Otimização da nutrição das plantas

O Instituto Internacional de Potássio e a agricultura contemporânea

Os agricultores atualmente estão diante do desafio de atender à crescente demanda pela ampla variedade de alimentos seguros e de alta qualidade. Porém esta demanda deve ser atendida de forma economicamente viável, socialmente justa e preservando os recursos naturais e protegendo o meio ambiente.

O Instituto Internacional de Potássio (IPI) tem como objetivo ajudar os agricultores, e aqueles que os orientam, para responder os desafios:

Contribuir com a manutenção da fertilidade do solo e a produção de alimentos nutritivos, a través por meio da pesquisa científica aplicada e programas de educação;
Divulgar e transferir conhecimentos disponiveis sobre o efeito de Potássio (K) no solo e seu impacto sobre a produtividade, qualidade e tolerância das plantas ao estresse;
Coletar, analisar e divulgar resultados e informações sobre os efeitos da fertilização balanceada para otimizar o uso da nutrição de plantas.

The Issue: Do Crops Get Sufficient K?

During rapid vegetative growth, most crops contain more K than nitrogen (N). Yet incipient deficiency symptoms are difficult to recognize and can be confused with N deficiency.

What is the K Balance for a Cropping System? (i.e. K Applied Minus K Removed)

Effect of potassium fertilization in wheat For many situations, evidence suggests that the K balance is negative because insufficient K is being applied in mineral fertilizers or is available from organic residues and organic manures. A continuing negative K balance leads to loss of soil fertility and the inefficient use of other costly inputs like N. If the K balance for a field is negative - do not rely on a sufficiently rapid release of K from soil reserves to get optimum yields.

Potassium in Human Health and the Environment

Potassium in drinking water and food is beneficial for human health. It helps maintain the ionic balance in cells and can help in the treatment of hypertension.

Potassium has no known detrimental effect in the environment. It is not lost to the atmosphere and if transported to rivers and lakes it does not induce the adverse effects of eutrophication. Any K leached from surface soil may be held in the subsoil where it can be available to deep-rooted crops.

Potassium in Plant Nutrition

Potassium (K) (often referred to as potash, K₂O) is an essential nutrient for all living organisms. It has a vital role in plant metabolism, growth and adaptation to stress. Adequate amounts of K must be available in the soil for its uptake by roots to ensure that crops achieve economic yields of acceptable quality.

Roles in plant nutrition that rely solely on K include enzyme activation and protein synthesis. No K, no growth!

Wheat

Water stress in maize

Rice

Roles in which the plant prefers to use K and for which large amounts are required include:

Maintaining cell turgor (rigidity). Maximum dry matter production requires optimum leaf area to intercept solar radiation (sunlight) to provide the energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) to sugars. Optimum leaf area is driven by nitrogen (N) supply, and rapidly expanding cells require K to obtain water and maintain their turgor.
Regulating the water content of plants.
Opening and closing stomata. These are the openings in leaves through which water is lost by transpiration and CO₂ enters to be converted to sugars.
Transporting sugars produced in the leaves to storage organs like grain, tubers and roots. K is an essential component of the molecular pump within cell membranes that facilitates the passage of sugar molecules through the innumerable membranes during the transport process.
Enhancing the natural ability of plants to combat stress from drought and cold, pest and disease.

Maize

Soybeans

Citrus

Teaching Farmers the Value of K

Teaching farmers the value of K Worldwide, many ongoing field experiments and demonstration plots are executed each year, together with dozens of seminars, workshops and farmers' days. International symposia are conducted regularly in various countries where we operate, all these to demonstrate the special effect and role of potassium in optimized crop nutrition.

IPI makes a major investment in reaching out to farmers, their suppliers and advisors. We believe in field-level promotion and outreach to farmers as well as in fundamental and applied research. IPI works hand-in-hand with organisations that include extension services, universities and those willing to take part in farmers' gatherings, field days, open seminars, training courses and other learning-related activities.

IPI Foundation and Coordinators

IPI is a non-governmental and non-profit organisation with its headquarters in Horgen, Switzerland. Founded in 1952 by German and French potash producers, it is now supported by producers in Europe and the Near East.

IPI carries out the major part of its work through a network of Coordinators, that work closely with researchers, government offices, extension and agribusiness.

IPI's mission is to develop and promote balanced fertilization for the production of higher yields and more nutritious food, together with ensuring sustainability of production through conservation of soil fertility for future generations.