Potassium deficiency made worse by
- Acidic soils (low pH)
- Sandy or light soils (leaching)
- Drought conditions
- High rainfall (leaching)
- or heavy irrigation
- Heavy clay (illite) soils
- Soils with low K reserves
- Magnesium rich soils
Potassium is important for
- Productive growth, i
- e
- quick canopy closure, strong stalk development, big root mass
- High yield and sugar quality
- Essential for plant water use efficiency
- Improves plant tolerance to pests, diseases and to lodging