Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation
Abstract Potassium (K) is the most abundant cation in the vast majority of plants. It is required in large quantities which, in an agronomic context, typically necessitates application of K in the form of potash or other K fertilisers. Recently, the price of K fertiliser has risen dramatically, a si...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Springer
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Stress Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44154-022-00070-1 |
| _version_ | 1798044305854562304 |
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| author | Sarah J. Thorne Frans J. M. Maathuis |
| author_facet | Sarah J. Thorne Frans J. M. Maathuis |
| author_sort | Sarah J. Thorne |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Potassium (K) is the most abundant cation in the vast majority of plants. It is required in large quantities which, in an agronomic context, typically necessitates application of K in the form of potash or other K fertilisers. Recently, the price of K fertiliser has risen dramatically, a situation that is paralleled by increasing K deficiency of soils around the globe. A potential solution to this problem is to reduce crop K fertiliser dependency by replacing it with sodium (Na) fertiliser which carries a much smaller price tag. In this paper we discuss the physiological roles of K and Na and the implications of Na fertilisation for crop cultivation and soil management. By using greenhouse growth assays we show distinct growth promotion after Na fertilisation in wheat, tomato, oilseed and sorghum. Our results also show that up to 60% of tissue K can be substituted by Na without growth penalty. Based on these data, simple economic models suggest that (part) replacement of K fertiliser with Na fertiliser leads to considerable savings. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:01:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4d0541e811b24f0f977a61d572e977d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2731-0450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:01:42Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Stress Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4d0541e811b24f0f977a61d572e977d82022-12-22T03:58:07ZengSpringerStress Biology2731-04502022-11-012111010.1007/s44154-022-00070-1Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisationSarah J. Thorne0Frans J. M. Maathuis1Department of Biology, University of SheffieldDepartment of Biology, University of YorkAbstract Potassium (K) is the most abundant cation in the vast majority of plants. It is required in large quantities which, in an agronomic context, typically necessitates application of K in the form of potash or other K fertilisers. Recently, the price of K fertiliser has risen dramatically, a situation that is paralleled by increasing K deficiency of soils around the globe. A potential solution to this problem is to reduce crop K fertiliser dependency by replacing it with sodium (Na) fertiliser which carries a much smaller price tag. In this paper we discuss the physiological roles of K and Na and the implications of Na fertilisation for crop cultivation and soil management. By using greenhouse growth assays we show distinct growth promotion after Na fertilisation in wheat, tomato, oilseed and sorghum. Our results also show that up to 60% of tissue K can be substituted by Na without growth penalty. Based on these data, simple economic models suggest that (part) replacement of K fertiliser with Na fertiliser leads to considerable savings.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44154-022-00070-1DeficiencyFertiliserNutrientPotassiumSalinitySodium |
| spellingShingle | Sarah J. Thorne Frans J. M. Maathuis Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation Stress Biology Deficiency Fertiliser Nutrient Potassium Salinity Sodium |
| title | Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation |
| title_full | Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation |
| title_fullStr | Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation |
| title_short | Reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation |
| title_sort | reducing potassium deficiency by using sodium fertilisation |
| topic | Deficiency Fertiliser Nutrient Potassium Salinity Sodium |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44154-022-00070-1 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sarahjthorne reducingpotassiumdeficiencybyusingsodiumfertilisation AT fransjmmaathuis reducingpotassiumdeficiencybyusingsodiumfertilisation |