Importance of Potassium to Corn Production

Potassium is a vital nutrient for corn production second to nitrogen in terms of quantity of a corn plant’s needs, requiring an average uptake of around 274 pounds K20 per acres, in order to produce a 200 bushel yield.
Some of potassium’s vital functions in corn development are, being a supporter for water uptake in the plant which is essential in times when water is not readily available. Potassium regulates the plants leaf tissue openings, thus reducing water loss through the leaves. It also activates enzymes required for growth which helps prevent disease and control insects and also maintain stalk strength and stand ability.
Also hybrids designed to resist corn rootworm requires an extra boost of an important nutrient potassium. Corn rootworm protected hybrids yielded, on average, ten percent more than there conventional counterparts, and showed a thirteen percent increase in potassium uptake. More of an increase than nitrogen and sulfur like wise.
So as we are beginning what seems to be a harvest with better than expected yields we need to be aware of potassium levels. Your WS Ag Center representative will be able to help you with fertilizer recommendations and whether or not soil sampling is needed.