Abstract
Abstract Although potassium (K) is not a structural component of plants, it is involved in numerous biochemical and physiological processes. This study was conducted to examine interactions of K with nitrogen (N) levels and N sources as they affect both growth and yield in maize. The role of K in sucrose and amino acid transport into endosperm tissue also was investigated, since maize yield increases are heavily dependent on inputs of inorganic N and K fertilizers. Plants of four maize hybrids were grown in a greenhouse in sand/soil culture. Pots were supplemented to provide 168, 336, or 672 kg/ha K and 168 or 336 kg/ha N as NH4NO3, Ca(NO3)2, or (NH4)2SO4. Plants were harvested at midsilk, and dry weights and kernel primordia were determined. High levels of K promoted more vigorous growth when mixed‐N treatments were averaged across all N rates. High K in conjunction with mixed‐N generally enhanced dry matter accumulation and kernel primordia number for all hybrids. However, high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −) generally had a negative effect on dry matter accumulation and primordia number. Hybrids tended to respond differently to these interactions. In vitro movement of L‐glutamine into endosperms was enhanced with 25 or 50 mM K, but K levels in excess of 50 mM were inhibitory. Sucrose uptake was strongly enhanced by K and followed the same pattern as L‐glutamine, but required higher levels of K. Notes Present address: Agronomy Department, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado. To whom correspondence should be addressed. Journal Paper No. 13587. The Agricultural Experiment Station, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. This research was supported in part by a grant from Ag Spectrum Co. and Dow Chemical Co.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
High levels of K promoted maize growth.
Zea maysNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“High levels of K promoted more vigorous growth when mixed‐N treatments were averaged across all N rates.”
Claim · model-written summary
High K in conjunction with mixed‐N enhanced maize dry matter accumulation.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“High K in conjunction with mixed‐N generally enhanced dry matter accumulation and kernel primordia number for all hybrids.”
Claim · model-written summary
High K in conjunction with mixed‐N enhanced maize kernel primordia number.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“High K in conjunction with mixed‐N generally enhanced dry matter accumulation and kernel primordia number for all hybrids.”
Claim · model-written summary
high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −) negative effect maize dry matter accumulation.
- Treatment
- high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −)e0
- Outcome
- dry matter accumulatione0
- Direction
- negative effecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“However, high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −) generally had a negative effect on dry matter accumulation and primordia number.”
Claim · model-written summary
high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −) negative effect maize primordia number.
- Treatment
- high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −)e0
- Outcome
- primordia numbere0
- Direction
- negative effecte0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“However, high K with either ammonium (NH4 +) or nitrate (NO3 −) generally had a negative effect on dry matter accumulation and primordia number.”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize hybrids differed in their responses to potassium and nitrogen interactions.
- Outcome
- respond differentlye0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Hybrids tended to respond differently to these interactions.”
Claim · model-written summary
Potassium at 25 or 50 mM increased L-glutamine movement into endosperm.
- Organ / stage
- endospermse0
- Treatment
- 25 or 50 mM Ke0
- Outcome
- movement of L‐glutamine into endospermse0
- Direction
- enhancede0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“In vitro movement of L‐glutamine into endosperms was enhanced with 25 or 50 mM K, but K levels in excess of 50 mM were inhibitory.”
Claim · model-written summary
Potassium levels above 50 mM inhibited L-glutamine movement into endosperm.
- Organ / stage
- endospermse0
- Treatment
- K levels in excess of 50 mMe0
- Outcome
- movement of L‐glutamine into endospermse0
- Direction
- inhibitorye0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“In vitro movement of L‐glutamine into endosperms was enhanced with 25 or 50 mM K, but K levels in excess of 50 mM were inhibitory.”
Claim · model-written summary
Potassium enhanced sucrose uptake in endosperm, with the same response pattern as L-glutamine but at higher potassium levels.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“maize”
e0“Sucrose uptake was strongly enhanced by K and followed the same pattern as L‐glutamine, but required higher levels of K.”
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