Can potassium fertilization alleviate the adverse effects of drought stress on soybean plants?

Fábio Steiner; Alan Mario  Zuffo; Carlos Eduardo da Silva  Oliveira; Hector Jose Valerio Ardon; Tiago de Oliveira  Sousa; Jorge González  Aguilera

doi:10.17765/2176-9168.2022v15n1e8240

Fábio Steiner Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9091-1737
Alan Mario Zuffo Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul – UFMS https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9704-5325
Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3894-9559
Hector Jose Valerio Ardon Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8070-5873
Tiago de Oliveira Sousa Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7855-348X
Jorge González Aguilera Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul - UFMS https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7308-0967

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17765/2176-9168.2022v15n1e8240

Keywords: Glycine max, Osmotic solutes, Potassium fertilizer, Relative water content, Water restriction

Abstract

The adequate amounts of potassium (K) fertilizer application may play an essential role in the growth and tolerance of plants against the drought stress. In this study, the role of K in mitigating the adverse effects of drought stress on soybean plants [Glycine max (L.) Merrill.] was investigated in greenhouse conditions. Treatments were arranged in a randomized block design in a 2 × 3 factorial: two potassium fertilizer levels [40 mg K kg–1 (low) or 160 mg K kg–1 (high)] and three irrigation regimes [100% of pot capacity – PC (well watered control), 50% of PC (moderate stress) and 25% of PC (severe stress)] with four replicates. Leaf relative water content, cell membrane stability, plant growth, and morphophysiological indexes were recorded after 18 days of exposure to drought stress. The appropriate supply of potassium fertilizer improved leaf membrane stability and minimized the water loss from leaf tissue of soybean plants exposed to drought stress. The adverse effects of drought on leaf abscission and pod abortion rate could be mitigated by adequate K supply. The appropriate supply of potassium fertilizer alleviates the negative effects of drought stress and maintain shoot growth and the water status soybean plants, and therefore, the proper management of potassium fertilization may confer greater drought tolerance.

Author Biographies

Fábio Steiner, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS

Docente Permanente do Programa de Pós-graduação em Agronomia – Sustentabilidade na Agricultura (PGAC) da Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), Cassilândia (MS), Brasil.

Alan Mario Zuffo, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul – UFMS

Professor do Curso de Agronomia da Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA), Balsas (MA), Brasil.

Carlos Eduardo da Silva Oliveira, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS

Aluno do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia - Sustentabilidade na Agricultura (PGAC) da Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), Cassilândia (MS), Brasil.

Hector Jose Valerio Ardon, Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul - UEMS

Aluno do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia - Sustentabilidade na Agricultura (PGAC) da Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), Cassilândia (MS), Brasil.

Tiago de Oliveira Sousa, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri - UFVJM

Aluno do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) da Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina (MG), Brasil.

Jorge González Aguilera, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul - UFMS

Professor do Curso de Agronomia da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Chapadão do Sul (MS), Brasil.

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