Potassium requirements for growth and its related processes determined by plant analysis in wheat

Summary Potassium requirements for growth—dry matter (DM) and leaf area (LA) and related processes — relative leaf growth rate (RLGR), relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR) were determined by plant analysis during the entogeny of wheat. Wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. HD 2329) plants were supplied with different amounts of K from deficient to adequate through nutrient solution. Samples were taken at specific stages for K determinations. The DM and LA were recorded at 45d, 75d and 105d. The growth related processes RGR, NAR and CGR were estimated between 30–45d, 45–75d and 75–105d. In case of RLGR the observations were carried out between 15–30d, 30–45d and 45–75d. These physiological processes and grain yield were correlated with K concentration in whole plant at 30 and 45d and top two leaves at 75 and 105d. The results indicated that k status in plants influences growth mostly through leaf area formation which inturn influences successively RLGR, RGR and CGR and finally grain yield. For vegetative growth the optimum concentration required in plants was always lower than the optimum for grain production.