1. Potassium
The Regulator

2. Potassium K-Chemical Symbol K is found in every cell
K is also essential to all plant and animal life
K is the 3rd most abundant mineral in our bodies
85% of the K in our bodies is found in major tissues (muscles, skin blood, liver)

3. Potassium Essential for Humans
.While orbiting the earth on of America’s astronauts developed an irregular heart beat due to a shortage of K in his diet.
.Athletes drink nutrient fortified drinks to restore K lost with body fluids.
.Any one with a high fever, excessive fluid loss, severe stress, shock can run short of K.

4. Is potassium Nutrition Different in plants?
It is very similar in plants.
One difference is – Plants cannot tell us when they are hungry
Plants will develop visible symptoms under severe deficiency.
The edges of older leaves will turn brown.
Orange trees will drop their fruit

5. Continued Strawberries will not fully develop their sweet taste.
Corn stalks will break.
Tomatoes will be small and contain much white tissue.

6. Potassium Deficiency

7. Patassium P per Acre Crop Yields 220 200 bushels of corn
bushels of soybeans
bushels of wheat
tons of tomatoes

8. Potassium is a naturally occurring plant element food element
Fertilize potassium is sometimes called “potash”
Early American settlers used that name when they make soap-by evaporating-water filtered through wood ashes. This produced potassium carbonate. The ash-like residue left in the cast iron pots they called – Pot Ash – This process is registered as the first U.S. patent.

9. This process is registered as the first U.S. patent.
Pot Ash

10. Potassium
Commercial potash production began when supplies from Germany were stopped during the war.
Carlsbad N.M. became a major producer of K.
Today Canada supplies ¾ of the K used in America

11. Continued
Potash mines were developed as sea water evaporated and K salts crystallized to become potash ore.
The Deposits are a mixture- potassium chloride (KCl) and Sodium Chloride (NaCl)
95% of the commercially used K is in Agriculture
5% industrial purposes- products used in the home

12. Functions of K in plants
resist Disease
tolerate water stress
develop larger stronger root systems
over winter
regulate the photosynthesis process
K reacts with N and P to improve seed quality

13. Summary K is known as the “Regulator”
K interacts with N and P in a positive way to improve plant quality.
With out Fertilizer production food production would drop by 1/3.
K is responsible for -Strong root systems

14. The End