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Relative Potassium Ratio Balanced the Carbon-Nitrogen Assimilation in Cotton Leaf Under Reducing Nitrogen Application

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Abstract

Potassium (K) plays a pivotal role in carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) balance via several physiological processes. Conventional K application ratio (0.6–0.8) is too low to meet the optimal K requirement for physiological activities as well as yield benefits in cotton. However, in line with low N application, what is the optimal K ratio relative to N, for efficient C-N balance and its relationship with enzymes activities as well as yield, is the objective of this study. A pot experiment was conducted with three K ratio to N (K1 (0.8), K2 (1.0), and K3 (1.2)) using completely randomized design at the experimental site of Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. The morphological attributes, C-N enzyme activities, assimilate contents, and yield-related components were analyzed under different K ratios. Results showed that higher K application ratios (K2 and K3) significantly enhanced the yield, leaf morphological attributes (leaf area and leaf weight), and C- and N-metabolizing enzyme activities. Similarly, C and N assimilation compounds were effectively balanced in leaves of plants receiving K2 and K3 over K1 leading to an appropriate C/N ratio. Conclusively, leaf K content, C-N compounds balance, and narrow C/N ratio in higher K application suggest that the K relative ratio should be equal or even higher than N application rate. However, from an economic point of view, results suggest that the K ratio equal to the N is sufficient to get promising cotton yield with late planting under reducing N rate.

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Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31271665, 31771708).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MOA Key Laboratory of Crop Eco-physiology and Farming System in the Middle Reaches of Yangtze River, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China

    Saif Ali, Abdul Hafeez, Xiaolei Ma, Shahbaz Atta Tung & Guozheng Yang

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  1. Saif Ali
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  2. Abdul Hafeez
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  3. Xiaolei Ma
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Correspondence to Guozheng Yang.

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Ali, S., Hafeez, A., Ma, X. et al. Relative Potassium Ratio Balanced the Carbon-Nitrogen Assimilation in Cotton Leaf Under Reducing Nitrogen Application. J Soil Sci Plant Nutr 20, 761–774 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42729-019-00163-3

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