Salt, Sodium and Potassium and Drought

Potassium deficiency in avocado and citrus leaves often looks like salt stress and more specifically sodium toxicity. Plants will often look wilted with curled leaves, yellow areas between leaf veins and dead areas along the margins of the leaves. Salt stress refers to the excessive amount of soluble salts in the root zone which induce osmotic stress (appearance of lack of water) and ion toxicity (growing problems and often symptoms) in the growing plant. Among toxic ions, sodium (Na⁺) has the most adverse effects on plant growth by its detrimental influence on plant metabolism in inhibiting enzyme activities. An optimal potassium (K⁺) : Na⁺ ratio is vital to activate enzymatic reactions in the cytoplasm necessary for maintenance of plant growth and yield development These enzymes control such functions as the stomata which regulate water and photosynthesis control in the plant. Although most soils have adequate amounts of K⁺, uptake is exacerbated under sodic or saline-sodic soil conditions as a consequence of K⁺-Na⁺ antagonism. Here K⁺ uptake by plants is severely affected by the presence of Na⁺ in the soil. Due to its similar chemical properties, Na⁺ competes with K⁺ in plant uptake It would seem a reasonable assumption therefore that an increase in the concentration of K⁺ in salt-affected soils may support enhanced K⁺ uptake. And that has been noted in many plant species including citrus and avocado.

 

But aside from the role of potassium in drought tolerance there are many functions of potassium in plants:

 

• Increases root growth and improves drought resistance

• Activates many enzyme systems

• Maintains turgor; reduces water loss and wilting

• Aids in photosynthesis and food

• Reduces respiration, preventing energy losses

• Enhances translocation of sugars and starch

• Produces grain rich in starch

• Increases protein content of plants

• Builds cellulose

• Helps retard crop diseases

 

In the case of avocado and citrus there is about twice the amount of potassium as nitrogen harvested in the crop, yet many growers do not consider potassium in their normal practices, much less when drought has increased salt stress on the trees. The end of August through September is when leaf analysis is best used to adjust a fertilizer program.

 

Sodium toxicity and Potassium deficiency in avocado

avocado sodium toxicity

potassium deficiency avocado

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