Premium
Potassium and the distribution of calcium and magnesium in potato plants
Author(s) -
Addiscott Thomas M.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740250915
Subject(s) - magnesium , potassium , dry matter , chemistry , calcium , horticulture , botany , biology , organic chemistry
In two experiments, varying amounts of K, and of K and Mg, were given to King Edward potato plants grown in soil in pots. Giving K decreased the Ca concentration in tuber dry matter but increased that of Mg more than giving Mg did; giving Mg did not increase the K concentration. The increased quantity of Mg in the tubers (18 to 50% of that in the plant) that resulted from added K was associated with decreased quantities in the stems and leaves because total Mg uptake was little altered. While the tubers were forming Mg moved from the stems if much K was given but not from the leaves; added K seemed to cause Mg to be diverted to the tubers without reaching the leaves. Only a small amount (about 5%) of the plants' Ca was in the tubers; this did not increase with K nutrition and so did not seem to be associated with the decrease in the quantity of Ca in the leaves that occurred with added K. These results are discussed in relation to the ways in which Ca and Mg may have entered the tubers.