[h=4]Potassium (K): Very mobile[/h]
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Potassium, macronutrient: important for plant 'plumbing' |
Potassium is important for photosynthesis, carbohydrate and protein creation, and disease resistance. Used in the 'plumbing' of the plant - liquid movement within the plant, stems, roots, etc. - many enzymic reactions require potassium, and it assists in silica uptake.
Potassium deficiency often shows as a yellowing/browning/dying of the leaf edges and/or curled over leaves, followed by yellowing spots in the interior of the leaf face. Discolored spots may appear on the undersides of leaves. Deficiency symptoms show first on lower leaves as flecking or mottling on the leaf margins. Prolonged deficiency results in cell death along the leaf margins and the plants can show signs of wilt. These symptoms first display in older leaves, and continue to work up through to the newer leaves if not corrected. Growth, root development, disease resistance and bud size are reduced.
Overdosing potassium can result in calcium- and magnesium deficiencies.
Potassium chloride (0-0-60), potassium sulfate (0-0-50) and potassium nitrate (13-0-44) are all sources of potassium. I like powdered kelp (1-0-4), compost (3-1-2) and greensand (0-0-3).
The remaining three macronutrients are calcium, sulfur, and magnesium.