K Removal
The Need for Potassium
Potassium is required for the activation of over 80 plant enzymes and supporting the physiological development of a potato crop. Its benefits include:
- Improving plants' water use through regulation of photosynthesis and transpiration
- Enhancing nitrogen utilization and increasing protein production
- Boosting overall plant health and the crop's ability to withstand disease, pests and drought stress
Symptoms of a potassium deficiency in potato plants include bluish-green leaflets and slight interveinal chlorosis, marginal scorch bronzing and brown spots on the undersurface of leaves.
Potassium is taken up by potato plants more than any other nutrient. In fact, potatoes remove up to 56 lbs. of K2O per 1Potatoes typically remove up to 56 lbs. of potassium (K2O) from the soil per 100 cwt of yield. That means a 500 cwt crop will remove about 280 lbs. of potassium per acre per year. If those nutrients aren't replenished, future crops can suffer in quality and uniformity of yield, specific gravity and storage capability, and have increased risks of external defects.
