CEREALS

THE ROLE OF POTASSIUM

• Increases root growth and improves drought resistance

• Maintains turgor, reduces water loss and wilting

• Aids in photosynthesis and food formation

• Enhances translocation of sugars & starch particularly during grain fill

• Produces grain rich in starch

• Increased protein content in plants

• Builds cellulose and reduces lodging

• Activates many enzyme systems

• Maximises N usage

• Reduces disease susceptibility

• Key role in crop maturation

• Very important in water relations along with Potassium, improved drought resistance

• Major role in energy relations and photosynthesis and therefore is vital at key growth stages

• Can increase the plants cold tolerance

• Involved with the overall health of the crop and resistance to environmental pressure. This gives improved plant nutrient health.

• Vital to maximise rooting

• Increased grain sites

•Improved rooting maximises nutrient uptake

NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY

There are many limitations to root and foliar uptake of both phosphate and potash

• Soil temperature

• Low soil oxygen levels e.g. increased water holding in the soil

• Low soil organic matter

• Soil texture and pH

• Other nutrient interactions

• Limited root volumes of major arable crops