Potassium (k) - macronutrients, Biology

Assignment Help:

Potassium (K) - Macronutrients

The main source of K+ for plants comes from withering of K containing minerals. Potassium released by withering dissolves in the soil solution. It can then be taken up by plants or adsorbed onto soil colloids. In plants, K+ is an important cation. It is taken up by the plant at high rates through K+ channels present in the membranes. The concentration of K+ in the cytoplasm is about 100 mM which is 5-10,times higher than K+ concentration in the vacuole. The phloem sap is rich in K+. It is the most abundant cation present in phloem with the concentration approaching that in the cytoplasm.

As the solutes of the phloem sap can be translocated both upwards and downwards in the plant, K+ movement is bidirectional. Potassium is necessary for meristematic growth. It is involved in controlling water status of plants and maintains cell turgor. There is less water loss from plants supplied with K+ due to a reduction in transpiration rate. As you know K+ plays an important role in opening and closing of stomata. Plants inadequately supplied with K+ have impaired stomata1 activity. It is also involved in the translocation of photosynthates. The main biochemical function of K+ is the activation of various enzymes. Potassium deficiency does not immediately result in visib1.e symptoms. At first there is only a reduction in growth rate. Chlorosis and necrosis appear later.

These symptoms generally appear on the margins and tips of older leaves. Plants suffering from K+ deficiency show a decrease in turgor. They easily become flaccid under water stress. Resistance to drought is, therefore, poor. Inadequate soil K+ levels can be corrected by the use of K+ fertilisers. The most widely used and cheapest potash fertiliser is potassium chloride (KCl) which is known commercially as muriate of potash.


Related Discussions:- Potassium (k) - macronutrients

What do you understand by metanephridia, What do you understand by Metaneph...

What do you understand by Metanephridia? An excretory-osmoregulatory organ comprising a ciliated funnel, nephrostome, connected to tubules that lead to the external nephridiopo

Name two foods which are a good source of this vitamin, a) Which vitamin he...

a) Which vitamin helps to maintain resistance to infectious diseases? b) Name two foods which are a good source of this vitamin.   a) Vitamin A (retinol) helps m

Define fluids required for underweight - nutritional care, Define Fluids re...

Define Fluids required for underweight - nutritional care? Take fluids only after a meal instead of with or before meals so that food intake is not reduced. High calorie nouris

Name two stimulant drugs, Name two stimulant drugs and state the undesirabl...

Name two stimulant drugs and state the undesirable side-effects of each. Amphetamine and cocaine are stimulant drugs. The side-effects of amphetamines are high blood pressure;

Explain clinical manifestations of cardiomyopathy, Q. Explain Clinical Mani...

Q. Explain Clinical Manifestations of cardiomyopathy? 1) Asymptomatic, when the diagnosis is made by 2D Echocardiography. 2) Enlargement of LV. Apex is shifted down and out.

Osmoregulation, how is water lost from respiratory surface

how is water lost from respiratory surface

Parazoans and simplest metazoans, in what aspect are the cnidarians simila...

in what aspect are the cnidarians similar to the protozoans?

Name the associated foods used in bacillus cereus, Name the Associated Food...

Name the Associated Foods used in bacillus cereus  Cereal dishes that contain corn and corn starch, mashed potatoes, vegetables, minced meat, liver sausage, milk, cooked meat.

Radiolarians, In the living condition (found in sea) you would be able to o...

In the living condition (found in sea) you would be able to observe the following features in radiolarians: The cytoplasm is divided by a perforated and chitinous metnbrane into

Gram - negative bacteria, Organisms of the so-called HACEK group, (Haemophi...

Organisms of the so-called HACEK group, (Haemophilus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella species, Kingella kingae) which are part of the upper

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd