DIFFERENCES AMONG BARLEY CULTIVARS IN POTASSIUM UPTAKE AND UTILIZATION

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted to study genotypic variation for K–uptake and utilization efficiency in barley genotypes to K applied at adequate and deficient levels (50 and 0 ppm K resp.). Potassium level and variety interaction was significant for almost all the parameters studied. Substantial differences were observed among genotypes for accumulation of shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total biomass and relative reduction in shoot biomass due to potassium deficiency stress. Potassium stress factor ranged between 9 to 41 % that is more than 5-fold differences in relative reduction in shoot dry weight due to potassium stress factor among genotypes. Potassium utilization efficiency was almost doubled in the genotypes that were grown with no potassium supply compared to these grown with 50 ppm K supply. Potassium concentration and uptake in genotypes were significantly different at deficient and adequate potassium levels