Effects of K and N Nutrition on Function and Production of Ranunculus asiaticus

Abstract Potassium (K) affects a range of physiological processes in the plant and is a key factor controlling crop productivity and yield quality. Little information is available concerning effects of K nutrition on function of cut flower plants. The present study was carried out to investigate the interaction between K and N nutrition, on flower quantity and quality of Ranunculus asiaticus L. The plants were supplied with three levels of K fertigation (60, 120, or 180 mg K L −1 ) under 50 mg N L −1 application, and at the intermediate level of 120 mg K L −1 , to three levels of N applications (50, 100, or 150 mg N L −1 ). The two lowest K treatments and the lowest N treatment excelled in flower production due to the lower incidence of stem-toppling, a disorder associated with localized Ca deficiencies in rapidly expanding tissues of the flower stem. Detrimental effects in terms of yield quality were apparent already under supply of 180 mg K L −1 and 50 mg N L −1 , and were not associated with changes in osmotic potential, relative water content or membrane stability of the plant tissue, or with changes in mineral contents of the leaves other than reduced Ca under high N application. Our results suggest a low nutritional requirement of R. asiaticus L. for K and N, a lack of involvement of tissue water relations in the reduced flower quality under the application of high concentrations of K and N, and an induction of stem toppling under high application of N and K by reduced availability of Ca to the expanding tissue of the flower stem.