ROLE OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZERS IN PLANT GROWTH, CROP YIELD AND QUALITY FIBER PRODUCTION OF COTTON – AN OVERVIEW

Abstract

Potassium is essential for the growth and development of cotton crop. It is essential for many of the enzyme systems in the cotton plant and plays a role in reducing the incidence and severity of the wilt disease. Potassium increases water efficiency, affects the speed of almost all plant biological systems, and affects fiber properties such as micronair, length, and strength. Additionally potassium also plays a significant role in photophosphorylation, turgor maintenance, photoassimilate transport from source tissues via phloem to sink tissues, stress tolerance and enzyme activation in plants. Plants translocate the potassium to all parts of plant and in turn yield per plant is increased. The uptake of potassium increases during early boll set with some 70 % of total uptake occurring after first bloom. The most common source of potassium is muriate of potash. Other sources include potassium sulfate and potassium nitrate. To produce one bale of cotton fiber (218 kg), cotton plant requires 20 kg of potassium of which approximately 2-5 kg are being removed by seeds. Potassium fertilization of cotton should receive more attention from the farmers.