Effect of potassium fertilizer on the growth, physiological parameters, and water status of Brassica juncea cultivars under different irrigation regimes

Abstract

Abiotic stress, especially a lack of water, can significantly reduce crop yields. In this study, we evaluated the physiological and biochemical effects of potassium sulfate (K2SO4) fertilizer and varied irrigation regimes on the economically significant oilseed crop, Brassica juncea L, under open field conditions. Two cultivars (RH-725 and RH-749) of B. juncea were used in a randomized complete block design experiment with three replicates. Irrigation regimes consisted of a control (double irrigation: once at the 50% flowering and another at 50% fruiting stages), early irrigation (at 50% flowering only), late irrigation (at 50% fruiting only) and stress (no irrigation). The K2SO4 applications were: control (K0, no fertilization); K1, 10 kg ha-1; and K2, 20 kg ha-1. We measured growth via fresh and dry plant weight, plant height, root length, and leaf area. All the growth parameters were higher in RH-749. The physiological attributes, including the membrane stability index and relative water content, were higher at the 50% flowering stage in RH-749. The amount of antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (POX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) was enhanced when both plants were fertilized during water stress. All of these enzymes had higher activity in RH-749. The total chlorophyll content and photosynthesis rate were considerably higher in RH-749, which leaked fewer electrolytes and maintained a less destructive osmotic potential under limited water conditions. The results indicated that it is water-stress tolerant when given a high concentration of K2SO4, which alleviated the adverse effects of water stress on growth and physiology.

Fig 1. Mean values of fresh weight (colour, g), leaf area (cm²) and plant height (cm) of the 12 treatments with different levels of irrigation (C = Control, EI = Early irrigation, LI = Late irrigation, S = Stress) and different amounts of K (kg ha^–1 K₂SO₄): K₀ = 0; K₁ = 10; K₂ = 20.

Fig 2. Mean values of the relative water content (%), membrane stability index (%) and electrolytic content (%) of the 12 treatments with different levels of irrigation (C = Control, EI = Early irrigation, LI = Late irrigation, S = Stress) and different amounts of K (kg ha^–1 K₂SO₄): (K₀ = 0; K₁ = 10; K₂ = 20).