1). Sir Humphrey Davy discovered this element in England in 1807 (Helmenstine, 1). Steve Gagnon, maintainer of the Jefferson Lab website page says, “Sir Humphry Davy first isolated metallic potassium in 1807 through the electrolysis of molten caustic potash (KOH)” (Gagnon, 1). Gagnon also writes, “a few months after discovering potassium, Davy used the same method to isolate sodium. Potassium can be obtained from the minerals sylvite (KCl), carnallite (KCl·MgCl2·6H2O), langbeinite (K2Mg2(SO4)3) and polyhalite (K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O). These minerals are often found in ancient...
Selling corn in massive quantity can lead to a greater profit. An ear of corn may averages about eight-hundred kernels in sixteen rows and a pound of corn consists of approximately 1,300 kernels. One-hundred bushels of corn makes approximately 7,280,000 kernels. Every year, a single U.S. Farmer may provides food and fiber for 129 people in the U.S. and 32 overseas. In the U.S., corn production is 2 times that of any other crop. Over 55% of Iowa’s corn goes to foreign markets and the rest is used in other parts of the United States of America.
Plant hormones are certain chemicals present in plants that control plant growth and development by affecting the division, differentiation, and elongation of cells. (Campbell, 2008) Each hormone has multiple effects depending on its site of action, its concentrations, and the developing stage of the plant. (Campbell, 2008) Auxin is a plant hormone that is synthesized within the apical meristems and young leaves of a growing plant. Auxin stimulates stem elongation when it is present is low concentrations. It promotes the formations of lateral and adventitious roots, regulates development of fruit, enhances apical dominance, functions in gravitropism and phototropism, promotes vascular differentiation, and retards leaf abscission. Gibberellic acid is one of several plant hormones that govern a plant’s growth. Gibberellins allow for stem elongation in plants. Plants without enough of this hormone tend to grow short or stunted. This chemical is high in the element potassium, which is one the main components of plant fertilizer and very important for plant growth on its own. The...
Potassium is an essential component for plant growth. Potassium is absorbed by plants in larger amounts than most other mineral elements. Potassium is supplied to plants by soil minerals, organic materials, and inorganic fertilizer. Potassium is not found in organic combination with plant tissues. Potassium plays an essential role in the metabolic processes of plants. Potassium also is essential in carbohydrate metabolism, a process by which energy is obtained from sugar.
Aside from lignin’s obvious strengthening purpose it can also help plants in other ways. For instance, lignin contains specialized water conduct...
Throughout the history of the human race there have been a great number of crops that were discovered, planted, and over time domesticated. Wheat in the Middle East, rice in Asia, and rye in Eastern Europe are all some of today’s staple crops that feed millions every day. Crops like these make up over 50% of the world’s total food supply. However, the third most eaten crop in the world is maize, or corn, which provides 21% of human nutrition. Today maize feeds millions across the world, but its history is different from the others.
Disruption in heart rhythms and muscle spasms are by high levels of potassium (Martini, 2014).
Humans depend on plants in numerous ways. One reason we depend on plants is for consumption. Plants have the unique ability of producing their own food through a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants are able to produce macromolecules such as carbohydrates that cannot be produced in animals or humans. In humans, the only to gain these macromolecules is to consume plant matter, or consume plant-eating animals (herbivores).
An acre of corn will give off 15,000 litres (4,000 gallons) of water per day in evaporation.