Disorder

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Role and Deficiency Symptoms of Potassium in
Banana
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Potassium is one of sixteen essential nutrients
required for plant growth and development.
Role of Potassium
Potassium is classified as a macronutrient, as
are nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).
The chemical symbol for potassium is "K. It is
taken up by plants in its ionic form - K.
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Potassium is not regularly applied to many crops.
But, it plays equally important role as nitrogen
and phosphorus in plants for their growth and
development.
Role of Potassium
Potassium is to a plant what brakes are to a car.
Good brakes are a must for safe journey to reach
the destination and so is potassium for good
growth and development of plants, and quality
crop produce.
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Potassium increases root growth and thus imparts
drought resistance in plants.
Role of Potassium
Catalyses the action of many enzymes.
Aids in photosynthesis and increases the crop
yields.
Increases protein content of plant produce.
Helps in translocation in sugars and starches.
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Develops strong cells and prevents lodging of
plants.
Role of Potassium
Maintains turgor and reduces water loss and
wilting of plants.
Potassium is involved in providing resistance to
insect pests, diseases, and water stress.
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Potassium improves quality of crop produce.
Role of Potassium
Potassium improves quality factors such as size,
shape, color, taste, shelf life, fiber quality
and other quality measurements.
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In Banana, potassium increases number of bunches.
Role of Potassium
Increased weight of hands and fingers.
Higher thickness and finger length.
Higher rind size.
Enhanced circumference of fruits
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Higher rates of potassium increased the
pseudo-stem height, girth, leaf area and sucker
production.
Role of Potassium
Early flowering and maturity with good grade
bunches in Robusta banana.
Improved fruit condition at storage for 20 days.
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Potassium is very mobile in soils. So, vulnerable
to leaching losses during heavy rains and with
uncontrolled irrigation practices.
Deficiency symptoms
Similarly Potassium is very mobile in plants and
so moves quickly to growing areas of the plant.
Hence, Potassium deficiency symptoms show up on
older leaves of the plants.
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The characteristic Potassium deficiency is
yellowing of older leaves.
Deficiency symptoms
Older leaves exhibit orange-yellow chlorosis with
brown patches and subsequent death of leaf tissue.
Potassium deficiency results in decreased total
foliage and reduced number of hands and fingers
in a bunch.
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Bunches are smaller in size with less number of
fingers per hand.
Deficiency symptoms
Fruits are often will be lacking in the
coloration.
Potassium deficiency also affect the
translocation of sugar and starch and this
result in the poor quality of the fruits.
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Nutrient recommendation based on soil test for
Banana
Management
Primary Nutrients Nutrient requirement Recommendation
Nitrogen (N) 200 g/plant 625.0 kg/acre
Phosphorus (P) 60 g/plant 545.0 kg/acre
Potassium (K) 250 g/plant. 602.0 kg/acre
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Nutrient recommendation based on tissue analysis
for Banana
Management
Primary Nutrients (in g) At emergence After 2 mths After 4 mths At sucker set After 2 mths After 4 mths After 6 mths
Nitrogen (N) 80 80 80 96 48 48 48
Phosphorus (P) 40 Nil Nil 40 Nil Nil Nil
Potassium (K) 170 170 170 170 170 170 Nil
To overcome potassium deficiency in a standing
crop, spraying Potassium Sulphate (1) solution
on the leaves is recommended.
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