Relationship between soil potassium level and potassium uptake of corn affected by soil moisture

Abstract

Abstract Several authors have observed that the availability of soil potassium (K) is affected by environmental and soil factors, e.g. moisture content although the extent of the effect is still uncertain. In a pot experiment carried out with corn (Zea mays L.) for five weeks, effects of two K dosses at two soil moisture levels were studied on the K uptake of young plants. Soils were collected from plots of long‐term fertilization trials representing different K levels. Results of the experiment show that amounts of K taken up by the plants were greatly dependent on soil moisture and available K levels. Soil moisture did not affect the very close linear relationship between dry matter production and K uptake of young corn plants.