
Of the mineral nutrients, K plays a particular role in contributing to the survival of crop plants under environmental stress conditions. Potassium is essential for many physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, translocation of photosynthates into sink organs, maintenance of turgescence, activation of enzymes, and reducing excess uptake of ions such as Na and Fe in saline and flooded soils (Cakmak, 2002. IPI golden jubilee congress, 1952-2002, Basel, Switzerland).
Potassium may affect the reaction of a plant to pest or disease by (IPI RT No. 3, 1990):
- Direct effects on the pathogen number, development, multiplication, survival, vigor, length of life cycle
- Direct effects on attack severity on host: by effects on the internal metabolism of the plant affecting food supply for the pathogen; by modifying the microclimate through changes in habit, density of growth, etc
- Effects on establishment of the pathogen and spreading within the plant - through effects on plant structure (e.g. cell wall and cuticle thickness, tissue firmness) - and through the functioning of the stomata
- Affecting the plant's ability to recover from pest or disease attack through the repair of damage or, more simply and most frequently, by a general improvement of growth.
The following items found on our web describe the various effects of potassium on stress relief and reduction of susceptibility of plants to pests and disease.
Projects & Demonstrations
- Effect of Various Levels of Potash Application Through Drip Irrigation on Yield and Quality of Sugarcane (CO 86032)
- Effect of Potassium on WUE in Potato Production
- Effect of K-fertilization Under Irrigation Systems and Shortage of Water on Crop Production in Egyptian Agriculture
- Role of Potassium in Mitigating the Drought Stress in Maize-Wheat System
- Effect of Different Rates of Potassium Fertilization and Supplemental Irrigation on the Productivity of Two Durum Wheat Cultivars Grown in Semiarid Lebanese Conditions
- Potash and Silicium fertilization Interaction to Reduce Blast Disease Severity in Highland Rice in Cerrado
- Effect of Different Levels of Potassium and Irrigation on Yield and Quality of Potatoes under Diverse Climatic Conditions
- Physiological Studies on the Effect of Potassium in Mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) Under Water Deficit
- Effect of Potash Application on Yield, Quality, Disease Resistance and Drought Tolerance in Groundnut

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Publications
IPPC poster Potassium: chloride and suppression of disease
Presented at the XVTH INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONGRESS in Beijing, China, May 11-16, 2004.
Presented at the XVTH INTERNATIONAL PLANT PROTECTION CONGRESS in Beijing, China, May 11-16, 2004.
2004
Posters
English
Papers and presentations
不同施钾水平及亏缺灌溉对干燥的半湿润地中海气候条件下马铃薯的影响
Author: Darwish Talal, Fadel Ali, Baydoun Safaa, Jomaa Ihab, Awad Mohamad, Hammoud Zeina, Halablab Ousama, and Atallah Therese
Event: e-ifc 43 Chinese edition
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 1.11 MB)
Author: Darwish Talal, Fadel Ali, Baydoun Safaa, Jomaa Ihab, Awad Mohamad, Hammoud Zeina, Halablab Ousama, and Atallah Therese
Event: e-ifc 43 Chinese edition
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 1.11 MB)
31 Dec 2015
Chinese
Potato Performance under Different Potassium Levels and Deficit Irrigation in Dry Sub-Humid Mediterranean Conditions
Author: Darwish Talal, Fadel Ali, Baydoun Safaa, Jomaa Ihab, Awad Mohamad, Hammoud Zeina, Halablab Ousama, and Atallah Therese
Event: e-ifc 43
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 2.32 MB)
Author: Darwish Talal, Fadel Ali, Baydoun Safaa, Jomaa Ihab, Awad Mohamad, Hammoud Zeina, Halablab Ousama, and Atallah Therese
Event: e-ifc 43
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 2.32 MB)
30 Dec 2015
English
Potassium and Stress Alleviation: Physiological Functions and Management in Cotton
Author: Oosterhuis, D.M., D.A. Loka, and T.B. Raper
Event: e-ifc 38
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 486 kB)
Author: Oosterhuis, D.M., D.A. Loka, and T.B. Raper
Event: e-ifc 38
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 486 kB)
30 Sep 2014
English
钾与抗胁迫:棉花中钾的生理性功能及其管理
Author: Oosterhuis, D.M., D.A. Loka, and T.B. Raper
Event: e-ifc 38 Chinese edition
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 1.25 MB)
Author: Oosterhuis, D.M., D.A. Loka, and T.B. Raper
Event: e-ifc 38 Chinese edition
Documents: Paper, Download paper (pdf 1.25 MB)
30 Sep 2014
Chinese
Role of Potassium in Water Stress Management in Dry Land Agriculture
Author: Ch.Srinivasarao, K.P.R.Vittal and B.Venkateswarlu
Event: IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium 2009: Potassium Role and Benefits in Improving Nutrient Management for Food Production, Quality and Reduced Environmental Damages, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
Documents: Presentation (pdf 1.13 MB)
Author: Ch.Srinivasarao, K.P.R.Vittal and B.Venkateswarlu
Event: IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium 2009: Potassium Role and Benefits in Improving Nutrient Management for Food Production, Quality and Reduced Environmental Damages, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
Documents: Presentation (pdf 1.13 MB)
05-07 Nov 2009
English
Mineral Nutrition of Drought-Stressed Plants
Author: Zed Rengel
Event: IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium 2009: Potassium Role and Benefits in Improving Nutrient Management for Food Production, Quality and Reduced Environmental Damages, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
Documents: Presentation (pdf 541 kB)
Author: Zed Rengel
Event: IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium 2009: Potassium Role and Benefits in Improving Nutrient Management for Food Production, Quality and Reduced Environmental Damages, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
Documents: Presentation (pdf 541 kB)
05-07 Nov 2009
English
Mineral Nutrition of Crop Plants in Salt Affected Areas in India
Author: A.K. Singh, Ali Qadar and N.P.S. Yaduvansh
Event: IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium 2009: Potassium Role and Benefits in Improving Nutrient Management for Food Production, Quality and Reduced Environmental Damages, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
Documents: Presentation (pdf 593 kB)
Author: A.K. Singh, Ali Qadar and N.P.S. Yaduvansh
Event: IPI-OUAT-IPNI International Symposium 2009: Potassium Role and Benefits in Improving Nutrient Management for Food Production, Quality and Reduced Environmental Damages, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India
Documents: Presentation (pdf 593 kB)
05-07 Nov 2009
English
Mineral Nutrient Management and Plant Disease
Author: Katan, J.
Event: e-ifc 21
Documents: Paper, Paper (pdf 494 kB)
Author: Katan, J.
Event: e-ifc 21
Documents: Paper, Paper (pdf 494 kB)
01 Sep 2009
English
Potassium fertilization and water use efficiency under saline conditions
Editors: IPI
Event: e-ifc 13
Documents: Paper
Editors: IPI
Event: e-ifc 13
Documents: Paper
01 Sep 2007
English
The effect of simulated drought and potassium fertilization on yield of triticale and sugar beet
Editors: IPI
Event: e-ifc 12
Documents: Paper
Editors: IPI
Event: e-ifc 12
Documents: Paper
01 Jun 2007
English
Potassium as a tool to ameliorate drought impact on plant crops
Author: Witold Grzebisz
Event: IPI Open Forum on Potassium Research in Central Europe, Satellite Event to the New Ag Conference, Budapest, Hungary
Documents: Paper (pdf 662 kB)
Author: Witold Grzebisz
Event: IPI Open Forum on Potassium Research in Central Europe, Satellite Event to the New Ag Conference, Budapest, Hungary
Documents: Paper (pdf 662 kB)
22 Mar 2007
English
Balanced potassium nutrition for plant disease management
Author: L. Datnoff, A. Prabhu and N. Fageria
Event: IPI Open Forum on Potassium Research in Central Europe, Satellite Event to the New Ag Conference, Budapest, Hungary
Documents: Paper (pdf 515 kB)
Author: L. Datnoff, A. Prabhu and N. Fageria
Event: IPI Open Forum on Potassium Research in Central Europe, Satellite Event to the New Ag Conference, Budapest, Hungary
Documents: Paper (pdf 515 kB)
22 Mar 2007
English
Potassium and Water Interaction
Author: Li Fusheng
Event: IPI-ISSAS International Workshop on Soil K and K fertilizer management, Zhuhai city, China
Documents: Presentation (pdf 958 kB)
Author: Li Fusheng
Event: IPI-ISSAS International Workshop on Soil K and K fertilizer management, Zhuhai city, China
Documents: Presentation (pdf 958 kB)
13-16 Nov 2006
English
Potassium and plant health
Author: He Ping
Event: IPI-ISSAS International Workshop on Soil K and K fertilizer management, Zhuhai city, China
Documents: Presentation (English and Chinese) (pdf 3.35 MB)
Author: He Ping
Event: IPI-ISSAS International Workshop on Soil K and K fertilizer management, Zhuhai city, China
Documents: Presentation (English and Chinese) (pdf 3.35 MB)
13-16 Nov 2006
English
The effect of potassium on plant health
Author: Filiz Öktüren, Sahriye Sönmez, Işın Kocabaş
Event: Potassium and its importance in Agriculture, Eskisehir, Turkey
Documents: Paper (pdf 254 kB)
Author: Filiz Öktüren, Sahriye Sönmez, Işın Kocabaş
Event: Potassium and its importance in Agriculture, Eskisehir, Turkey
Documents: Paper (pdf 254 kB)
03-05 Oct 2005
Turkish
Crop insurance against stress with adequate potash
Author: Dr. A. Krauss
Event: AFA 9th International Annual Conference, Cairo, Egypt
Documents: Paper
Author: Dr. A. Krauss
Event: AFA 9th International Annual Conference, Cairo, Egypt
Documents: Paper
28-30 Jan 2003
English
Potassium and biotic stress
Author: Dr. A. Krauss
Event: 1st FAUBA-FERTILIZAR-IPI Workshop on Potassium in Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Documents: Paper
Author: Dr. A. Krauss
Event: 1st FAUBA-FERTILIZAR-IPI Workshop on Potassium in Argentina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Documents: Paper
20-21 Nov 2001
English
Scientific abstracts
Yield of and Nutrient-Water Use by Maize Exposed to Moisture Stress and K Fertilizers in an Inceptisol of West Bengal, India
Bhattacharyya, K., T. Das, K. Ray, S. Dutta, K. Majumdar, A. Pari, and H. Banerjee
Agricultural Water Management 206:31-41 (2018)
Bhattacharyya, K., T. Das, K. Ray, S. Dutta, K. Majumdar, A. Pari, and H. Banerjee
Agricultural Water Management 206:31-41 (2018)
2018
English
Potassium: A Vital Regulator of Plant Responses and Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses
Mirza Hasanuzzaman, M.H.M. Borhannuddin Bhuyan, Kamrun Nahar, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Jubayer Al Mahmud, Md. Shahadat Hossen, Abdul Awal Chowdhury Masud, Moumita, and Masayuki Fujita.
Agronomy 8(3):31 (2018)
Mirza Hasanuzzaman, M.H.M. Borhannuddin Bhuyan, Kamrun Nahar, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Jubayer Al Mahmud, Md. Shahadat Hossen, Abdul Awal Chowdhury Masud, Moumita, and Masayuki Fujita.
Agronomy 8(3):31 (2018)
2018
English
Potassium may be a Key in Making Rice Plants more Tolerant to Drought
Bardhan, K.
Rice Today June 2018
Bardhan, K.
Rice Today June 2018
2018
English
Growth, Physiology, and Biochemical Activities of Plant Responses with Foliar Potassium Application under Drought Stress - A Review
Zahoor Ahmad, Shazia Anjum, Ejaz Ahmad Waraich, Muhammad Ashar Ayub, Tanveer Ahmad, Rana Muhammad Sabir Tariq, Rashid Ahmad, and Muhammad Aamir Iqbal
Journal of Plant Nutrition 41(13):1734-1743 (2018)
Zahoor Ahmad, Shazia Anjum, Ejaz Ahmad Waraich, Muhammad Ashar Ayub, Tanveer Ahmad, Rana Muhammad Sabir Tariq, Rashid Ahmad, and Muhammad Aamir Iqbal
Journal of Plant Nutrition 41(13):1734-1743 (2018)
2018
English
Driving the Expression of RAA1 with a Drought-Responsive Promoter Enhances Root Growth in Rice, its Accumulation of Potassium and its Tolerance to Moisture Stress
Guang Chen, Chaolei Liu, Zhenyu Gao, Yu Zhang, Li Zhu, Jiang Hu, Deyong Ren, Guohua Xu, and Qian Qian
Environmental and Experimental Botany 147:147-156 (2018)
Guang Chen, Chaolei Liu, Zhenyu Gao, Yu Zhang, Li Zhu, Jiang Hu, Deyong Ren, Guohua Xu, and Qian Qian
Environmental and Experimental Botany 147:147-156 (2018)
2018
English
Root Potassium and Hydrogen Flux Rates as Potential Indicators of Plant Response to Zinc, Copper and Nickel Stress
Palm, E., W.G. Nissim, C. Giordano, S. Mancuso, and E. Azzarello
Environmental and Experimental Botany 143:38- 50 (2017)
Palm, E., W.G. Nissim, C. Giordano, S. Mancuso, and E. Azzarello
Environmental and Experimental Botany 143:38- 50 (2017)
2017
English
Potassium: The Overlooked Nutrient in Crop Production
Silva, G.
Michigan State University Extension 2017
Silva, G.
Michigan State University Extension 2017
2017
English
Effect of Potassium Application in Drought-Stressed Tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L.) Plants: Comparison of Root with Foliar Application
Bahrami-Rad, S., and R. Hajiboland
Annals of Agricultural Sciences 2017
Bahrami-Rad, S., and R. Hajiboland
Annals of Agricultural Sciences 2017
2017
English
Challenging the Potassium Deficiency Hypothesis for Induction of the Ripening Disorder Berry Shrivel in Grapevine
Griesser, M., S. Crespo Martinez, M.L. Weidinger, W. Kandler, and A. Forneck
Scientia Horticulturae 216:141-147 (2017)
Griesser, M., S. Crespo Martinez, M.L. Weidinger, W. Kandler, and A. Forneck
Scientia Horticulturae 216:141-147 (2017)
2017
English
OsHAK1, a High-Affinity Potassium Transporter, Positively Regulates Responses to Drought Stress in Rice
Chen, G., C. Liu, Z. Gao, Y. Zhang, H. Jiang, L. Zhu, D. Ren, L. Yu, G. Xu, and Q. Qian
Front. Plant Sci. 2017
Chen, G., C. Liu, Z. Gao, Y. Zhang, H. Jiang, L. Zhu, D. Ren, L. Yu, G. Xu, and Q. Qian
Front. Plant Sci. 2017
2017
English
Growth, Photosynthesis, Solute Accumulation, and Ion Balance of Tomato Plant under Sodium- or Potassium-Salt Stress and Alkali Stress
Xiaoping Wang, Shujuan Geng, Yiqiao Ma, Decheng Shi, Chunwu Yang, and Huan Wang
Agron. J. 107(2):651-661 (2015)
Xiaoping Wang, Shujuan Geng, Yiqiao Ma, Decheng Shi, Chunwu Yang, and Huan Wang
Agron. J. 107(2):651-661 (2015)
2015
English
Wheat: A Study of Interaction Between Varieties and Diseases Management
Trigo: Comportamiento Varietal y su Interacción con las Enfermedades en Distintas Areas Agroecológicas del Norte, Centro y Oeste de la Pcia. de Buenos Aires
Ferraris, G. y Couretot , L.
Revista de Tecnologia Agropecuaria Vol. IX No 25. p.6-13.
Trigo: Comportamiento Varietal y su Interacción con las Enfermedades en Distintas Areas Agroecológicas del Norte, Centro y Oeste de la Pcia. de Buenos Aires
Ferraris, G. y Couretot , L.
Revista de Tecnologia Agropecuaria Vol. IX No 25. p.6-13.
2009
Spanish
The Effect of Potassium Nutrition on Pest and Disease Resistance in Plants
Anna Amtmann, Stephanie Troufflard, Patrick Armengaud
Physiologia Plantarum doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2008.01075.x (2008)
Anna Amtmann, Stephanie Troufflard, Patrick Armengaud
Physiologia Plantarum doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2008.01075.x (2008)
2008
English
Potassium Transport and Plant Salt Tolerance
Sergey Shabala, Tracey A. Cuin
Physiologia Plantarum doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2007.01008.x (2007)
Sergey Shabala, Tracey A. Cuin
Physiologia Plantarum doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.2007.01008.x (2007)
2008
English
High Potassium Aggravates the Oxidative Stress Inducedy by Magnesium Deflciency in Rice Leaves
Ding, Y., C. Chang, W. Luo, Y. Wu, X. Ren, P. Wang, and G. Xu.
Pedosphere 18(3):316-327 (2008)
Ding, Y., C. Chang, W. Luo, Y. Wu, X. Ren, P. Wang, and G. Xu.
Pedosphere 18(3):316-327 (2008)
2008
English
Increasing Applications of Potassium Fertiliser to Barley Crops Grown on Deficient Sandy Soils Increased Grain Yields while Decreasing some Foliar Diseases
Brennan, R.F., and K.W. Jayasena.
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58:680-689 (2007)
Brennan, R.F., and K.W. Jayasena.
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58:680-689 (2007)
2007
English
Evaluation of Potassium Compared to Other Osmolytes in Relation to Osmotic Adjustment and Drought Tolerance of Chickpea Under Water Deficit Environments
Moinuddin,M.; Imas,P.
Journal of Plant Nutrition 30: 517-535, 2007
Moinuddin,M.; Imas,P.
Journal of Plant Nutrition 30: 517-535, 2007
2007
English
The Role of Potassium in Alleviating Detrimental Effects of Abiotic Stresses in Plants
Cakmak, I.
J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 168:521-530 (2005)
Cakmak, I.
J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 168:521-530 (2005)
2005
English
Effects of Chloride Fertilization on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Productivity in the Sandy Pampas Region, Argentina
M. Díaz-Zorita, G. A. Duarteb and M. Barracoc
Agron. J. 96: 839-844 (2004)
M. Díaz-Zorita, G. A. Duarteb and M. Barracoc
Agron. J. 96: 839-844 (2004)
2004
English
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